'We are a community of kindness not division': Young people lead campaign to restore town's image in face of protests

Young people are leading efforts to show that Gosport is a place where kindness and not division lives after finding themselves at the centre of a storm of protest and tension.

It has been a challenging time for the community which has been in the headlines for the last two months, with protestors, police and counter protestors swarming to the area and creating anxiety and uncertainty for many people.

Feelings have been running high since rumours that a boat carrying migrants collected from the Channel were said to be heading to the town in September and rose when one did dock at Fort Blockhouse in October. A third anti-migrant protest by patriot groups was held last weekend.

It has seen Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage, Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones and the borough council fighting for answers from the government on why the town was used and seeking assurances that it will not be used again due to its unsuitability

Community groups have shared their concerns that recent events have left some children and young people feeling worried, intimidated and uncertain about what has been happening around them. But, despite this they remain proud of where they live.

So today Gosport is fighting back - and through its younger generations.

Children and young people are being invited to help tell a joyful story about their town, one of kindness, friendship, creativity, belonging and hope, as part of a new community-wide initiative: Good in Gosport: Where Kindness Lives.

Led through the Gosport Local Children’s Partnership, alongside local youth charity Motiv8 and Gosport Routes, it is being supported by The News.

Giving it her backing, Dame Caroline said: “There is far more that brings us together in the Gosport constituency than divides us and we owe it to the younger generations to demonstrate and celebrate the many positive aspects of our area. This project has my full support and I look forward to seeing the amazing work that comes out of it.”

Kirsty Robertson, CEO of Motiv8 and Co-Chair of Gosport Local Children’s Partnership, added:

“At a time when it can be easy for division and negativity to dominate the conversation, we want young people’s voices to be louder. We want them to know that they belong here, that their voices matter and that they have the power to shape the kind of community they want Gosport to be.”

Good in Gosport has been launched to ensure that is the message people hear - bringing together schools, youth and community organisations, local leaders and partners from across the borough to talk about the people who look out for one another, friendships, community spirit, creativity, kindness and the places and people that make Gosport home.

Children and young people are being encouraged to respond creatively to the theme of Good in Gosport: Where Kindness Lives, producing everything from drawings, paintings, poetry and short stories to photography, music, dance, performance and video to show the wider community what Gosport means to them.

‘We are the next generation and it is important we learn that our voice is important’

Bella, a youth advisor for Motiv8, knows for herself how difficult the past weeks have been. She told The News: “Gosport being in the news with the protests makes me feel quite unsettled that this could be happening in my town which is supposed to be your safe place and the place where you grew and you can be proud to say you grew up. But at the moment most people are feeling that is not a thing to be proud of because of the horrible things people have been saying.

‘I don’t think the things that have been in the headlines about Gosport really truly represent Gosport as a whole. I am proud of my town because it’s normally such a joyous place and there are so many things that happen and so many things that people should be able to shout out about and say ‘hey I’m from Gosport’. Nowadays that isn’t the thing you say because it’s got such a stigma around it now.’

Bella added that Good in Gosport would send a strong, positive message out about the town - and it was important that it was based on the voices of her generation.

‘It is important young people use their voices because we are the next generation and it is important that we learn now that our voice is important, otherwise we will grow up and just be quiet and nobody will hear what we need to say and our thoughts and ideas,’ she added.

Selected pieces created through the project will be published in The News in a special Good in Gosport: Where Kindness Lives supplement and on our website.

Following publication, the creative work will be passed to Gosport Routes, the local Arts Council England-backed Creative People and Places programme, to support the development of a community gallery. This gallery will provide an opportunity for children’s and young people’s creativity and voices to be seen and celebrated by the wider Gosport community.

To find out more about Good in Gosport: Where Kindness Lives and to get involved contact Sam Mitchell, Gosport Local Children’s Partnership Coordinator, at [email protected].

‘We want children and young people to remind us that kindness is happening in Gosport every day’

The Good in Gosport: Where Kindness Lives initiative has already received support from across Gosport, demonstrating a shared commitment in ensuring that young people’s positive voices are heard.

As well as Dame Caroline, Gosport Borough Council, Incredible Edible Gosport, Oarsome Chance and Your Space, Gosport are backing the initiative along with St Vincent College, Kings Academy Bay House, The Federation of Alver Valley Schools, Brune Park School and Bridgemary School.

Kirsty Robertson, CEO of Motiv8 and Co-Chair of Gosport Local Children’s Partnership, said: ‘Over recent months, our young people have been exposed to some difficult messages about their community. Some have told us that they have felt worried and uncertain about what they have seen happening around them.

‘But when we actually listen to children and young people, they tell us so much that is positive about Gosport. They talk about their friendships, the people who support them, their neighbourhoods, creativity, kindness and a real sense of community.

‘Good in Gosport is about giving them the opportunity to tell that story. We want children and young people to fill our town with their words, pictures, photographs, music and ideas and remind all of us that kindness is happening in Gosport every single day.’

Karen Loregan, Your Space Gosport, said: “We are a space for art and culture as well as offering sessions for young people to express themselves and tell us what they love about Gosport. It is so important to engender young people’s hopes and dreams for our amazing town and build upon what they already feel.”

Rachel Lang, Bridgemary School, said: ‘’At Bridgemary School, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment grounded in kindness, respect, and mutual understanding. We deeply value the rich cultural diversity of our community, actively educating one another to cultivate an empathetic, cohesive and supportive family. A true community is built around the people we care about.’’

Chris Willis, Headteacher at Bay House, said: "As a Trust, we are developing and leading several civic networks designed to bring strategic partners and community leaders together to enable connectivity and enhance the great work happening in Gosport. We look forward to collaborating with civic leaders and, in particular, celebrating our young people and their positive contributions to this town."

Incredible Edible Gosport said: “Projects like Good in Gosport: Where Kindness Lives help young people reflect on the positive things around them and remind us all of the strength, creativity and compassion that exists within our community. It creates an opportunity for children and young people to share their experiences and celebrate what connects us. We are delighted to support a project that encourages young people to celebrate the best of Gosport.”

Leo Burtin, Programme Director, Gosport Routes, said: ‘’I look forward to the clues our children and young people’s imagination can offer the rest of us to think about the kind of community we want to build together. Kindness is a theme that is powerful for creative activity in part because of how it provides us with a simple way to focus on the good we can do.’’