Frank Sorrell Centre

Please click on a group below or take a look at the event calendar to view the dates of regular meetings held at the Frank Sorrell Centre.  All our meetings are open to everyone.

The main role of the Empowering Children and Families Forum is to monitor activities on a regular basis in order to have open discussions on any issues that will affect children and young people aged 0 to 25 with disabilities and/or special educational needs around Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.

One aim of ECAF is to facilitate co-production and encourage commissioners to work in partnership with families and stakeholders to co-design services that better meet their needs.

Positive feedback, issues and complaints will be shared with relevant agencies (unless confidential and always anonymously) in order to improve services in the education, health, social care or voluntary sector.

It reports directly to the SEND board at their meetings and is included in Local SEND strategy. ECAF is run by the Portsmouth Disability Forum. Where possible the Chair of the meeting will be a parent representative supported by the Co-Chair or by a staff member of the Portsmouth Disability Forum in the absence of the Co-Chair. 

PDF Empowering Children & Families Dates 2018

• 10th January
• 7th February
• 7th March
• 11th April
• 9th May
• 6th June
• 11th July
• No August meeting
• 5th September
• 10th October
• 7th November
• 5th December

These are held on a Wednesday once a month between 12:00pm & 2:00pm.

This an informal and fun session for disabled people who are interested in learning  to play a keyboard or have the skill and  just to come to play alongside other people . It is paced to meet the needs of the group, and at times there is 1-1 tutoring too.

Keyboard layout, notation, note values, rhythm, sharps and flat, chords major and minor, playing melodies, accompaniment, key signatures and music theory are all covered over a period of time.

There is a small charge of £5 per hour session. If you would like to book please contact Paul Taylor 023 92252767 or just drop in. Keyboards are provided for the group although you are welcome to bring your own if you wish.

We are a traditional and friendly Brass Band based in the Portsmouth area for players of all ages and abilities, undertaking an extensive range of engagements throughout the year ranging from formal concerts and civic events to fetes, parties, church services, carnivals and celebrations.

The band was first formed in 1939 as the Auxiliary Fire Service Band and was mainly for the recreation of the Firemen serving at that time.

In 2016, after many happy decades, Portsmouth City Council decided that Brewery House in Hambrook Street, Southsea, the headquarters and home of Portsmouth City Band was to be redeveloped for accommodation.  Finding a permanent home for a brass band is rarely straightforward but after much hard work and searching, the Frank Sorrell Centre in Southsea became the next step in the history book. 

If you have any questions, queries, or would like to get involved … either contact our Secretary Carol Mason on 023 9283 9178 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.