Ignite 2025 Launches: 14 Local Leaders Begin Their Journey

On Wednesday 1 October 2025, the Ignite programme launched with its first gathering at October Books, Portswood, bringing together 14 local leaders from across Southampton.

The opening session focused on self-awareness and personal motivation, encouraging participants to explore what drives them as leaders while setting the tone for the next six months of shared learning and development.

Meet the Cohort

The 2025 cohort has been selected by our Advisory Group and Local Connectors, representing people who live or work in Southampton and who are committed to strengthening community, culture, and wellbeing in the city.

This year’s participants include community organisers, cultural leaders, charity professionals, creatives, and advocates for inclusion:

• Tracy Emm – Co-founder, Millbrook Matters | Focus: youth, education, wellbeing
• Antonio Chikhungu – Creative community-builder | Focus: culture, youth, housing
• Paul Lipscombe – Abri Mansbridge Group | Focus: voluntary sector
• Svante Ishtar – Politically and creatively driven | Focus: Black networks, inclusion
• Anjali Mavi & Renu Dublish – Co-founders, Hampshire Indian Community | Focus: cultural unity, inclusion, wellbeing
• Flis Pitman – Cultural engagement professional | Focus: creative projects, cohesion
• Chloe Naegeli – Charity professional | Focus: tackling loneliness, education
• Mandana Lamb – Trustee, Persian Cultural Centre | Focus: Iranian/Farsi-speaking community, youth, wellbeing
• Danielle Eccleston – Manager, Northam Community Link | Focus: housing estates, refugees, health
• David Warnes – Leads SO14 Active | Focus: sport, cohesion, inclusion
• Joe Hilliker – Videographer & creative activist | Focus: music, housing, youth
• Laura Ashby – Works with Change Grow Live & arts facilitation | Focus: wellbeing, recovery, resilience
• Kathi Iason – Co-founder, Millbrook Matters | Focus: Millbrook, health, youth

First Gathering Highlights

Alongside discussions and reflections, the day featured:

• Guest speakers: Luke Newland (Testlands, Old Bond Store) and Victoria Ugwoeme (Feed the Community, VOU, Omnirise), who shared their leadership journeys and community insights.
• Workshops and future training: Upcoming sessions include Presentation Skills with Sarina Mall, Fundraising Skills with Lucy Marder, and Initiating Change and Influence with Lucy Taylor.
• Lunch: Provided by EasyTz Meals, fuelling both conversation and connection.

What Participants Said

Feedback from the cohort shows just how impactful the first gathering was:

• “Lovely to meet you all today! Looking forward to the next one 🤓” – Flis Pitman
• “I really enjoyed today and have already taken on so much from the experience.” – Danielle Eccleston
• “It has made me think more about where and which direction I want to go.” – Tracy Emm

Looking Ahead

Over the next six months, Ignite participants will take part in workshops, skills sessions, and mentoring opportunities – building a strong foundation for their leadership journeys.

From January to March 2026, Southampton Forward will also be looking for shadowing opportunities for the cohort. If your organisation is interested in supporting this next generation of leaders, please get in touch at jasminematthews@southamptonforward.org.uk.

✨ Stay tuned for updates as the Ignite journey unfolds.

Shining a Light on Stories: Community Curator Ri Baroche

As part of City Reflections, a spectacular series of light projections coming to Southampton in February 2025, six Community Curators have been exploring the city’s archives, stories, and heritage. Each curator has worked closely with their own community, uncovering hidden histories and reflecting them back through collaboration with the creative team who are creating the projections.

We spoke with Ri Baroche, who has been working on the projection for Southampton City Art Gallery.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what brought you to the Community Curator role?

My name’s Ri Baroche. I’m a writer, performer, theatre-maker, and facilitator. I was really drawn to this project because I loved the idea of diving into the city archives, learning about Southampton’s past and present, and representing my community. Much of my work engages with the LGBTQ+ community and looks at ways to uplift voices in positive ways. This felt like a perfect opportunity to do that, while also connecting with other communities – something I think is really special about Southampton.

What building and theme have you been given?

I’ve been working with Southampton City Art Gallery, with the theme of art.

Can you talk a bit about how you have approached the project? How have you found the research element? How have you approached engaging your community?

