Rediscovering community through volunteering

Paul Lipscombe

I was born in Mansbridge in 1969 and spent my first 35 years here, attending Mansbridge Primary and Bitterne Park Secondary. It was a close-knit estate where families stayed for generations. Although work took me to Northamptonshire for many years, my mother is still in the same house after almost 60 years, and my daughter lives nearby, so when I returned to the city in early 2024, it felt like coming home.

My working life began on a Youth Training Scheme and led to a 38-year career in retail. When my company was taken over by Homebase in 1989, I became a store manager and later opened several stores across Hampshire before relocating to Northamptonshire in 2000.

After years of moves and promotions, everything changed in 2019 when I suffered a stroke. Living far from my support network in a place I had no real connection to, I made the decision to return to Mansbridge and rebuild my life.

Once I had settled back in the city, I found myself wanting to reconnect with the community that had shaped me. That’s what led me to join Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust as a Wilder Champion for Mansbridge, supporting community events and helping people connect with nature,

I now look after the wildlife allotment on the estate – an important green space supported by Abri Housing Association. It’s a small but significant area that plays a key role in local biodiversity, and we’re currently working on plans to improve the site further to encourage wildlife and protect our greenspace for years to come.

Through my volunteering I’ve also become involved in projects celebrating Mansbridge’s history. As part of the estate’s centenary celebrations, Abri commissioned a mosaic by Will Rosie, one of the UK’s leading mosaic artists. The artwork is based on memories shared by residents, and I had the chance to visit the workshop and help with its creation.

Another important part of my week is volunteering at the Free Food Shop at Swaythling Station. We collect surplus food from major retailers through Foodiverse and other organisations, and the support we offer is vital to many local residents. The Freeshop and BabyBank, supported by the Community Rail Partnership and run initially by Bob Painton and Mark Miller, has been operating for five years now. It’s a well-coordinated, well-attended community effort, delivered entirely by volunteers – bringing people together in a meaningful way.

I’m also about to take on another exciting challenge – managing a large allotment plot with the help of a team of volunteers. Our plan is to grow vegetables throughout the year, with the produce being shared through the Roundabout Café, a community café run by Abri and supported by volunteers.

Environmental work remains a big interest of mine. Abri recently planted 100 trees for the estate’s centenary. Cara Headon, Abri Community Engagement Office and Jill Doubleday, Wilder Communities Officer at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trust set up a tree guardian scheme and I’ve helped encourage residents to act as “tree guardians”, caring for the young trees. We’ve also planted bulbs around their bases to support pollinators. These small actions add up when a whole community takes part.

I’m hoping to volunteer with the Final Straw Foundation as they work to restore native oyster populations in the Solent. Around 10,000 oysters will be released in the coming months, helping rebuild a species that has declined by 95% due to overfishing, pollution and habitat loss. As natural ecosystem engineers, oysters play a vital role in supporting biodiversity.

I’ve found that through my volunteering, I’ve unintentionally encouraged others to get involved too. Seeing neighbours and friends come together has created a strong sense of community on the estate. I’ve enjoyed taking part in the Mansbridge Memories Group, where long-standing residents share their stories and reflect on the history of the area. It’s been a wonderful reminder of what makes this place so special.

Recently, I had the privilege of joining Southampton Forward’s Ignite leadership programme, where I’ve been delighted to represent the Mansbridge community. Even after years in senior roles, I firmly believe that learning never stops. Being part of a group with people from different backgrounds has been incredibly valuable.

Coming back to Southampton has given me the chance to reconnect, to give back and to grow. I feel proud to be part of a community that supports each other, celebrates its history and works together to protect its future.