Social activities and groups for adults

Are you looking for a new group or activity to take part in, in your local area?

You can find a full directory of community groups and organisations (both council-run and otherwise) in Portsmouth on the HIVE directory. There is something for everyone. Activities include: adult learning, breakfast clubs, culture and faith groups, getting back to work, support for veterans, Men’s sheds, Chat over Chai, volunteering opportunities and much, much more.

Our council-run activities and social groups are listed on this page.

You can also follow the Portsmouth Community Activities Facebook page to keep up with the latest news and see photos from our council-run activities and groups.

• Backstage pass – meet-up group for discussing music, bands and gigs across the decades
• Carer’s Breaks – cookery sessions for unpaid carers
• Chill and Grow – drop-in sessions at the community allotment for autistic and neurodivergent adults
• Chop Cook Chat – for men aged 50+ who want to learn cooking skills
• Community Allotment – our allotment at Milton Piece for anyone who’d like to try their hand at gardening or growing food
• Community Connectors – helping meet new people in your local community
• Cross Cultural Women’s Group (CCWG) – for women who want to take English classes and various activities
• Diversi-Tea Lounge – intercultural group open to anyone aged 18+
• Ethnic Grow Project – join in with some gardening and grow ethnic vegetables
• Men’s Shed – community space for men to connect and create
• Naturewatch – exploring local green spaces
• Paulsgrove men’s group
• Reading Friends
• Seated exercise – for improving balance, strength and flexibility
• Wellbeing walks – make friends, get fresh air and exercise, and explore your local area
• Yoga – Stretch and Relax

Do you love chatting about music? We are a group of like-minded people who meet up to discuss music, bands and gigs across the decades. We are very sociable and we also talk about any other topics that you would like to discuss.

We meet every Thursday at 2.30pm at the Bold Forester Pub (177 Albert Road, Southsea, PO4 0JW).

You can just turn up on the day and ask for our group when you go into the Bold Forester, and we will be there waiting to chat. No fee.

For more information, call 023 9284 1762 or email IWT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

The Carer’s Breaks cookery sessions bring together unpaid carers who want to make healthy, quick, and easy meals, while making friends in their local community.

As well as taking part, there’s also opportunities to volunteer and help run the sessions.

Cookery sessions are held at the Carers Centre, 117 Orchard Road, Southsea. The sessions are free, and run:

• Monday 10.30am-12.30pm
• Thursday 11am-1pm
• Friday 12-2pm

For more information, contact Jayne Gentle on 023 9284 1762 or email iwt@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Drop-in gardening sessions for autistic and neurodivergent adults are held the first Thursday of every month, between 10.30am and 12.30pm, at Milton Community Allotment (Milton Piece, PO4 8LF).

Try some light gardening or other activities, have a cup of tea or coffee, chat to like-minded people, and enjoy spending time outdoors.

The group is now paused for Winter and will return in March 2026.

For more information, call 023 9284 1762 or email iwt@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Chop, Cook, Chat teaches basic cooking skills to men aged 18+, including those who have had a change in circumstance such as a bereavement or becoming a carer.

It’s a great opportunity to meet other men in a similar situation as well as learning the skills needed to prepare healthy meals.

The cost of each session is £5, which includes refreshments, tasters and food to take home.

Our current Chop Cook Chat groups are:

For more information, contact 023 9284 1762 or email iwt@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Portsmouth Community Allotment is a beautiful space where the community can meet to learn about gardening and grow food together. Located in Milton, our allotment features four accessible plots, two spacious poly tunnels, and a cosy office pod for sheltering on rainy days. We offer a variety of weekly sessions tailored for everyone, from beginners to seasoned gardeners. Join us to learn new skills, share your gardening expertise, and make new friends in a welcoming environment.

Sessions on offer include:

• Learning disability groups
• Dementia-friendly session
• Get Gardening Club

You can get involved in the community allotment yourself or be referred by a health or social care professional. If you’d like to attend but don’t feel confident enough to come on your own, then a Community Connector could help.

For more information about the allotment or Community Connectors, please email iwt@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or phone 023 9284 1762.

The address of the allotment is: Milton Piece Allotments, Locksway Road, Milton PO4 8LF. Free parking is available and there is a bus stop a few minutes’ walk away. View a map of the allotment.

Would you like to meet new people and make friends, but lack the confidence?

Our Community Connectors team could help. We can provide six-eight sessions to help you take the first steps to getting out into your local community.

We will meet with you and talk to you about your interests and what you would like to achieve, such as: taking up old interests, visiting a friend, attending a social group or activity class, using public transport etc., depending on what’s important to you. We’ll make sure that anything we put in place can keep going once your sessions have ended. We can signpost you to other agencies or resources if this is helpful.

