Latest News

Portsmouth Summer Fair & Picnic

Victoria Park Portsmouth PO1 2BG, Saturday June 25th 11am-4pm

Free fun for all the family with live music with local bands and DJs, around 100 stalls, including money saving, children's games, rides and circus skills, art, crafts and poetry, energy saving, Cafe-bar and food stalls as well as a green transport show.

For more information please visit www.portsmouthsummerfair.org, e-mail info@portsmouthcan.co.uk or telephone 02392 250267

Organised by Portsmouth Climate Action Network in partnership with Portsmouth City Council

Donate a Day

Groundwork Takes Part in Daybreak's volunteer campaign

Whether you’re looking to gain work experience and broaden your horizons, fulfil your passion in environmental issues or simply want to give a few hours a week to a cause that benefits your community, Groundwork is the organisation that can help you to do something special.

Our Trusts regularly work with volunteers, and getting involved in one of our projects could put you in a strong position to obtain full-time work – in fact many of our existing staff began their careers with us as volunteers. From administrative to practical ‘hands-on’ roles we can offer something to suit everyone

To find out what opportunities are available, please contact us.

All Mixed-Up

In June 2011, Groundwork Solents successful Youth scheme, Mix-up will be coming to Seafield!

Based at Seafield House the group will run on Thursday evenings with exciting activities for young people aged between 8 and 16.

Mix-Up News

On Saturday 28th August Rowner Mix-Up held a fete and street dance extravaganza at the Nimrod Community Centre to raise money for Help For Heroes, a charity chosen by the young people.

From 10 o’clock in the morning Rowner Street Dance crew (who are managed by the Ashcroft Arts Centre) and their superb dance tutor Erica Stretch were busy rehearsing for their dance shows that would kick off the afternoon’s activities. And while this was going on the young people who weren’t rehearsing set up the hall for the big fete.

It was a gloriously sunny day, the doors opened at 1pm and the turn out of people was great. Mums, Dads, Sisters, Brothers, Aunties and Uncles all turned up to support the group, watch them dance and spend some money along the way. And thanks to their generosity we were able to donate £119.43 to Help For Heroes, which was a significant amount of money.

So on behalf of all the young people at Mix-Up, Jo Fraser (Youth Project Assistant) would like to say a big thank you to all those people who showed up to support us and make this six week project a huge success.

Vintage Goodwood Gets A Victorious Vegetable Garden!

Groundwork Solent's 1940s inspired 'Dig for Victory' garden was a real success at the inaugural Vintage at Goodwood festival.

Built in a week by our Community Task Force Workers under the supervision of Tim Cooper, Program Manager, the garden was open for the 3 days of the festival. Visitors were able to see a selection of fruit and vegetables growing in the garden and take part in traditional activities - pickling onions and guessing the weight of the pumpkin. They were also able to try some rhubarb and ginger, or the more traditional rhubarb and custard, which was cut and cooked in the garden.

The chickens and ducks were a big draw, with added entertainment of the land girls working in the garden chasing them back into their enclosure. The chicken’s kindly provided eggs, the army encampment were quick to cook for their breakfast!

Other suppliers who supported us were: Hambrooks; Warrawee Duck Farm; Katherine Robey; Harry and Edna,Lane End Farm, Isle of Wight;Munneries, Chichester and St Mary’s Allotment holders, Gosport our many thanks to everyone involved.

Pictured right, the display shed and James explaining the garden to visitors!

Community Task Force in Havant

Groundwork Solent is pleased to announce the start of a new Community Task Force Team dedicated to Havant and Waterlooville.

Following work to create a split level pond at Waterlooville recreation ground at the start of the year, Groundwork Solent will now have a team dedicated to projects which benefit the community.

The team will start an additional maintenance service, clearing vegetation and restoring overgrown areas in Leigh Park on Monday 19th July. Tim Cooper, Program Manager SE Hants said, “We are delighted to be able to have a team working in Havant, many of the team are from Havant and are looking forward to the opportunity to improve their own local environment”.

The Community Task Force Workers are aged between 18-24 years and have been long term unemployed. Working for Groundwork Solent they are being trained in public and large space maintenance. In the six months they will be able to make a real difference and change the face of many well known areas.

Joy Okwuadigbo, Head of Regeneration Services at Havant Borough Council said: "The council are totally in support of this project. It provides the opportunity for local unemployed people to gain skills and experience on the six months programme whilst working on a project which is most valuable to the community."