ParkLife project awarded grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
An exciting new project celebrating the people, stories and history of Leigh Park and Greywell has received a £56,640 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The funding will support ParkLife, a year-long heritage project that will recruit and support 35 young people seeking employment and training opportunities to create an exhibition and documentary marking 80 years of Leigh Park and 60 years of Greywell.
The young people have been supported by Havant’s Link Up Youth Hub, which helps those aged 16 to 24 across Havant Borough take their next steps into employment, education or training.
Working with Millstream Productions and Hampshire Libraries, the young people will gain valuable skills and experience in areas including community engagement, research, storytelling, filmmaking and exhibition development, helping them build confidence and improve future employment prospects.
Havant Borough Council is now calling on residents to get involved by sharing their memories and experiences of Leigh Park and Greywell. We are particularly interested in hearing from older generations and women who live or work in Leigh Park and the surrounding area.
Anyone interested in sharing their stories, photographs and memories can fill out an online form.
Councillor Gillian Harris, Leader of Havant Borough Council, said: "We are delighted to have secured support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for ParkLife. Thanks to National Lottery players, young people will be given the opportunity to play a leading role in preserving and sharing the stories from people who have grown up and live in Leigh Park and Greywell.
“As we celebrate 80 years of the Leigh Park Estate and 60 years of Greywell, we want to hear from as many people as possible. I encourage residents to contribute so the project can reflect the full diversity of experiences that have shaped the community over the decades."
A premiere screening of the documentary will be held at The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre in May 2027, providing an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate.
The exhibition will be open to the public for viewing at The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre throughout May 2027, before moving to Leigh Park Library throughout June 2027.
Notes to editors
About Havant Borough Council
Havant Borough Council is the local government authority for the Borough of Havant in southeast Hampshire.
Working with local communities and partners, the council supports projects and initiatives that help strengthen communities and celebrate the borough as a place to live, work and visit.
More information about our policies, plans and strategies can be found on our website.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6 billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
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