Landport Community Centre looks to the future with ‘optimism’ as it celebrates relaunch after refurbishment with MPs and Enable Ability trustees
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Disability charity Enable Ability, which manages Landport Community Centre, welcomed guests to celebrate the centre’s relaunch following a refurbishment.
Around 25 visitors met with centre staff and facilities users, enjoyed a buffet, and toured around the centre which has recently been decorated and decked out with new furniture.
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Hide Ad![Pictured: Penny Mordaunt MP, Alan Jenkins (Landport Community Centre Manager), Jon Muller (Chair of Trustees, Enable Ability), Stephen Morgan MP, Councillor Cal Corkery and Councillor Kirsty Mellor. Picture: Mike Cooter (311021)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjNiMmNhODdmLWVlYWEtNGQwZC04YWYxLWY4NzUzNWJlM2U1MzpkNWIxYzRjYi0zZjVkLTQ2N2MtOWQyYS02NTMyYzgzM2M3MTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
![Pictured: Penny Mordaunt MP, Alan Jenkins (Landport Community Centre Manager), Jon Muller (Chair of Trustees, Enable Ability), Stephen Morgan MP, Councillor Cal Corkery and Councillor Kirsty Mellor. Picture: Mike Cooter (311021)](/img/placeholder.png)
Alan Jenkins, centre manager, said: ‘This is the culmination of two and a half years of hard work - we’re near enough where we want to be now.
‘We worked through the lockdown, providing support to the community.’
A room in the centre is dedicated to Ken Bowen, a late trustee of the charity.
Jon Muller, Enable Ability’s chair of trustees, said: ‘We’re feeling very optimistic.
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Hide Ad![Members of the 'What's It Like' video and photo workstream at Landport Community Centre. Pictured: Kenzie Mitchell (21) from Hilsea, Ewan Fothergill (21) from Copnor and Jack Grant (21) from Cosham. Picture: Mike Cooter (311021)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmIzNjliMzVkLWYyMTgtNDRkYy1iMGE4LTA4YmRmYmY4MWRlNTpmNTc1MzE4Mi1mZjVjLTQzMGQtYTYzMy03MTdiY2ZhOTNkODA=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
![Members of the 'What's It Like' video and photo workstream at Landport Community Centre. Pictured: Kenzie Mitchell (21) from Hilsea, Ewan Fothergill (21) from Copnor and Jack Grant (21) from Cosham. Picture: Mike Cooter (311021)](/img/placeholder.png)
‘It’s been a difficult 18 months for everybody, but if you have a learning disability or you have autism, it triples the effect.
‘We’ve been trying to ease people back into services.
‘This is just the beginning.’
The centre hosts a number of different clubs, businesses, and groups and societies, including Scouts and a dance academy.
![John Spinks (30) with one of the fundraiser slate cosaters he created using the decoupage technique. Picture: Mike Cooter (311021)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjllMmFkOTM5LWYxMzItNGI4Mi1iZWViLTljNTE2NGY2ZDI2MTpkOGZjNjE4OS1mMTY1LTRiMGYtOWFkOS0zYmY1YjBiMzI0ZjE=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
![John Spinks (30) with one of the fundraiser slate cosaters he created using the decoupage technique. Picture: Mike Cooter (311021)](/img/placeholder.png)
Hollie Sherred, partnerships and events officer at Enable Ability, said: ‘Today is all about the relaunch after the refurb.
‘Enable Ability have been running the centre for just over two years.
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Hide Ad‘Here we are celebrating it with patrons of the charity, trustees, and other guests.’
![Steve Austin (34), a participant working in the Repair Shop, shows one of his refurbished laptops to Stephen Morgan MP. Picture: Mike Cooter (311021)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmE2MjI3ZWU5LWU3NTAtNDRjMS1hNjExLTU5NjA4MGU3YTNjMzo1MTk3ZjZlMi05MDhkLTRjNmItOTRiNi1mYTkyMjlkZjJhZGM=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
![Steve Austin (34), a participant working in the Repair Shop, shows one of his refurbished laptops to Stephen Morgan MP. Picture: Mike Cooter (311021)](/img/placeholder.png)
Among those celebrating the community centre relaunch was Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, and MP Penny Mordaunt, a patron of the charity.
Hollie added: ‘We’re trying to boost the centre and make people more aware of it.
‘We want to welcome those who have never been - we offer so many various services.
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Hide AdThe Inter Activ programme, through which the centre’s cafe is run, is a social enterprise run by Enable Ability.
Jon added: ‘Enable Ability’s social enterprise aims to help young people with disabilities get into work.
‘We run a repair shop, a cafe, and a small video production company.’
The Landport Larder scheme is also run from the community centre.
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Hide AdAlan said: ‘The building is becoming a focal point for the Charles Dickens ward.’
A Christmas Fair will be held at the centre on December 5.