I threw myself into the archives, and it’s been a real pleasure to work alongside the team there. Their enthusiasm and generosity really inspired me, and I started learning bit by bit about Southampton’s story and the themes that emerged.

Going into the vaults and seeing incredible works – some familiar, some completely new – was an absolute joy. At first, I worried there might not be much material to reflect the LGBTQ+ community in a positive way, but I quickly found inspiration in figures like Arthur Jeffress, a key part of Southampton’s story. From there, the connections kept unfolding.

I discovered artists with local or community connections, and others like Lucy Ash, who has been integral in celebrating the LGBTQ+ community locally. What started as a concern about finding material soon became the opposite – there was almost too much to choose from! That’s the beauty of research: you begin not knowing where to start, then a small spark leads you into a whole new world.

What has been the most meaningful or surprising part of the experience for you?

Two things stand out.

Firstly, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I was surprised and moved by how much relevant work there was in the collection – whether by queer artists or artists creating space for queer voices in the gallery. Seeing names like Lucy Ash and Keith Vaughan represented felt incredibly meaningful.

Secondly, the universal themes that emerged. The art gallery is such a beacon for Southampton: it was built on generosity, thanks to Robert Chipperfield’s gift in his will to establish the gallery and art school. That legacy has continued, and the gallery remains a place where people from elsewhere can feel welcome, reinvent themselves, and see themselves reflected. I hope that through my projection, people will see themselves too – even though it’s filtered through the lens of my community.

Has working on this project shaped or changed your thinking or approach to community and creativity? If so, how?

Yes, absolutely. I came into this project not as a visual artist or designer, but as someone from a writing, performance, and community background. At first I wondered, what can I contribute here? But I’ve realised that everything ultimately comes down to storytelling.

Whether it’s working with archives, museums, or creative teams in animation and projection, we’re all trying to tell stories. That’s what connects us. This project has encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone more, because with the right team and support, you can tell compelling stories that reveal new sides of a place – and help people see their city in a new light.

Now that you’re nearly ready to hand over to the creative team at Light Up Trails and Double Take, what are your hopes or reflections looking ahead?

For me, this project has already achieved what I hoped – it’s helped both myself and my community see ourselves more in our city. That feels especially important at a time when many people don’t feel welcome in the UK.

Through workshops, people had the chance to write letters to their younger selves about what they’d want them to know when first arriving in the city. The responses were moving, positive, and breathtaking – connecting with the gallery, with themselves, and with Southampton as home.

That has certainly been my own journey too. Southampton has given me so much – it has welcomed me, allowed me to reinvent myself, and been incredibly generous. I hope the projections help others feel the same: that Southampton is an amazing, welcoming, and generous place.

What does belonging in Southampton feel like to you?

For me, it looks like this project: bringing together diverse people, each representing their communities and following their own paths, but coming together in collaboration. We’ve supported, inspired, and listened to each other.

That’s what Southampton is about – people from different walks of life, all moving in the same direction, and now and then moving across to help someone else on their path forward.

Experience City Reflections

You can see Ri’s work – along with projections created by five other Community Curators – as part of City Reflections, taking place across Southampton from 18 – 21 February 2026

Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes interviews as we shine a light on the people and stories that make up this extraordinary city.

Interview with Stephen Muldowney-Mizen – Community Curator for Dancing Man Brewery Projection

As part of City Reflections – a 6 point projection light trail coming to Southampton in February 2026 – six Community Curators have been exploring Southampton’s archives and stories, each working with their own community to shape new light projections across the city.

Stephen Muldowney-Mizen has been working through Communicare in Southampton, a charity that supports older isolated people through a network of volunteers. His project has focused on giving a voice to those who are often less heard, while uncovering the city’s maritime heritage for the projection at the Dancing Man Brewery.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what brought you to the Community Curator role?

My name is Stephen Muldowney-Mizen. I’ve worked in the arts for a while, but more recently I’ve been working with Communicare Southampton, a charity that connects with lonely and isolated people living in the city.

I was drawn to this role because it felt like a chance to engage people with the city of Southampton, explore its past, and also give them a voice in shaping something for the future. It was important to me that people felt they had some control over how they see their city changing, and that they were engaged with art as part of that.

