Riah Bunce devoted herself to charity work with FirstLight Trust, supporting veterans and armed forces families. But when it suddenly closed its doors in December 2024, she felt something deeper than shock, she felt responsibility.
“The charity was closing but the need was still there,” she tells me. “My colleague Sam and I knew what we were doing – we had a combined 16 years of experience working in the charity sector and supporting our local community, and we knew that local people relied on us, so I just thought… why can’t we carry on even if the charity isn’t? Why can’t we build something ourselves that help the very people that FirstLight Trust was helping? So, I asked Sam if she wanted to start something together,” says Riah enthusiastically. “Sam could have said no – but she trusted me – and said yes.”
Within four weeks, Riah and her friend and colleague, Samantha Fry, created a Community Interest Company, calling it ‘Stronger Together Community CIC’.
The CIC officially opened in spring 2025, and in less than a year it has become one of Gosport’s most uplifting success stories. Operating as a portable community hub, Stronger Together supports people over 50 and armed forces veterans through activities, wellbeing support, home visits, and simple human connection.
“We’re dedicated to combating isolation and loneliness by building confidence, introducing new hobbies, and fostering new friendships. Our mission is to promote both physical and mental well-being within a safe and supportive community,” says Riah.
Their impact has been so significant that, just eight months after opening, Riah and Sam were invited to the Houses of Parliament by MP Caroline Dinenage to celebrate their contribution to the community.
“It was surreal,” Riah laughs. “We didn’t even know we’d been nominated. We just received an email out of the blue inviting us to Parliament. It was such a fulfilling moment, we were completely overwhelmed. Riah says that the pair decided to turn it into their Christmas work do. ” A cheeky cocktail and a trip to Westminster, what more could we want?” she laughs.
But behind the humour is something powerful: two women who refused to let their community fall through the cracks.
A friendship that became a lifeline
Riah and Sam first met while working at FirstLight Trust. When the charity closed in December, instead of just leaving that day, they stayed on until January to support people through the transition – even though they themselves had been made redundant.
Their roles at the charity – Riah as National Activity and Coordinator, Sam as National Support Coordinator – became the foundation for something bigger. Today, they are the only paid employees of Stronger Together, supported by a silent director, Jacqui, and a growing network of volunteers and partners, and sponsorship and funding from the likes of Gosport Borough Council, The National Lottery Community Fund and Sport England Funding.
“Running it ourselves is very handson,” Riah explains. “We’re everything: the planners, the doers, the fundraisers, the people knocking on doors. But we love it.”
A portable hub with a big heart
Stronger Together doesn’t have a fixed office. Instead, they bring support directly to the people who need it.
“We use , Elson Hub, The Vine Alver Valley’s function room and Lee Hub – some of them give us space for free, which is incredible. And Sam does home visits too, which is so important for people who can’t get out.”
Riah says she wants every person to feel seen, heard, valued, and truly connected. “We do this by creating tailored support plans and activities that improve physical and mental health.”
Their weekly timetable is packed. “Mondays we have Pilates for example. We also host walking groups, and wellbeing activities, and thanks to funding from Sport England, we were able to secure a minibus to collect those that are not mobile. Tuesdays is our thriving allotment project, where people gather each week to grow vegetables, learn new skills, and simply enjoy being outdoors. We also host monthly community meetings and open days, attracting 15–30 people at a time. We always have a lot going on!”
The allotment has become a symbol of everything Stronger Together stands for. “We always say you don’t need green fingers. Our carrots sometimes fail,” Riah giggles, “But our potatoes and leeks thrive,” she continues to laugh. “It’s all part of it. We teach people how to grow the vegetables; we then give out recipe cards and people take the veg home to make something with it. We have also made community hampers with the produce, which always go down well. We offer nutritional information new skills, an outside activity and opportunity to interact and connect with others. Some veterans don’t pick the veg and just come to sit in the wildflower area and have a chat. It’s peaceful. It’s theirs to do as little or as much with as they want.”
The project has already won Best Allotment Project, Best Wildlife Area, and Best Hanging Baskets in Gosport in Bloom 2025. “Winning the awards was such a special moment. Sam and I loved seeing the expressions on the faces that won the awards, you know – those that turn-out at the allotment week after week. It was recognition of that. It really meant a lot to a lot of people,” says Riah.
