David Coppinger and his team are bringing together Transition Lymington and Maritime Futures Hub to get Reimagine Pennington & Lymington off the ground — a welcoming place where young people can meet local makers and older residents, learn practical skills, and turn unwanted materials into useful or beautiful things.

They're now looking for a temporary home in Pennington or Lymington: an empty shop, workshop or community space could work. They'd also love to hear from artists, makers, DIY enthusiasts, community groups and businesses who could lend skills, materials or support.

Reimagine: A new community Initiative calls on Pennington and Lymington to help bring generations together

Local initiative seeks premises, skilled volunteers, community partners and businesses to

help create a place where people, skills and unwanted materials can find new purpose.

A new community initiative is calling on residents, businesses, charities and property owners across

Pennington, Lymington and the wider New Forest to help create a shared space where generations can come

together, learn practical skills and give unwanted materials a new lease of life.

Reimagine Pennington & Lymington, being developed with Transition Lymington and the Maritime Futures

Hub, aims to bring together older people with skills and experience to share, younger people looking for

opportunities to discover their potential, and local organisations committed to sustainability, creativity and

community wellbeing.

The initiative is now seeking a suitable temporary home, alongside the people and organisations who can

help bring the project to life.

A place to belong, discover, believe and be

At the heart of Reimagine is a simple idea: everyone has something to offer, and everyone deserves

somewhere to belong. Older residents, retired tradespeople, artists, makers and craftspeople will be

encouraged to share their knowledge and experience with younger generations. Young people will have

opportunities to explore practical skills, meet new people, develop confidence and discover interests they may

never previously have considered. Meanwhile, discarded materials will be given a second life through creative

reuse, repair and upcycling.

BELONG ® DISCOVER ® BELIEVE ® BE

David Coppinger, who is helping develop Reimagine through the Maritime Futures Hub, said:

“We have people in our community with a lifetime of skills and experience who would love the opportunity

to pass them on. We have young people who need somewhere to belong, to meet others, to try new things

and discover what they are capable of.

“And we have an extraordinary amount of material being thrown away that could become something

useful, beautiful or valuable. Reimagine is about bringing those three things together. It’s about giving

people, skills and materials a new purpose.

“We don’t need everyone to offer money. Sometimes the most valuable contribution is a few hours of

someone’s time, an empty workshop, a sewing machine or an introduction to someone who can help.”

From old sails to new opportunities

Reimagine is developing a programme of practical, creative and environmentally responsible activities,

including transforming discarded sails and textiles into bags, clothing and accessories; repairing and

rebuilding bicycles; repurposing pallets and timber into furniture; creating hedgehog houses and bird boxes;

and exploring pottery, painting, sewing and craft. Young people may also develop products to sell at local

markets.

REIMAGINE • PENNINGTON & LYMINGTON 2

Activities will accommodate different ages, abilities and levels of experience, with opportunities to progress

from introductory projects to more ambitious work. The intention is an environment where learning is

enjoyable, practical and collaborative, rather than another classroom.

The search for a home

The immediate priority is finding suitable premises in Pennington or Lymington. The team welcomes

conversations with owners of vacant retail units, workshops, former commercial premises, community

buildings or other underused spaces. A temporary arrangement would be particularly welcome, allowing the

initiative to establish itself while longer-term opportunities are explored.

Premises do not need to be perfect. The project is willing to explore opportunities where decorating,

adaptation or improvement could form part of the community effort, subject to appropriate permissions and

safety requirements.

“We know there are buildings sitting empty while people in our community are looking for somewhere to

come together,” David added. “If someone has a property that could work, even for a year, we’d love to

have a conversation. We may be able to give that building a new purpose while creating something

genuinely valuable for the community.”

A call to the whole community

Reimagine is particularly keen to hear from property owners and landlords with suitable premises; artists,

makers, tradespeople and retired professionals willing to mentor; environmental and community groups;

charities and youth organisations; businesses able to contribute equipment, materials, expertise or

sponsorship; and young people aged approximately 13–21 who want to help shape the initiative.

The project also welcomes anyone who simply wants to volunteer, meet others or become part of a positive

local initiative.

Building something together

Reimagine is being developed as a collaborative community initiative, bringing together the environmental

focus of Transition Lymington and the youth, skills and community ambitions of the Maritime Futures Hub.

Rather than duplicating existing organisations, the intention is to create a shared environment in which

community groups, charities, businesses and volunteers can work alongside one another.

The team hopes to establish an initial pilot in Pennington or Lymington, creating a foundation for a

longer-term programme of community activity.

David concluded: “We’re not asking the community to support a finished project. We’re inviting people to

help build it. Whether you’re 16 or 76, whether you have a workshop, a skill, a business, an idea or simply

a few hours to spare, there could be a place for you. Imagine what we could create if we brought all that

energy, experience and enthusiasm together.”

GET INVOLVED

David Coppinger | Maritime Futures Hub

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 07786 307572

Pennington and Lymington, Hampshire

ENDS

Notes to editors

Reimagine Pennington & Lymington is an emerging community initiative being developed with Transition Lymington and the Maritime Futures Hub. It seeks to connect intergenerational mentoring, practical skills, creative reuse, environmental responsibility and opportunities for young people. It is currently seeking suitable premises and expressions of interest from volunteers, community organisations, businesses, sponsors and prospective partners.

The Maritime Futures Hub is also developing plans to bring Lymington’s historic Drill Hall back into community use, focusing on young people, maritime heritage, practical skills and community participation. Reimagine is a community pilot being developed alongside those wider ambitions; it does not depend on the Drill Hall becoming available.