A SOUTHAMPTON community group are creating a new space for for volunteer or community-based groups.

Bitterne Community Corner Ltd is a not-for-profit company run wholly by unpaid volunteers which was formed to manage a small piece of land off the alleyway in Bitterne Precinct which has been donated to Bitterne Community for community use.

The aim is to provide a free space for volunteer or community-based groups to hold sessions advertising the services they offer the local community.

The group are currently in the process of installing a new community noticeboard in the precinct and aim to outfit the land with a shed, tables, chairs, gazebo and other equipment.

However, the organization still need new fencing to boarder the space.

David Eddy, director of the Bitterne Community Corner said: "We are urgently looking for funds or assistance from a local fencing company to enable us to replace the tired wooden fencing with new metal mesh fencing.

"We heard from the the Axtell Group who have generously offered to support us with the resurfacing and concrete of the site, so we are now so close to achieving our goal.

"We are lucky that Bitterne still has a vibrant shopping precinct and we aim to keep it that way and hopefully enhance the experience for local people."

The aim is for the group to launch Bitterne Community Corner officially on August 8 to coincide with Bitterne Festival, which will be opened by the Mayor of Southampton.

David added: "We are taking over the whole of the shopping precinct, providing fun and mainly FREE activities for families and children between 11am and 3pm.

"There will be stalls run by charities, agencies involved in the community, fostering, housing, homeless societies, mental health, safe families, children’s play groups and local Alzheimer’s and dementia groups.

"These will provide information, support and help to the whole community.

"We will also be promoting, in association with local dementia awareness groups, Bitterne as a dementia-friendly place.

"The last festival held in 2017 attracted over 4,000 people during the day. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fund this last year, so we have taken on the mantle for 2019."