City Arts Portsmouth and Make @Aldingbourne Enterprises

The reopening of the John Pounds Centre Café is the result of a collaborative effort between City Arts Portsmouth CIC and Make @ Aldingbourne Enterprises, focused on creating a space that supports adults with learning disabilities and autism and increasing a sense of community.

City Arts Portsmouth CIC played an active role in assisting with the café’s redecoration, working alongside the members and users of Make @ Aldingbourne Enterprises. These individuals were supported in taking on practical tasks during the refurbishment, allowing them to contribute directly to the transformation of the space. This approach ensured that they had a sense of ownership and pride in the facilities they helped to create.

The refurbishment process served as more than a restoration project. It became an opportunity for skill development and personal growth, enabling participants to share ideas, gain hands-on experience while working collaboratively in a supportive environment. The resulting café is not just a service-oriented space but one that reflects the input and creativity of those involved.

This partnership aligns City Arts Portsmouth's ethos of promoting inclusion and empowerment through social enterprise. By engaging participants in both the design and execution , the project highlights the value of inclusive practices and the importance of community-led initiatives.

The café now stands as a resource that benefits the wider community while offering a model for how collaborative efforts can support individuals in achieving greater autonomy and confidence. It demonstrates how community facilities can be transformed in ways that are socially impactful, inclusive, and sustainable, with those who use them playing an active role in their creation and ongoing success.