FOOPA

The Friends of Old Portsmouth Association was established in 1949 in the aftermath of World War II

... when much of Old Portsmouth lay in ruins from bombing raids that devastated the historic area. During this critical post-war reconstruction period, FOOPA emerged as a vital community voice to ensure local interests were represented as the neighbourhood was rebuilt. For over 75 years, our core mission has remained steadfast:

"To co-ordinate the views of residents and friends in respect of the development of Old Portsmouth, and to create a proper community spirit where neighbours actually know each other!"

As an independent volunteer organisation, FOOPA continues to serve Old Portsmouth through various initiatives:
• Heritage preservation: Advocating for the protection of Old Portsmouth's rich architectural and cultural heritage
• Planning oversight: Reviewing development proposals and representing community interests in local planning decisions
• Environmental improvements: Supporting initiatives to enhance public spaces, greenery, and the waterfront
• Social events: Organising gatherings that strengthen neighbourhood bonds and celebrate our unique local identity
• Resident representation: Providing a unified voice for Old Portsmouth residents in discussions with local authorities, businesses, and other stakeholders

We are still an independent group of volunteers who work hard to achieve these aims, but we do need more help. We need to refresh our committee to be able to continue doing good works on behalf of the community. We are not a forum for discussion - we do things. Going forwards, we can’t continue to address the increasing number of issues unless more residents volunteer. Help to keep FOOPA relevant and keep us going by visiting the membership page, above and sign up today.