Community centre needs financial help to stay open

The Community Centre is hoping to raise £36,000 to avoid closure

A project in Portsmouth, which aims to reduce social segregation and isolation by offering a safe space for vulnerable people, has warned it will be forced to close unless it gets urgent support.

The Community Kettle in Cosham said it was being crippled by business rates and the cost of repairs to its building on the High Street.

It was formed to help people meet and feel part of the community but said it now needed to raise £36,000 to avoid closure.

Portsmouth City Council said the charity had received nearly £26,000 in local funding provided by a levy on new develpments and was confident it was paying the correct business rates.

Nicole Heard founded the Community Kettle in 2022 and is a volunteer herself

The Community Kettle founder Nicole Heard said the hub had become an "important resource".

Ms Heard said: "Our main aim is that there are no barriers to people from all walks of life and different ages becoming friends.

"We are totally ran by volunteers, with no input or funding from the council and we rely heavily on generosity and donations."

She said they were based in a commercial building where rent was £3,000 every month. On top of that they paid business rates and "need help to make a few repairs and to keep going".

The cafe is on the high street and ran by Tara Healey

Volunteer Sandra Harvey joined the community centre after her husband died and said it was a "lifeline".

She said she enjoyed the bingo, the tea and conversation which she said "stops people from feeling lonely and isolated".

She said: "It means a lot to a lot of people, not just me."

Portsmouth City Council said: "Over the past three years, Community Kettle CIC has been awarded Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Neighbourhood funding on two occasions with a combined total of nearly £26,000.

"We have a responsibility to make sure that funding is used appropriately and delivers value for money. On the recent submission, Community Kettle CIC was unable to provide the required financial information.

"We have advised them that they are welcome to submit a new application accompanied by all supporting information.

The council also said it was confident they had been assessed correctly and were paying the correct business rates.