The first half of 2018 has been a busy one across the Shaping family. Here’s a quick roundup of some of what’s been going on since the last major update at the Shaping Conference in January.

Our Business & Enterprise team have expanded the Business Support Bank. Now into it’s second year, the Bank has already delivered nearly 100 hours of free mentoring to small businesses in Portsmouth. The team is recruiting new mentors and expanding the offer to as many new applicants as possible. They are also working on two new project pilots; supporting onward career options for service leavers alongside the Career Transition Partnership, and supporting small businesses looking to raise money through crowdfunding, in partnership with the Crowdfunder platform.

Last week, Emirates Spinnaker Tower launched a brand new adrenaline experience at the iconic waterside landmark in Portsmouth. ‘The Drop’ gives brave participants the feeling of freefall as they leap from a platform 25 metres above sea level - but they are jumping safe in the knowledge that a harness and rigging will ensure they have a safe landing.

Port Solent is launching the first of its Watersports Weekends on Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1th July with the proceeds benefitting its 2018 charity partner, the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.

Families will have the chance to get out on the water and try kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding in the sectioned off area of the Port Solent marina from 11am - 4pm with a small charity contribution of £5 for the activities requested.

Dr Jen Gupta demonstrating the Tactile Universe to Ishaq Oslam from Tonybee School in Southampton.

A University of Portsmouth project is helping blind and visually impaired children to ‘feel’ the Universe.

The Tactile Universe has been developed by the University’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation to engage the blind and visually impaired community with astrophysics research.