Hampshire County Council

10/06/2026

Thanks to the Daily Echo for sharing this brilliant story and wishing Georgia every success as she relaunches her career. It’s fantastic to see Skills Bootcamps making a difference like this.

There are lots of Skills Bootcamps opportunities across a range of sectors in Hampshire, so if you’re thinking about your next move, do take a look via the link in the comments 👇

Skills Bootcamps are short, flexible courses and are open to Hampshire residents aged 19+. For individuals, the courses are completely free.

A Southampton mum has relaunched her career after completing a tech bootcamp.

10/06/2026

Do you live in Gosport, Andover or Alton?

We’ve got some exciting news if you do! Best Start Family Hubs are coming to each of these locations, bringing support for your families closer to home 💙

These hubs are friendly, welcoming spaces where you can access a wide range of help from pregnancy and early years through to starting school and beyond – all in one place. Whether you’re looking for parenting advice, health support, early learning guidance, or just someone to talk to, the hubs will be there for you.

As well as the hubs, we’ll also be launching a series of network sites to extend support out to other parts of each community. We’ve added the locations to look out for in the comments below. And you’ll also find a link with further information too. 🔗

10/06/2026

Caring relationships can be complex – but feeling afraid, controlled or unsafe is never part of care.

When a carer is also someone causing harm, domestic abuse can go unrecognised.

This , let’s raise awareness: abuse is never acceptable and help is out there.

Call the Hampshire Domestic Abuse Advice Line today on 03300 165 112 for free, confidential support and advice, or visit the link in the comments.

Stop Domestic Abuse

09/06/2026

Did you know, your child could receive funded childcare / early years education in an approved Ofsted registered nursery, pre-school or with a childminder the term after they turn two years old.

Your family may be eligible if you have a low income or are unemployed, or if your child:

- Has been in care and/or adopted
- Has a current statement of SEN or an Education, Health and Care Plan
- Receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

For more information, to check eligibility and apply online visit the link in the comments or speak to your childcare provider.

📷 Adobe Stock

07/06/2026

Meet Kate and Maggie – our wonderful volunteer gardeners helping to make Bickerley Green care home in Ringwood bloom.

From planting seasonal flowers to keeping the gardens looking their best, they make a real difference to life at the home.

Kate said: “I love seeing residents enjoying the garden and spending time outdoors. It’s lovely knowing that something we do can bring pleasure to so many people.”

Maggie enjoys both the gardening and the friendships she’s made along the way. “Volunteering at Bickerley Green is so rewarding. It’s a chance to do something I enjoy while giving something back to the local community.”

A huge thank you to Kate and Maggie, and to all our amazing volunteers who help make our care homes such welcoming and vibrant places to live.

Interested in volunteering with us? Find out more in the comments.

05/06/2026

Do you drive an electric vehicle or want to go electric? 🚗⚡

New plans to roll out thousands of community EV charge points across the county will make it easier than ever, especially for those without a private driveway or garage.

Announced today, this ambitious plan will be delivered at no cost to the County Council due to Government funding and major private investment.

With around a third of Hampshire households lacking off-street parking, the chargers will be installed on streets in local neighbourhoods, helping more people access reliable charging close to home.

The initiative will support a growing number of EV drivers, improve air quality, and help cut carbon emissions.

We’ll be working with leading charge point operator, Believ, to develop the scheme – and people can now nominate locations where they would like to see charge points installed. This will help to ensure chargers are placed where they’re needed most.

Learn more via the link in the comment section below.

Photo - Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for Universal Services (left) and Matt Croucher, CCO Believ (right) marking the launch of the new scheme.

05/06/2026

Consider composting to make a difference this World Environment Day 🌍

Composting is a simple, cost-effective way to reduce waste, cut emissions, and help your garden to thrive all year round. 🌱

Purpose-built compost bins keep everything contained and neat. But you can also make your own, which is especially useful to ensure the bin size fits the space you have available.

Our Smart Living webpages offer helpful information on how to get started – and there’s also a link to discounted home composting bins for Hampshire residents.

If you cannot compost at home, and have a kerbside food waste collection, a reminder that food scraps are recycled to produce valuable renewable gas and organic fertilizer.

Whether composting or food recycling, it’s small daily actions that all add up to make a big difference.

05/06/2026

Anne-Marie is one of over 30 Waste Prevention Community Champions across Hampshire and has been volunteering with us since the scheme began in 2015 — that’s 10 years of inspiring others to reduce waste, save money and help the planet! 🌍

Since 2015, our Waste Prevention Community Champions have:

- Given nearly 2,000 hours of their time

- Attended 350 events — from school assemblies to summer fayres

- Engaged with over 20,000 people about reducing household waste

In her role, Anne-Marie speaks to local residents through talks, community events and library sessions, using interactive games and resources to make waste reduction fun and accessible.

"I really enjoy meeting all sorts of different people, particularly when I’m running a stall at a community event or space. It’s very satisfying to feel part of something practical that can make a difference to the world, even in a small way.

“We all know that we need to reduce waste but it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, and sometimes just a little can make a significant difference to them and encourage them to think of other ways they can avoid waste.”

Thank you to Anne-Marie and all our amazing Waste Prevention Community Champions 💚



Smart Living

04/06/2026

Study spaces, blood pressure monitors, board game clubs, and of course books! Your local library has so much to offer ⬇️📖

Today is Day!

Delivered by The Reading Agency as part of the , it is a chance to explore everything your library has to offer.

Visit your local Hampshire Library to find out about the all the amazing activities and services there, or visit our website: https://www.hants.gov.uk/librariesandarchives/library

If you already visit, tell us what your favourite thing is about the library in the comments ⬇️

Hampshire County Council

03/06/2026

Every year our Summer Reading Challenge encourages thousands of children in Hampshire to keep on top of their reading skills over the summer holidays. It wouldn’t be possible without our wonderful volunteers, who support families to get involved, talk to children about their chosen reads, and hand out the all-important medals when they have completed the challenge.

Volunteers must be aged 14 and over and will receive training before getting started. We’re recruiting volunteers now – visit the link in the comments if you’d like to get involved!

Library Service - Hampshire County Council