Hampshire Flag Company refresh URBOND’s community space
In the heart of Portsmouth, URBOND is a charity that fosters opportunities for young people while championing equality and wellbeing across the wider community.
The team run a range of inclusive activities, including weekly youth clubs, music sessions, book clubs, educational workshops, talk shows, workshops for the deaf community, and a food bank service for those in need. They are also quick to open their space to other local groups that need facilities to bring people together.
Hampshire Flag Company (HFC) helped URBOND with a complete design overhaul of their three-floor premises – already home to an office space, games room, library, music studio and other workspaces. As the beating heart of the charity, it was essential that the final result epitomised the vibrancy of their brand.
HFC began with a series of site visits and meetings to fully understand URBOND’s practical requirements and the experience they wanted to create. They devised a number of cohesive concepts centred around distinct themes, taking into account the different function of each space while allowing for some individual character.
When the designs were approved, each item was prepared for print and imposed using specialist software that readied them for cutting, before being pushed through a Raster Image Processor to transition the artwork into a series of colour channels aligned with the printer’s set-up. After printing, the items were carefully heated to cure the inks and trimmed to within 0.1mm.
With just four days left for installation after printing, HFC developed a detailed installation plan that maximised efficiency while creating opportunities to involve URBOND’s young users in the process, strengthening their bond with the space.
The installation plan featured a thorough inventory of all design elements arriving, instructions for preparing surfaces for application, and a clear labelling system.
A systematic room-by-room approach ensured every element was installed correctly, but at the end of each day, thorough snagging took place and worksheets were updated to monitor progress.
By completion, the space was almost unrecognisable from its former state.
On Tuesday 12 May 2026, URBOND hosted an unveiling event for users, staff, local dignitaries, and community leaders. Here they not only showcased their revived space, but also explained in greater detail the difference it will make to their work moving forwards.
Ruby Plato, Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator at URBOND, speaks highly of the new space: “The impact of Hampshire Flag Company’s work will be felt by our young people and community members every day they walk through our doors. One of the best parts of the process was seeing young people involved throughout – they had the opportunity to share ideas, get hands-on experience, and play a real role in shaping the space.”