If you are interested in how the Community Connectors could help you, or someone you know, please get in touch by calling 023 9284 1762 or emailing communityconnectors@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

This group provides various activities for women aged 18+ who don’t speak English very well. Activities include arts and crafts, speakers from various organisations, physical activity sessions, cultural celebrations and more.

The group meets every Wednesday during term time, from 12.30pm to 2.30pm at Somerstown Hub (entrance off Rivers Street). All women are welcome.

For more information, call 023 9284 1762 or email IWT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Diversi-Tea Lounge is an intercultural group open to anyone aged 18+ who would like to meet other people in a friendly atmosphere and carry out a range of activities. There are guest speakers to provide information about different services, arts and crafts, and cookery sessions.

The group runs every Tuesday, from 12.30 to 2.30pm at the Oasis Centre, 1A Arundel Street, PO1 1NP. Free tea, coffee, fruit and biscuits are provided.

For more information, call 023 9284 1762 or email IWT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

The Ethnic Grow project offers the opportunity for all adults in Portsmouth to join in with some gardening and grow ethnic vegetables at Landport Community Garden.

The garden is like a little oasis in the city with lovely greenery. Participants don’t need to have any experience in gardening, there is a project worker at hand to give support. All tools are provided.

The group meets on Mondays from 12.30 to 2.30pm at Landport Community Garden, Fyning Street, PO1 1JS.

For more information, call 023 9284 1762 or email IWT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Men’s Sheds are community spaces for men to connect, converse and create.

Portsea Shed is based at The Harbour Car Park on Havant Street.

Find out more about Men’s Shed.

NatureWatch is all about enjoying our natural environment, either through nature-based activities at our Community Allotment site, or by exploring local green spaces. There are two different NatureWatch groups running in the city on Wednesdays and Thursdays – see the details below.

Wednesdays, 1.45 – 3pm
Milton Piece Community Allotment site (Locksway Road, Milton, PO4 8LF)

This group meets every week at the Milton Piece Community Allotment site. Here, we have nature-based activities, for instance, observing and identifying nature, making herbal teas, learning about birdsong. We do have undercover facilities if it is raining. We welcome suggestions and ideas for future activities. There is a toilet at the site.

Thursdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Various locations in Portsmouth

This group visits different green spaces in Portsmouth throughout the year. These sessions are slow paced, as we take time to look at the wildlife and plants and try and identify them. If you would like to capture any images of the plants and wildlife we find on the sessions, then you are welcome to bring along your camera. To find out where the Thursday sessions will be taking place each week, please contact the team using the details below.

We try to visit places that are close to bus routes and have toilet facilities nearby, but we cannot always guarantee this.

Please wear suitable clothing for the weather – such as sturdy shoes, a sunhat, suncream and plenty of water in warm weather, or for cold or wet weather, warm and waterproof clothing.

For more information, contact 023 9284 1762 or email iwt@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

A men’s social group based in Paulsgrove. All men are welcome to pop in for a chat, take part in activities, and discuss different topics, including health and wellbeing – it’s a great opportunity to meet others in your local area.

The group meets every Wednesday, from 11am to 12.30pm, at St Michael & All Angels Church, Hempsted Road, Paulsgrove, PO6 4AS

For more information, call 023 9284 1762 or email IWT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

An intercultural group for people aimed at tackling life’s big challenges, through the power of reading. Make new friends, chat and have fun together. For those aged 18+ who are interested in reading.

The group meets on Tuesdays from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Cosham Library on Spur Road.

For more information, contact Portsmouth City Council library services on 07423 650 973 (9am – 5pm) or email iwt@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Seated exercise can help improve your balance, strength, flexibility and confidence.

There are a variety of sessions on at the moment. For more information, please call 023 9284 1762 or email IWT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Wellbeing walks are a great way to stay active and make new friends at the same time. Our volunteers lead a range of walk routes and distances catering for all abilities. See a list of walks in Portsmouth.

The scheme is jointly run by the council and The Ramblers Association. You can find a list of the walks at Ramblers Wellbeing Walks Portsmouth.

For more information, please call 023 9284 1762 or email IWT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Stretch and Relax is a taster yoga course which takes place every Wednesday morning, from May to September, at Victoria Park, Anglesea Rd, Portsmouth, PO1 3HJ. Sessions are run by a local, qualified instructor, and all abilities are welcome.

This is a great way to try yoga for the first time, and an opportunity to spend more time outdoors, in the peaceful surroundings of the park.

You will need to bring a towel or mat, and a water bottle. Contributions are welcome on the day to help us keep the project going. No need to book, just come along.

For more information, call 023 9284 1762 or email IWT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.