John Jenkins Stadium project in need of volunteers to bring new Pompey in the Community home to life

Portsmouth FC’s football charity is looking for volunteers to help complete the ‘final stages’ of its new £5.2m stadium home.
By Joe Buncle
Published 10th Apr 2023, 11:06 GMT
Updated 10th Apr 2023, 12:40 GMT
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Pompey in the Community is set to launch the ‘Pompey Big Build’ appeal in search of people to help to furnish the interior of the John Jenkins Stadium, a construction project which was originally supposed to begin in 2020 but faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the rising cost of building materials.

NOW READ: Pompey in The Community gets £744,250 grant to continue John Jenkins Stadium build

Charity CEO Clare Martin MBE said: ‘We’re putting a call out to the local community asking for anybody who can give us a hand getting it over the line – whether they’re tradespeople, they want to donate something, or if they want to help with fundraising.

A computer generated image of how the John Jenkins Stadium will look.A computer generated image of how the John Jenkins Stadium will look.
A computer generated image of how the John Jenkins Stadium will look.
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‘I’ve already got someone doing the CCTV at cost, someone doing free carpets, someone fitting out a computer suite for us – it’s a call out for community support.’

While the stadium’s shell is almost finished, work is still needed to fit out facilities such as toilets, changing rooms, a boxing gym, dance studio, café, and offices as well as landscaping exterior areas.

The project was recently given a lifeline £744,250 grant of government Youth Investment funding and Clare revealed that without this substantial cash injection, it would have been almost impossible to finish the stadium.

Clare added: ‘Taking on a construction project at the moment, with the world the way it is, has been really challenging so this is just helping us get to the finish line.

Clare Martin, CEO of Pompey in the Community, laying the foundations of the new John Jenkins Stadium on March 15 2022. With Eric Coleborn (Chair of Pompey Women), Pete Seiden (Moneyfields Chairman), Jay Sadler (First Team Manager of Pompey Women) and Martin Talman (Main Contractor). Picture: Mike CooterClare Martin, CEO of Pompey in the Community, laying the foundations of the new John Jenkins Stadium on March 15 2022. With Eric Coleborn (Chair of Pompey Women), Pete Seiden (Moneyfields Chairman), Jay Sadler (First Team Manager of Pompey Women) and Martin Talman (Main Contractor). Picture: Mike Cooter
Clare Martin, CEO of Pompey in the Community, laying the foundations of the new John Jenkins Stadium on March 15 2022. With Eric Coleborn (Chair of Pompey Women), Pete Seiden (Moneyfields Chairman), Jay Sadler (First Team Manager of Pompey Women) and Martin Talman (Main Contractor). Picture: Mike Cooter
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We’re still not there, we still need a big build but it is a massive leap towards the finish. If I believed in impossible then it would have been impossible but there’s always a way if you want it that much and it’s for the right reason.’

NOW READ: Desperate mum is trying to raise £15,000 for her autistic son to get specialist help before starting mainstream school

Previous revenue sources have included nearly £2m from the Football Foundation, almost £1m from the Levelling Up scheme and around £270,000 from the Eisner Foundation.

The stadium – named after Portsmouth D-Day veteran John Jenkins – is expected to cost £5.2m. It will provide a home for Pompey in the Community, Portsmouth Women and Moneyfields FC as well as hosting activities for thousands of young people, disability sport groups and members of the public.

You can get involved by emailing [email protected] or calling 02392 728899.

Related topics:PompeyCommunity