In 1985, a Steering Committee of local residents was formed to advocate for a dedicated community building to serve the Central Southsea area. Construction began in 1987, and the Centre was officially opened in 1988 by the Princess Royal.

Although the building is owned by Portsmouth City Council, it is managed and operated by Havelock Community Centre, a registered charity. By 1990, it became clear that the facilities needed to expand to meet the growing requests and needs of the community. In response, a fundraising program was launched. Despite several setbacks, and following a successful Lottery Grant application in 1999, the much-anticipated extension finally came to fruition in 2011. This expansion included the addition of the Sure Start facility, which was officially opened by beloved Pompey footballer Linvoy Primus.

When funding for the Sure Start Centre was discontinued, the beautiful Garden Room was returned to Havelock Community Centre. Today, it remains one of our most popular rooms for hire, offering peaceful access to our enchanting secret garden.

Havelock Community Centre is now a vibrant, modern hub offering a wide range of activities and spaces available for hire.

Our vision is for Havelock to be the beating heart of the local community—a sustainable, secure, culturally diverse, and accessible space that is cherished and supported by both residents and visitors of Southsea. We are committed to promoting, enabling, and facilitating a variety of inclusive activities that address the educational, training, employment, welfare, health, social, cultural, and recreational needs of our community.

As a registered charity, we rely not only on our dedicated paid staff but also on a passionate team of volunteers. These volunteers run classes, assist at events, serve as trustees, and greet visitors as the friendly faces on our reception.

To realize this vision, we need more volunteers. Whatever your skills or experience, there’s a role for you—whether it’s helping with odd jobs, supporting events, joining our board of trustees, or simply making cups of tea. Our future depends on the generosity and commitment of volunteers, and everyone is warmly welcome. Please get in touch if you’d like to join us and make a difference.

Our Committee

Our committee board works with the Centre Manager – Amy Feist and the centre team to explore all possibilities and work towards the vision for the centre in the community.

Our Trustee Board consists of:

Chair – Kevin Rough
Vice Chair – Nita Cary
Treasurer – Wendy Heyes
HR Trustee – Belinda Locke

IT Trustee - Dave Jones
Trustee – Shirley Mundy
Trustee – Jennie Brent
Trustee – Jenny Bennett

Our Trustee Board are voluntary roles and we are always looking for dynamic and committed individuals from a variety of backgrounds to bring their knowledge and experience to our Charity and help us grow. To learn more about Trustee roles with us please email manager@havelockcc.co.uk for an information pack.

If you are interested in learning more about our governance please see the links below for details of our 2024 Annual Reports and Our Policies and Procedures.