Celebrating the life changing impacts made by small charities in Portsmouth

HIWCF was delighted to host its second Seeing Is Believing event of the year – this unique event provided an opportunity for HIWCF donors and fundholders to see the impact of their generosity on deprived communities in Portsmouth.

This insightful event shone a light on the vital work of The Literacy Hubs and URBOND – two charities embedded in their communities in Portsmouth, supporting some of the region’s most disadvantaged young people. Donors and fundholders met with young people, seeing firsthand the life changing impact these charities make in the community.

The Literacy Hubs specialise in supporting school children to improve their literacy skills, which can make a huge impact on their future opportunities. Becca Dean MBE, CEO of The Literacy Hubs, hosted this special event at their Pompey Pirates hub in the heart of the Charles Dickens Ward of Portsmouth – one of the poorest areas in England according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. Becca described the long term negative impact of poor literacy skills on young children and highlighted the importance of early intervention.

“My career began as an English teacher in a secondary school, and I remember that first year in the classroom vividly. My eyes were opened to just how much low levels of literacy can affect a child's life chances. Schools are struggling to provide additional support in the classroom because they simply do not have the capacity and are battling with the constraints of school funding. By listening to children and parents, we have gained a deep understanding of what they need to make meaningful improvements in their literacy skills, which are important in every facet of life. The results of the programmes we have developed in response speak for themselves. On average, students attending our year long programmes have improved their reading age by 14 months over the course of the nine month academic year. 40% of children make more than double the expected progress for the year in reading. 87% feel more confident when reading and 89% feel more confident with their writing. As schools continue to struggle to provide adequate support, and as funding becomes ever more competitive, we are constantly in need of resources to give as many children as possible the chances they deserve to succeed later in life.”

Becca Dean MBE

CEO of The Literacy Hubs

URBOND focuses on championing community, equality and diversity, and driving opportunities for young people in Portsmouth. The charity offers an array of activities and events that encourage togetherness and provide a sense of wellbeing. Ruby Plato spoke about why building strong communities particularly within minority groups is so important.

“URBOND is passionate about creating a supportive ‘family’ for people living in Portsmouth who may be battling loneliness and isolation. We have an incredibly diverse mix of programmes available to match the diversity of the community we support. We offer everything from fitness classes, to food banks, to financial literacy classes. We work with over 80 different nationalities living in very deprived areas with high rates of crime and a lack of engagement with traditional support systems. Young people and their families come to us when they need a place of safety or to feel a sense of belonging in their community. We’re particularly proud of our youth development programme, which aims to bridge the gap to accessing opportunities for the future. We begin by creating a close relationship with young people, building a rapport that turns into focused mentorship and, ultimately, work experience placements that unlock opportunities they may not otherwise have had access to. We see our young people thriving with this level of tailored support – their self-confidence increases, their life skills improve and we repeatedly hear that they get a real sense of empowerment in their lives.”

Ruby Plato

Marketing & Fundraising Manager, URBOND

Jacqui Scott, CEO of HIWCF, said:

“We are delighted to be able to spotlight two extraordinary charities in Portsmouth – both working in very different ways but equally making a very real difference in people’s lives.

The support a community needs can vary significantly from one neighbourhood to another. The Literacy Hubs and URBOND – along with the other community groups we support – are perfectly placed to pinpoint what support will make the biggest impact for their local residents, because they are part of those communities. This is why we are so passionate about using our funding to enable them to make the real change.

In 2023, we made nearly 350 grants to charities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight totalling almost £1.5m. Looking ahead, we have committed to doubling our endowment funds over the next 15 years because we know that the need for our support will continue to grow. We can only do this through the generosity of our donors and fundholders, who trust our professionalism and experience to ensure that their funding has the most effective possible impact.”

This group of dynamic youngsters represented the Pompey Pirates Club at The Literacy Hubs.

After attending weekly classes throughout the academic year from 2023-24, they increased their reading ages and grew in confidence. Taking part in volunteer led guided reading sessions, creating their own short films, participating in radio shows, creating their own podcasts – even contributing their own chapters to a published book – were highlights proudly shared with guests at the event. Each child led a tour of the hub, engaging confidently with everyone around them. Their love of reading and their time at The Literacy Hubs was made abundantly clear, and they brought a great sense of joy and pride to the room.

Gabriel, 15 years, spoke to the room about the personal challenges he has overcome with the support of URBOND.

“Living as a young person with mixed heritage has been a struggle for me in the past. I’ve loved connecting with people like me from diverse backgrounds. I feel welcome by everyone at URBOND and everyone who takes part in the youth programme. I always found it hard to socialise, but now I feel confident. It all started with getting to play more basketball, which I love, but after my 121 time with youth workers I gradually built up the confidence to go for a work experience placement. This led to a part time job in the car industry and now I’ve got a year’s experience under my belt. I can see a future where I might go to college to study something to do with cars or maybe even fashion. I feel like I’ve found myself at URBOND.”

Celebrating the life changing impacts made by small charities in Portsmouth

HIWCF was delighted to host its second Seeing Is Believing event of the year – this unique event provided an opportunity for HIWCF donors and fundholders to see the impact of their generosity on deprived communities in Portsmouth.

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