Plot Lines

Led by artists and writers, and using the power of storytelling and words to connect people, Plot Lines aims to gather, listen to and share your stories and anecdotes from living in and near Waterlooville.

We’ll be offering free workshops and events from April 2025 and also providing informal opportunities to meet with our Plot Lines writer in residence Aoife Mannix. Aoife is an award winning poet and writer who is keen to chat with local residents about their personal experiences of moving to the area, their feelings about home, their memories, and their dreams for the future.

Plot Lines is about creating space for residents to share ideas, develop new skills, and guide creative activity in Newlands, Berewood and the wider area. Two new groups are being set up—one for adults, and one for young people aged 14 and over—to help imagine, initiate and shape future creative projects in the area. Group members will take part in regular sessions (a mix of in-person and online), meet new people, and explore what creativity can look like in public spaces.

If you would like to be part of one of these groups please find some more information below:

Info Pack and How to Apply (adults) here

Info Pack and How to Apply (young people) here

Drop-in Q&A Sessions

We’re running online advice sessions on Zoom if you have any questions. No booking is required.

10 May 2025, 10am (Info session for parents and guardians) Link to join

17 May 2025, 10am (Info session - all welcome) Link to join

5 June 2025, 7pm (Info session for parents and guardians) Link to join

12 June 2025, 7pm (Info session - all welcome) Link to join

Come along and say hi—we’ll answer your questions and help you decide what group is right for you!

Please apply before 23 June 2025 if you would like to take part.

Upcoming events:

Crossing Newlands
27 May 2025, 10–1pm
Wellington Vale Care Home, Darnel Rd, Denmead A cross generational workshop led by Southern Music Project for children to meet residents at the care home whose stories and memories will be put to music with Adam Denman and Aoife Mannix. There will be a performance at the end of the session for family and friends in the cinema room at the care home. The workshop is for ages 7 - 11 years, no previous musical experience is required. This is a free event, to book a place please contact [email protected]

Plot Lines in the Landscape
15 June 2025, 10–1pm
A celebration of urban wildlife and the stories we find in nature. Join us for a free, family-friendly day of discovery on your local nature reserve. Led by Steve Bolton, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Emily Dewhirst, founder of Dragonfly Arts and writer-in-residence Aoife Mannix, this creative walk invites you to explore what can be found in the natural world on your doorstep. Along the way, you’ll take part in fun creative activities and finish with a hands-on workshop where you’ll create your own imaginative map of the reserve.

10am, meet at Newlands Community Hall car park

10-11.30am, walk the nature reserve, there will be three main stopping points to rest along the way.

11.30am, return to Newlands Community Hall to make your own map of the nature reserve!

Please make sure to dress for the weather. You are welcome to stay for all or part of the walk or workshop, dropping in and out throughout the event is not a problem. No booking is required to take part, if you have any questions please get in touch. This is a free event and all are welcome.

Some frequently asked questions:

Do I need creative writing experience to take part in the workshops?
Not at all! The workshops are open to everyone, whether you’re a complete beginner or have been writing for years. If you’re simply curious you’re very welcome to come along. The project is just as much about listening to stories as it is about writing them – you don’t need to be a writer to have a great tale to share, and you’re just as welcome to join in as a listener.

Who can take part?
Anyone is welcome! Whether you live locally, have a connection to the area, or are just interested in creative projects, we’d love to have you involved.

I want to put on my own creative event in the area and/or be more involved in what’s going on and I’ve some great ideas I’d like to share. Can you help with that?
Gail Howard, our community facilitator, is available to speak to people who are interested in putting on events in the future. Please get in touch and tell us about your idea!

I’m interested in taking part but I’m not into writing, will you be doing other events?
Yes! You don’t have to attend a workshop to take part. We will have talks from Aoife Mannix as well as more informal events you are welcome to come along to. Please get in touch with Gail if you’d like to be more involved.

Will events be accessible?
We’re committed to making our events as inclusive as possible. If you have any specific access needs, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

How is the programme funded?
The programme is funded by a developer’s contribution which was agreed as part of the planning permission for West Waterlooville via Winchester City Council. The Agreement states that the contribution has to be spent on art.

Who is involved in the project?
Studio Response are leading on the project. Also involved as part of the team are Artful Scribe, SOUP design studio as well as our fantastic writers, assistant workshop facilitators, evaluators and community facilitator.
We will also be linking up with local creative organisations and community groups in the area. Please get in touch if you’d like to be involved.

If you have questions please email us at: [email protected]

Or you can call or message Gail Howard, our Community Facilitator: 07930 397982

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