What building and theme have you been given?

I’ve been given the Dancing Man Brewery, with the theme of ships and shipping.

It’s a fascinating site. The brewery building was once the Wool House, central to Southampton’s trade, and later became the Titanic Museum. It already tells a story of the city’s maritime heritage. Now, as a pub loved by the community, it’s another example of how places change while still carrying the city’s history. For me, it’s been exciting to not only reflect on the past but also celebrate Southampton as a changing city where people still have a place in its future.

How have you approached the project, both in terms of the research and engaging your community?

The research has been a wonderful crash course in archives. I’ve been like a kid in a sweet shop, exploring endless boxes of records and artefacts – each with its own story and a little bit of magic. Narrowing down such a broad theme as “ships and shipping” has been a challenge, but also a real joy.

Engaging the community has been equally important, and quite a learning curve. The people Communicare supports are often hard to reach, so we’ve tried lots of approaches: sending out questionnaires, speaking to people on the phone, and involving our volunteers. We’ve gathered a huge range of responses about what ships and shipping mean to people.

We also held a get-together at SeaCity Museum, where I shared what I’d found in the archives. The community had complete control to say what they thought was important, what should change, and to add their own stories. The stories that came out of that were brilliant – moving, personal, and full of life.

What has been the most meaningful or surprising part of the experience for you?

The most surprising thing has been realising just how many people in Southampton have a connection to ships and shipping. Whether it’s a relative who worked as a waiter or chef on board, or a story of travelling across the world, almost everyone I’ve spoken to has a personal link.

It’s made me see how integral the maritime industry has been to Southampton’s identity – not just historically, but in the lives of people right up to today. The city doesn’t just live by the water, it thrives on it.

Now that you’re nearly ready to hand over to the creative team at Light Up Trails and Double Take, what are your hopes or reflections looking ahead?

I’m really excited to see what the creative team does with the images and artefacts we’ve collected. Their work is always astounding, and I can’t wait to see them breathe new life into these old objects and stories.

But most of all, I hope our community sees their work reflected back at them. I want them to feel they are still important to the city – because they are. I hope they see that their stories are treasured and that they still have a voice in shaping Southampton’s future.

What does belonging in Southampton feel like to you?

I’ve lived in Southampton for about five years. I moved here just before lockdown, and even during that time I felt such a strong sense of community – people looking out for one another, caring, and building something together.

To me, belonging in Southampton feels like being part of a city that celebrates its people and its past while building a future together. It’s a city with music, poetry, art, and life everywhere. Above all, it’s a place with a huge sense of community.

Experience City Reflections

You can see Stephen’s work – along with projections created by five other Community Curators – as part of City Reflections, taking place in Southampton’s Old Town and city centre from 18-21 February 2026.

City Reflections – Community Curators Present Their Ideas

Tuesday marked a major milestone in our journey with the Community Curators. After weeks of focused sessions delving into Southampton’s archives, running community workshops and visiting local heritage sites, our Curators gathered to present their findings and ideas to the production team.

Each Community Curator gave a well-researched 10-minute presentation, sharing the objects and stories they had selected in collaboration with their communities. These items were chosen for their ability to represent personal experiences and lesser-known aspects of Southampton’s heritage, many of which have rarely been shared in this way before.

The afternoon was filled with fresh perspectives and the presentations offered a real sense of just how much research each of the Community Curators had done, with community perspectives bringing new meaning and relevance to the city’s collections.

Now, the curators will begin the next exciting phase – working closely with the creative and production teams to shape these stories into a public light projection trail, showing 6 of Southampton’s iconic heritage buildings in a new light.

A big thank you goes to our Commuinty Curators, their communities and the Collections team at Southampton City Council for the curiosity and commitment they’ve brought to the process. We’re looking forward to what’s next!

Community Curators – A Month of Discovery and Connection

Our incredible Community Curators have had a packed few weeks, diving into their themes, engaging their communities, and unearthing powerful local stories.

Last week, each of our curators led special activities designed to explore and celebrate Southampton’s hidden histories – all part of the journey towards creating a spectacular light trail in February 2026.

