Carers Break Sessions
Cookery, Wellbeing and Crafts
Jayne, Will, Lin, Jenny, Runi, Tracey, Nicky and Laura host our carers break sessions, aided by our fantastic volunteers.
The wellbeing sessions are usually held at the Milton Community Allotment, weather permitting. This is a fantastic space, close to nature and away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Carers can relax and enjoy the fresh air whilst chatting with other carers, enjoying lovely seasonal food and occasionally trying out some fun activities – hula hooping is always popular! Please note if the weather is bad, these sessions are usually moved to Portsmouth Carers Centre – in the workshop.
The cookery sessions are held at Portsmouth Carers Centre in the kitchen. This is a purpose-built facility just right for small groups trying out new recipes and learning new cooking skills.
All sessions always have a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and welcome new carers. Aside from the benefits of taking a break from their caring roles, carers are also able to meet new people and make friends.
You can find more photos from these sessions on our social media feeds:
Find us on Facebook @PortsmouthCarersService
Follow us on Instagram @PortsmouthCarersService
September & October 2026
Below is the current schedule of upcoming Carers Break Sessions. Please see the booking procedure below.
Carers can attend as many of the drop-in events as they like, these do not need to be booked.
| Date | Time | Session | Type | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 14th September | 10am - 12pm | Cheese, leek, and potato tortilla, and a side salad with Lin | Cookery: please book. | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Tuesday 15th September | 5.30pm - 7.30pm | *NEW EVENING SESSION** Room One Loved Ones Group: For carers & loved ones of people who are Autistic or Neurodivergent. Friendly chat & peer support from people with lived experience. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 16th September | 10am - 12pm | Carrot and Coriander Soup with Rob | Cookery: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 16th September | 6.15pm - 8.15pm | Young Adult Carers Group: for carers aged 18-25 years. Meet other carers, take a break from caring and find support. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Friday 18th September | 10am - 11.30am | Time to Talk: Mental Health Coffee Morning with Jo | Wellbeing: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Monday 21st September | 13.30pm - 15.30pm | Fruity Granola Bars with Lin | Cookery: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 23rd September | 1.30pm - 3.30pm | Sausage Rolls with Rob | Cookery: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 23rd September | 6.15pm - 8.15pm | Young Adult Carers Group: for carers aged 18-25 years. Meet other carers, take a break from caring and find support. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Friday 25th September | 10am - 11.30am | Suicide Awareness Let's Talk Join us to learn more about suicide awareness and prevention. | Wellbeing: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Monday 28th September | 12pm - 2pm | Relax with Nature and a light lunch at the Allotment with Lin | Wellbeing: please book | Portsmouth Carers Cebtre |
| Tuesday 29th September | 12pm - 2pm | Creative Cuppa and Catch-up: Join Laura for a catch-up with a creative twist. Pop in for a cuppa, chat and crafts. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Tuesday 29th September | 1pm - 2.30pm | Carers Wellbeing Health Information session Join us for an informative and supportive wellbeing workshop designed specifically for carers | Wellbeing: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 30th September | 10am - 12pm | Dutch Apple Cake with Jenny | Cookery: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 30th September | 6.15pm - 8.15pm | Young Adult Carers Group: for carers aged 18-25 years. Meet other carers, take a break from caring and find support. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Monday 5th October | 10am - 12pm | Creamy Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese with Lin | Cooker: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Monday 5th October | 12.30pm - 2.30pm | Connect to Work: Helping people find meaningful, sustainable employment - friendly no-pressure advice with Lottie | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 7th October | 1pm - 2.30pm | Creative Writing with Charmaine - an experienced writer with many self-published books, discover the freedom of Creative Writing | Creative: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 7th October | 1pm - 3pm | Mindful Mobile Photography with Leoni Session 1 of 3 | Wellbeing: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 7th October | 1.30pm - 3.30pm | Chickpea Pattie with Runi | Cookery: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 7th October | 6.15pm - 8.15pm | Young Adult Carers Group: for carers aged 18-25 years. Meet other carers, take a break from caring and find support. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Friday 9th October | 10am - 12pm | Room One Loved Ones Group: For carers & loved ones of people who are Autistic or Neurodiver gent. Friendly chat and peer support from lived experience. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Monday 12th October | 10am - 12pm | Autumn Breakfast Muffins with a guest baker from the Carers Service Team. A tasty seasonal breakfast option on the go or at home | Cookery: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Tuesday 13th October | 12pm - 1pm | Portsmouth Water Information Session | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Tuesday 13th October | 1.15pm - 2.30pm | BEDDOW Library Discovery Session (PO4 8PR) Find out how library resources can support your caring role and wellbeing | Wellbeing: please book | Beddow Library |
