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Becoming a Civic University
We're promoting inclusion and enriching economic, social and cultural life across Portsmouth and our region
We're committed to enhancing the local community and region through our research, services, estate, and staff and student collaboration. We're more than the University of Portsmouth — we're the University 'for' Portsmouth.
What is a Civic University?
Our goal as a civic university is for our education and research knowledge and skills to benefit the city of Portsmouth and our wider region. To achieve this, we collaborate with local partners to improve health, sustainability, and inclusion in our area, all while boosting the local economy and enhancing our social and cultural scene.
In 2019, we were one of the first universities to develop a Civic Partnership Agreement with local community and regional partners. This agreement focuses on six key priorities, which we embedded into our University Strategy as a primary goal — aiming to be one of the top civic universities in the UK.
Our partnerships and projects
Our research, projects and partnerships have positive impacts across Portsmouth. Use this map to see exactly where, and what, we're doing to develop the city around us.
Using the map:
- Toggle the map filter to show the project you're most interested in. We've grouped our work into 'Social Impact', 'Health & Wellbeing', 'Environment', or 'Cultural Contribution'.
- Click on any map pin to learn more about a specific project, and access contact information if you'd like to discuss the project.
- Zoom in or out to get a sense for the scale of our work.
How we impact Portsmouth and the local region
We want to make a tangible difference in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas, working hand-in-hand with the region we call home. We pride ourselves on being inclusive, and are actively contributing to the economic, social, and cultural vitality of our community.
Enhancing lives through volunteering
At the University of Portsmouth, our robust volunteering culture is integral to community development. Annually, students and staff contribute over 140,000 hours to 124 local organisations, significantly enhancing our region's social and cultural fabric.
Furthering our commitment, we provide vital services free of charge, including the Accounting Clinic, Legal Clinic, and Dental Academy Patient Services. These initiatives exemplify our holistic approach to community engagement and underscore our impactful contributions.
Discover more about our volunteering impact and opportunities here.
Growing local business through collaboration
We collaborate with local businesses, organisations and the public sector by offering free support, advice, and services to the local business community.
We offer business services to support and grow local businesses, including our Accountancy Clinic, Accelerating Women's Enterprise (AWE) programme, conference and event space, co-working and office space, free energy efficiency audits and funding through Low Carbon Solent for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become more sustainable.
Promoting the city of Portsmouth
Portsmouth has unique strengths and a rich heritage. We want to show the world how great this city is. Through partnership work, we aim to champion shared interests, support economic growth and make the city a destination of choice for people to live, work and visit.
We've partners with Portsmouth Football Club to improve and promote our city, increase local participation in higher education, and provide work experience for our students.
We're also working to improve our sustainability and become a climate positive university by 2030.
Driving inclusiveness
We're a Stonewall Diversity Champion and work with groups including Working Families, Time to Change, Mindful Employer, AccessAble and Disability Confident. We're also members of two Higher Education lead charters, Athena SWAN and the Race Equality Charter, which drive gender and race equality. Find out more about our equality and diversity work.
We're improving access to education by supporting children in care and care leavers, Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, military service children in Portsmouth and refugees and asylum seekers by becoming a University of Sanctuary.
Collaborate with us
If you're brimming with ideas for civic projects or eager to share the impactful activities you're already championing, we encourage you to send us an email. Every contribution you make is a an essential part of the change we're creating as a community.
Let us know about your ongoing civic work as a current member of staff, student, or another part of the University community, or reach out to us with a new project idea.
And if you're not officially part of our community yet but are drawn to civic collaboration, we warmly welcome your interest. Whether you're a part of our existing University community or you're looking to working with us for the first time, your unique perspective and active involvement will help us develop our future.
Civic news and projects
Collaboration with pharmacy students provides blood pressure checks in community
8 December 2023
6
Young people to lead on Isle of Wight park redevelopment
23 November 2023
7
University contributes to £1.1m funding package to grow creativity and culture in Portsmouth
25 October 2023
7
A green revolution begins at Portsmouth’s port as a £19.8m grant is secured
11 September 2023
5 minutes
UK’s largest health research programme opens in Portsmouth
4 September 2023
3 minutes
Isle of Wight primary school pupils gets hands-on with marine biology on Ryde beach
17 July 2023
1 min read
Refugees and asylum seekers enjoy free fitness classes
20 June 2023
7
University provides free bus service so local schoolchildren can continue swimming
Pupils at Milton Park Primary School will continue accessing free swimming at Ravelin Sports Centre thanks to support from the University.
16 June 2023
3 min read
University reaffirms its support for the armed forces
14 June 2023
3 minutes