Eastleigh Youth and Community Trust appeals to residents to help bring the past of the trust back to life

IT IS the Hampshire charity that has tried to inspire hundreds of youngsters for more that 50 years.

Now the Eastleigh Youth and Community Trust is asking local residents to jog their memories and help bring the past back to life.

Founded by former Eastleigh councillor Godfrey Olson, it was officially registered as a charity back in 1962 with the name of Eastleigh Youth Centre.

However, it was only in 1966 that Princess Margaret descended to Eastleigh to officially open the trust’s new centre called The Nightingale Centre and based on Nightingale Avenue in Eastleigh.

From that date onwards the building became the base for the popular youth club and venues for many local family celebrations.

During the 80s and 90s the centre was at serious financial risk and risked to close.

However, it was thanks to the fundraising campaign led by the marching band the Senators Drum and Bugle Cops that the centre never closed.

During 1990s the Senators raised almost £100,000 to refurbish the Nightingale Centre and make it more suitable for the community.

Jim Vaughan, who has been chairman of the trust for 24 years, said: “We built on success of previous trustees and if the charity has expanded now is also thanks to the work of previous trustees. "Throughout the years the charity has inspired many youngsters to volunteer after they benefitted by taking part in the charity’s activities. Over 55 years the trust has had a positive impact on local youngsters and families making them feel part of one big community and feel valued.”

It was in 2000 that trustees realised that the building on Nightingale Avenue was unable to meet the new wider demand and in 2008 the charity moved to the Pavilion on the Park in Eastleigh, where the it is currently based and runs a host of activities including a cycling project for people with disability.

In a bid to support the community as a whole, the trust increased the number of services provided and changed its name into Eastleigh Youth and Community Trust.

However, despite hundreds of residents took part in the activities run by the trust throughout the years - such as sports and outdoor activities- there are no pictures, documents or video that describe those moments and this is why current trustees are appealing for residents to come forward and share their memories.

The charity has recently been granted £10,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to complete a project which will focus on the story of the people who have dedicated their life to the trust and the local community since 1962.

Heather Parsons, who is leading the project for the trust, said: “We want to try and get the community involved in doing the project. We would like to video record people telling their memories about the trust. This is a call for all generations.

“This has been a very powerful charity because it’s about the community and we don’t want to lose what the charity has done so far. We want to hear from people from the community who took part in any of the activities run by the trust or at the trust’s venue. Even if it was something very simple it doesn’t matter we want to keep it.”

All the stories, photos and documents that the charity will receive in the next few months will be displayed at the Pavilion on the Park in November, as part of an exhibition aimed at celebrating the charity’s 55th anniversary.

Those who would like to contribute to the projects as volunteers or share their memories are encouraged to contact Heather Parsons by emailing historyproject@paviliononthepark.org or calling 02380612710.