SUMMER SUN & FAMILY FUN!

Making the Most of Summer: A Guide for Carers in Portsmouth

Summer in Portsmouth brings more than just sunshine and sea breezes - it offers a chance for you to reconnect with your community, recharge your spirits, and rediscover joy in everyday moments. If you're one of the 15,000 unpaid carers in the city, this season is for you!

Caring for a loved one is a deeply meaningful role, but it can also be isolating and exhausting. That’s why stepping into your local community - even for a short while - can make a world of difference. Whether it's through creative expression, gentle exercise, or simply sharing a cuppa with someone who understands, these moments of connection can help lighten the emotional load.

What's On in Portsmouth in August

Get Active Events in Portsmouth this Summer

Click here for low-cost SEND activities

Click here for low-cost family activities

Public Transport in Portsmouth

Remember, taking time for yourself isn’t selfish - it’s essential. So this summer, step out, join in, and let your community lift you up.

MEET THE TEAM

Putting a face to the name and the voice at the end of the phone...

What do you do at the Carers Centre?

As a carers development officer, my role is to develop partnerships with a range of health and social care services, and the voluntary sector, to enhance the identification of carers and promote the development of carer friendly communities and services across Portsmouth.

What do you like about working at the Carers Centre?

Working at Portsmouth Carer's Services it's a chance to make a positive difference to supporting unpaid carers. I also love being part of a passionate, supportive team that believes in building carer friendly communities.

Name three of your character traits?

Empathetic, Collaborative, motivated

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

Spending time with family & friends!

Favourite quote?                         

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – Dalai Lama

WHAT'S ON AT THE CARERS CENTRE

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

Small Steps, Big Impact

When carers look after their own mental wellbeing, they’re better equipped to care for others. Good mental health supports resilience, improves decision-making, and helps maintain positive relationships. It’s not a luxury - it’s a necessity.

• Talk to someone: Whether it’s a friend, support group, or professional, sharing your feelings can lighten the load.
• Take breaks: Even short moments of rest or doing something you enjoy can make a difference.
• Stay connected: Engaging with your local community, like our Carers Breaks, can reduce isolation and boost morale.
• Ask for help: You don’t have to do it all alone. Services like the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub are there to support you.

You Matter Too

Caring is an act of love - but so is caring for yourself. Because when you thrive, those you care for benefit too.

Here to Help - Portsmouth Mental Health Hub

Feeling overwhelmed, low, or concerned about someone else’s mental health?

The Portsmouth Mental Health Hub is here for you. If you're aged 16 or over and live in PO1–PO6, you can speak with one of the team, who are ready to listen and connect you to the right support.

Whether it’s for yourself, a loved one, or someone you support through work, the team are available to talk through whatever’s on your mind, and if you’d prefer to stay anonymous, that’s fine too.

What the Hub can help with?

Immediate emotional support from a compassionate team. Guidance on local mental health services. Connections to practical support like foodbanks, housing advice, cost of living help, and more.

📞 Call 0300 123 6621 Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm

💬 Chat online Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

For more information - Home - Mental Health Hub

YOUR BREAK, YOUR WAY: Update

Thank you to everyone who has taken the opportunity to share their thoughts and insights on our carers breaks, activities, and services - to tell us more about what a break means to you and your experience of using our services.

We have received feedback from over 300 people, including carers and those involved in the voluntary sector, and health and social care organisations.

You contacted us through online surveys, focus group meetings and one to one conversations.

We will bring together everything you shared with us, and we will use this information to explore ways to enhance our services as we move the next stage of the project. 

For more information contact Gina Mula.

Email: gina.mula@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call: 02392 851864

CARERS CREATE VIDEO BOOK

Have you seen the incredible Carers Create Video Book?

As a service, we recognise the importance of wellbeing and the use of creativity to improve wellbeing. We also value the thoughts and opinions of carers and feel it is important to make sure carers are seen and heard.

In June 2024, we launched the Portsmouth Carers Create Book Project where we invited unpaid carers to submit a creative piece that represents themselves as a carer, their caring journey or their thoughts and feelings about caring.

We organised many art and craft sessions, where carers were free to explore their creativity and use the safe space to create something for inclusion in our video book.

The video book was launched on 9th June 2025 during Carers Week, showcased alongside an exhibition of the carers’ submissions at Portsmouth Carers Centre.

Click the picture above or link below to visit our website where you will find this emotional creation. 

Click here to see Portsmouth Carers Create Video Book