Something special is happening in the heart of Portsmouth which we want to celebrate with our own community.
Today, at the Treadgolds Warehouse, a Disability Advisory Group, which we’re delighted to be a part of, gathered for a ‘World Cafe’ consultation session led by Deborah Hodson from The Hive Portsmouth. The room was filled with lived experiences, plenty of challenges shared, but most of all, a strong belief and hope. People with disabilities, carers, community groups and other VCSE organisations came together with one shared purpose; to shape something special which will benefit those with disabilities in our city.
And at the centre of the conversation? The future ‘Disability Hub’, soon to open in the Cascades Shopping Centre and being headed by The Hive.
Round table discussions explored:
– How disabled people get around Portsmouth and the barriers that still exist.
– What services and activities are working well and where gaps remain.
– Hopes, aspirations and practical ideas for what the new hub could and should offer.
Transport being a theme being discussed many times within the disability community and the constant improvements needed, but our voices sadly making little or no impact with no tangible improvements being seen despite years of campaigning. We hope to use Reading as an example, where voices were heard by the disabled community and improvements were put in place to make it easier for those with disabilities.
For Enable Ability, the opening of the disability hub carries particular significance. For many years, our Advocacy Service was a small but vital lifeline for disabled people across the city. Due to lack of funding, we were no longer able to continue this service and no new referrals are currently being accepted. It wasn’t an easy chapter to close for our charity. Advocacy is giving disabled people a voice, confidence and someone walking beside you when the legal systems feel overwhelming.
That is why the development of a new, centrally located ‘Disability Hub’ is something we feel genuinely excited about. The Cascades location places support right in the heart of the city. A space where advice, guidance and community activity can sit under one roof. A space shaped by the voices of disabled people themselves and where co-production can be at the heart of everything that takes place, based on the lived experiences of those who live or work in Portsmouth.
We are hopeful that the new hub will provide robust, well-funded support for our community and help strengthen the city’s approach to accessibility and inclusion.
Today’s conversations were thoughtful and forward-looking. They reminded us that when people with disabilities are invited to lead the narrative, the solutions are practical, ambitious and rooted in real life.
We look forward to continuing to work alongside The Hive and other partner organisations, to make a real difference; to ensure this new space becomes something Portsmouth can be proud of. This isn’t just about a new space opening in the Cascades, it is about creating a place where support is visible, voices are heard and disabled people can access the services they need in one welcoming space.
More updates to follow as the hub develops.
