Our Story

The story of the Roberts Centre began in 1985, when a group of concerned individuals and organisations, led by Reverend Bill Sargent, came together to discuss how best to respond to the forthcoming International Year of Shelter in 1987.

At the time, there were large numbers of families living in bed and breakfast accommodation across Portsmouth and Southsea. There was a growing concern about the conditions families were living in and the lack of facilities available to them.

The group identified the need for a day centre for homeless families, providing a safe space where families could access practical support and children could play.

The Centre was named the E.C. Roberts Centre in recognition of a major benefactor, Ernest Cullen Roberts, whose generous bequest helped fund a substantial part of the building’s conversion.

Ernest left the bequest in memory of his mother, Henrietta Jane Roberts, who was born in Portsmouth in 1866. Henrietta lived in Portsea with her mother and brother before emigrating to America in the early 1890s, where she became a US citizen in 1893.

Ernest’s bequest, worth around £250,000, was left at the discretion of the Bishop of Portsmouth. It was intended to support “the feed, care and clothing of the poor, orphaned, crippled and blind children of Portsmouth.”

At the time Henrietta left Portsmouth, the city was experiencing significant poverty and social inequality. In 1896, local priest Father R.R. Dolling documented the conditions he witnessed in the Portsmouth community in his memoir Ten Years in a Portsmouth Slum.

His parish, St Agatha’s Church, was located in the streets surrounding the area where the previous Roberts Centre building stood.

More than 100 years later, the need for organisations supporting vulnerable families and individuals in Portsmouth remains.

Following extensive consultation with charities and government departments, it was decided that the most appropriate use of Ernest Cullen Roberts’ bequest would be to establish a day centre for homeless families.

In a letter dated 19 November 1986, the Bishop of Portsmouth stated that a permanent building would provide a lasting memorial to Henrietta and best reflect Ernest’s wishes.

At the time, around 600 families were living in temporary accommodation in Portsmouth. Many had no access to facilities for preparing meals, doing laundry or providing children with space to play.

With Portsmouth having one of the highest population densities outside London, the Roberts Centre aimed to help families overcome isolation, access practical support and become more connected with their local communities.

In 2002, the parishioners of St Mary’s Church agreed to sell the building at 84 Crasswell Street to the Roberts Centre.

The sale was completed in March 2003, after which £450,000 was invested in improving and extending the building.

In 2007, with support from Portsmouth Housing Association, the Roberts Centre purchased the adjoining building at 82 Crasswell Street. This meant that the charity owned all of the land it occupied on Crasswell Street.

In 2017, we celebrated our 30th year.

The celebrations included a visit from members of the E.C. Roberts family, Tom and Norma, who travelled from America to join us for Robert Bear’s Picnic Party.

We were also incredibly proud to be named Charity of the Year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, held a celebration service at St Thomas Cathedral and finished the year with a Gala Dinner at The Guildhall.

We remain incredibly grateful to all the companies, individuals and organisations who supported our 30th anniversary celebrations and continue to support our work.