Rebuilding confidence, one person at a time
Stronger Together now supports 98 people, including a remarkable 83% of the veterans they previously worked with. “The fact that we managed to keep 83% of those that used the previous charity was fantastic as we were not allowed to take any data away when the charity closed. We literally walked the high street and knocked on doors,” Riah says. “We said, ‘You may have lost the charity, but you haven’t lost us.’ And people came in floods.”
Their oldest veteran is 98. He attends activities, joins in, and was recently taught by Sam and Riah how to use his tablet to FaceTime his family outside of England while staying internet safe.
“That moment was huge,” Riah says. “Seeing him connect with his family again – that’s what this is all about. Connecting people so they are not isolated.”
Riah says another highlight was helping a veteran who has restricted mobility and hadn’t been outside for 18 months. Thanks to Sport England funding, they were able to collect him by minibus and take him out on with Electric wheelchair into the woods.
“The look on his face… that’s the moment I’ll never forget.”
Why their work matters
Loneliness and isolation can creep in quietly, even in a town as closeknit as Gosport.
“Gosport is vibrant,” Riah says. “But if you don’t know what’s out there or don’t have a network of people around, you can become isolated very quickly. We help people build bubbles, networks and friendships.”
Riah says it has been fantastic seeing people meet outside their groups. “Over Christmas we were worried about some veterans being alone, but it was wonderful to find out that many met up, went for walks, had a coffee. That’s our ultimate dream for these people.”
Stronger Together’s support goes far beyond activities. They help with:
- Budgeting and money management
- Checking benefit eligibility
- IT support
- Confidence building
- Home visits for those unable to get out
“It’s the same work we did before,” Riah says, “but it’s more personal, more flexible, more us,” she smiles, before taking a sip of her tea.
A vision for the future
In the next 10 years, Riah and Sam hope to secure a permanent hub – a place that belongs to the community they’ve nurtured.
“We want people to feel seen, heard, valued, and truly connected,” Riah says. “That’s our legacy. A Gosport where no one feels alone.”
What keeps her motivated on tough days?
“The people. Always the people. Seeing them get fitter, make friends, volunteer, find joy again. That’s everything.”
A community built on trust, friendship, and pure heart
Riah and Sam work together Monday to Friday, in their spare time walk Rosie the dog and still haven’t had a single argument.
“We bounce off each other,” Riah says. “We share the same passion for Gosport. We were both raised here and just love the community of Gosport and what it represents. We’re a real team – with heart and soul.”
Sam and Riah’s story is one of resilience, friendship, and a fierce belief in community. In just a year, they’ve built something that is already changing lives – and they’re only just getting started.
“Stronger Together Community isn’t just our name,” Riah says. “It’s who we are. It’s what we believe. And it’s what we’re building – one person at a time.”
Contact Information
For activities, please call Riah on:
📞 07342 588166
📧 riah.strongertogether@gmail.com
For support, please call Sam on:
📞 07522 845928
📧 sam.strongertogether@gmail.com
Activities:
Monday
Free Pilates sessions
7pm – 8pm
Elson Community Library Hub
136 Chantry Road, PO12 ANG
Tuesday
Allotment growing
10am – 12.30pm
Brockhurst Allotments
Military Road, Gate 3, Plot 86A, PO12 3AW
Wednesday – Coffee and Chat Sessions
10am – 12pm
1st Wednesday of every month:
Elson Community Library & Hub
10am – 12pm
136 Chantry Road, Gosport, PO12 4NG
2nd Wednesday of every month:
The Vine
10am – 12pm
64 Stoke Road, Gosport, PO12 1PA
3rd Wednesday of every month:
Alver Valley Garden Centre – Function Room
10am – 12pm
Howe Road, Gosport, PO13 8NZ
4th Wednesday of every month:
Lee Hub
10am – 12pm
14 High Street, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9BZ
Monthly Walking Groups
(Contact Stronger Together Community for date and location)
Monthly Quizzes
Every last Wednesday of the month
5pm start
The Vine, 64 Stoke Road, Gosport