| Wednesday 14th October | 10am - 12pm | Chicken Kebab with Runi | Cookery: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 14th October | 1pm - 3pm | Mindful Mobile Photography with Leoni Session 2 of 3 | Wellbeing: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 14th October | 6.15pm - 8.15pm | Young Adult Carers Group: for carers aged 18-25 years. Meet other carers, take a break from caring and find support. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Friday 16th October | 10am - 11.30am | Time to Talk: Mental Health Coffee Morning with Caroline | Wellbeing: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Monday 19th October | 10a - 12pm | Iced Gingerbread Traybake with Stem Ginger with Lin | Cookery: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Tuesday 20th October | 12.30pm - 2pm | Community Learning Service Discovery Session - Come along for a cuppa and chat to discover what's on offer at The Learning Place! | Informative: please book | 6 Derby Rd, PO2 8HH |
| Tuesday 20th October | 5.30pm - 7.30pm | *NEW EVENING SESSION** Room One Loved Ones Group: For carers & loved ones of people who are Autistic or Neurodivergent. Friendly chat & peer support from people with lived experience. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 21st October | 1pm - 3pm | Mindful Mobile Photography with Leoni Session 3 of 3 | Wellbeing: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 21st October | 1pm - 3pm | A Nature Afternoon at the Allotment with Jenny | Wellbeing: please book | Milton Community Allotment |
| Wednesday 21st October | 6.15pm - 8.15pm | Room One Loved Ones Group: For carers & loved ones of people who are Autistic or Neurodivergent. Friendly chat & peer support from people with lived experience | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Service |
| Friday 23rd October | 11.30am - 1.30pm | Creative Cuppa and Catch-up: Autumnal creativity and conversation with Laura. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Monday 26th October | 12pm - 2pm | Allotment Halloween Hoots: Pumpkin soup, Pumpkin Carving and activities with Lin | Wellbeing: please book | Milton Community Allotment |
| Wednesday 28th October | 1.30pm - 3.30pm | Coffee and Walnut cake with David. An easy to make delicious coffee and walnut cake that everyone will enjoy. It's a classic. Please bring a cake tin! | Cookery: please book | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
| Wednesday 28th October | 6.15pm - 8.15pm | Young Adult Carers Group: for carers aged 18-25 years. Meet other carers, take a break from caring and find support. | Drop-in | Portsmouth Carers Centre |
Eligibility
To be eligible to book the Carers Break sessions (Cookery and Wellbeing) you must be:
- an unpaid/informal/parent carer, caring for someone living within postcodes PO1-PO6**
- 18 years old or over
- known to/registered with Portsmouth Carers Service*
*If you are not known to/registered with Portsmouth Carers Service, you will need to contact us to register with our service before taking part in these activities.
**If your circumstances have changed and you are no longer in a caring role, you be eligible to attend these sessions for 3 months following your change in circumstances. If you need support to connect with community groups that are not specifically for carers, please let us know and we will give you the appropriate contacts and information.
Booking
You can attend as many of the drop-in sessions as you like – these do not need to be booked.
For the Cookery and Wellbeing sessions, places are limited, so booking is essential. Please choose one Wellbeing and one Cookery session per month. We are unable to guarantee you will be given a place for your chosen activity, please choose back-up sessions for both Cookery and Wellbeing. Places are allocated fairly and we will allocate one or two spaces per session to new carers if there is interest.
- The schedule for the coming month will be released by the 14th of the preceding month.
- Have a look and see which sessions interest you and you would like to attend.
- Email: carers.breaks@portsmouthcc.gov.uk (or call: 02392 851864), including:
• Your name
• Your contact number
• Your Cookery choice + 1 or 2 back-ups
• Your Wellbeing choice + 1 back-up
• Any allergies, dietary requirements or accessibility needs - We will collate the booking requests and allocate places according to our policy mentioned above. Once the places have been allocated, you will receive an email (or phone) confirmation by 25th of the preceding month.
- If sessions are oversubscribed, we will operate a waiting list. If we have any cancellations or spaces, we will contact you to see if you would like to attend.
- You will receive a reminder email (or call/text) a few days before your session.
IF YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE LET US KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GIVE THE PLACE TO SOMEONE ELSE.
We regularly take photos during these sessions. We will need you to complete a Photo Consent Form when you first attend a Carers Break Session. This will be kept on file for future sessions. You can withdraw your consent at any time by informing us. If you do not wish for your photo to be taken please let us know in advance.