Pompey in the Community is launching free weekly football and multi-sport sessions for young people across Portsmouth, Hampshire, to help them stay active throughout 2026. The charity aims to provide accessible coaching and mentorship in high-deprivation wards such as Somerstown, Buckland and Paulsgrove so children and young people have a safe place to exercise and grow.
The sessions are being held at several locations, including the John Jenkins Stadium on Moneyfield Avenue, Bransbury Park and other community hubs across the city. By removing costs for families, the programme offers professional coaching in football as well as newly expanded multi-sport options such as basketball and cricket to young people who might otherwise struggle to afford club provision.
Funding for the programme comes from a mix of sources — including Premier League grants (Premier League Kicks), local government support and independent fundraising such as the Pompey Plod. CEO Clare Martin MBE completed the ‘Pompey Plod’ fundraising challenge in January 2026 — five marathons in five days — which included a centenary ‘100 miles for 100’ element to mark Portsmouth’s 100th year of city status.
With Portsmouth FC currently competing in the EFL Championship, the charity is using the club’s profile to help reach over 2,000 new participants throughout 2026. Local reporting in the Portsmouth News and updates from Pompey in the Community emphasise that these activities are designed to help young residents build confidence, stay healthy and access mentoring and life-skills support.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