Beth held a thoughtful workshop with members of the neurodivergent community, where participants shared personal reflections on history, identity, and visibility. Using their unique perspectives, they co-created a narrative that explores how Southampton’s stories can be told through a neurodivergent lens – celebrating both the visible and the unseen.

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Beth created a safe and welcoming space for us to learn and ask questions.

Anon, CR2 Beth’s Workshop

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The tour in particular brought the project to life, giving us much to consider.

Anon 2, CR2, Beth’s Workshop

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The tour in particular brought the project to life, giving us much to consider.

Anon 3, CR2, Beth’s Workshop

Stephen led a walking visit to SeaCity Museum with his group from Communicare, diving into the theme of ships and shipping. For many, the experience unlocked long-forgotten memories of working in the docks or brought forward powerful stories passed down through generations – including one participant’s recollection of returning to the UK from South Africa aboard The Pendennis Castle.

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“We had a brilliant time at SeaCity Museum today, such a great venue and the perfect place for ideas to be sparked. Lots of chatting and laughter with a little bit of a dream team! I now have a tidal wave of stories and notes to steer RMS Communicare through but everyone felt energised and glad to be there today. ”

Stephen, CR2, Community Curator

Ri welcomed local LGBTQIA+ community members to a free creative writing session at October Books. Drawing inspiration from the hidden treasures in the Southampton City Art Gallery store, they crafted beautiful, heartfelt postcards to their younger selves, capturing hopes, resilience, and untold stories. Ri also designed handmade invitations for the session, inspired by art collector Arthur Jeffress – a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a key figure in the gallery’s history.

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“We had a beautiful workshop this morning with the local LGBTQIA+ community at October Books in Portswood, looking through stand-out pieces and stories from the collection, and making and writing new ones. ”

Ri, CR2, Community Curator

Rajan brought 24 members of the local Asian community together for a heritage tour around SeaCity, Tudor House, and King John’s Palace. For some, it was their first time visiting these spaces. It sparked rich conversations, fresh ideas, and a renewed sense of pride in Southampton’s diverse heritage.

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What resonated most with me was the care and effort put into preserving these sites. It made me reflect on the importance of heritage—not just as a record of the past, but as a way to educate, inspire, and connect future generations. Overall, the experience left me more aware of how vital it is to protect these cultural assets and how they contribute to the uniqueness and character of a city.

Anon, CR2, Rajan’s Workshop

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The collections housed within these sites, such as artifacts, paintings, tools, and documents, deepened my appreciation for the city’s cultural and historical identity. They allowed me to visualize daily life in a different time and helped me understand how the city has evolved socially, economically, and politically.

Anon 2, CR2, Rajan’s Workshop

Abs has been exploring Black history through the lens of Black Plaques and Black History Month South – drawing particular inspiration from the Windrush Oral History Stories. His reflections are helping to shape a vital and often underrepresented strand of the wider narrative.

All of the ideas, stories and memories collected will now help shape the final concepts being handed over to Double Take Projections and Light Up Trails, who will transform them into striking light projections to be unveiled in early 2026.

Keep following for more behind-the-scenes updates as the trail begins to take shape!

Finding Herself in Southampton’s Story: Thelma’s Paralympic Gold

While exploring Southampton’s Oral History Archive, Community Curator Thelma was stunned to find a photo of her teenage self. Thelma joined the GB swimming squad at 14 years old, and aged just 16, Thelma made history at the 1988 Seoul Paralympics – becoming the first person from Southampton to win an Olympic gold. She went on to win 15 medals across her Paralympic career, including an incredible nine golds. At the 1988 Seoul Paralympics she won gold and bronze medals.

Since retiring from elite sport, Thelma has dedicated her time to community work and lifelong learning – earning a PhD and becoming a key figure in Southampton City Scouts, where she leads on volunteer development. She also chairs the Southampton branch of BackCare, is a Local Connector for Southampton Forward, and a proud member of the Saints Disabled Supporters Association.

Now, Thelma is one of our City Reflections Community Curators – helping shape a new 6-point light projection trail coming to the city in February 2026. Each curator is exploring a theme and building; Thelma’s is Culture at the Bargate. She’s on a mission to understand what ‘culture’ means to everyday people of Southampton – and to shine a light on little known stories and shared heritage.

We can’t wait to discover the stories Thelma and the team uncover in the months ahead.