HIVE Directory: Benefits & Welfare

Advice Portsmouth provides free, independent, impartial and confidential advice to people living in Portsmouth. Our Purpose is to give the right advice and appropriate support to help clients solve their problems

Our team of qualified professionals, support staff and dedicated volunteers provide general and specialist advice in social welfare advice in the fields of debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, family and consumer law.

Armed Forces Covenant – This is a service providing broad help and support to veterans, serving members of the armed forces and their families.

Citizens Advice Portsmouth has operated in Portsmouth for more than 83 years. They offer free, impartial and confidential advice in person, on the telephone and online to the people of Portsmouth.

Citizens Advice Portsmouth has operated in Portsmouth for more than 85 years. They offer free, impartial and confidential advice in person, on the telephone and online to the people of Portsmouth.

Citizens Advice Portsmouth has operated in Portsmouth for more than 85 years. They offer free, impartial and confidential advice in person, on the telephone and online to the people of Portsmouth.

Friends Without Borders is a charity that provides support for asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants within the Portsmouth area.

The Local Energy Advice Partnership is a free service that helps people to keep warm and reduce their energy bills

msm personal choice small logo


Personal Choice has been set up as we recognise that older people and their relatives and/or carers in Portsmouth, particularly the Charles Dickens ward need more accessible information, advice, support and opportunities for social integration to address the problems of economic and social deprivation and improve their independence and well being. We also aim to support older people in the years preceding retirement to address issues that could lead to poverty and isolation in later years.



Advice Centre: Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm
Monday: Chair Exercises 2pm - 2.45pm
Tuesday: Job/Computer Club - 2pm - 4pm
Wednesday: Lunch Club - 12:30pm - 2pm
Wednesday: 'Prime Time' Social Group - 2pm - 3pm
Friday: Tea, Coffee, Chat' 10am - 4pm
Monthly Trips

Warm welcome, feel free to drop in at any time.

We work with people to identify and build their circle of support, which may be friends, family, colleagues, or supporters who form a group, supporting the person to make their own decisions about their life. YOU works in partnership with The EC Roberts Centre and HOPE Portsmouth to support people in crisis in our community.

The Project promotes independence, resilience and recovery from the impacts of COVID through developing Community Circles of Support. We have three Community Circles of Support Partners who help people through outreach, food banks, community larders/pantries and community meals across Portsmouth.

The Community Circles of Support Partners will undertake a holistic assessment identifying skills, potential, root causes of crisis, actions the clients want to take and identify strategies to help themselves for future situations.

The aim of Community Circles of Support Partners is to help people in hardship, including those with complex needs such as mental ill-health, domestic abuse and social isolation. They will benefit from improvements to their health, wellbeing, skills and independence and to understand how to take personal control of their situation.

Our Supported Living Teams work together with people across communities in supported accommodation or in their private homes, helping them to have control of their lives and a voice in shaping the service where they live. People live their lives the way they want and can request assistance whenever they feel it necessary. They have a say in recruitment, how support is delivered, celebrations, and social activities. Our support is personalised to their needs.