Independence

Our work seeks to promote independence, quality of life and wellbeing and reduce social isolation, loneliness and depression. Some initiatives such as shopping and befriending schemes focus on the less able.
 
Our main aim is to empower and enable vulnerable adults to have a direct influence on the services that they are receiving. Our work has been successful because we work directly with people, to plan an implement the services that they have identified as needing.
 
People who are physically, mentally and socially active tend to be happier and healthier than those who are less active. We are therefore involved with a wide range of innovative services and initiatives, many of which provide opportunities for social contact and encourage healthy levels of physical and mental activity. These services include social activity groups, Healthy Walks, exercise sessions and Tai Chi. Other projects range from a Self-Advocacy group for adults with a learning difficulty to self managed 'drop-ins' for people with dual diagnosis mental health problems /learning difficulties
 
Our customers are not mere passive recipients of our services but are active participants, involved in many aspects of our work, from developing videos to inform other elders of the risk of falls and the importance of keeping warm in winter to helping us monitor the quality of commissioned services such as the bathing service and meals on wheels. Members of the Self-Advocacy group Chair Portsmouth Partnership board meeting and have helped to organise conferences funded by the City council. They also represent Portsmouth at district and national level strategy meetings.
 
Much of the team's work is carried out through partnership working, such as falls prevention work with the PCT and Leisure Services etc; whilst other support, such as meals on wheels and the sitting service, are commissioned from the voluntary sector.