Who are Our House?
A UK-wide movement for people-powered democracy, and the wider network Community Action Portsmouth is part of.
Our House describes itself as a movement for people-powered democracy. It supports communities across the UK's four nations to write People's Charters: their own demands about how politics and decisions should work. It takes the idea, and the name, from the Chartists' People's Charter of 1838.
How the charters come together
- Local
Community groups and assemblies, like ours in Portsmouth, agree their own demands.
- Connected
Groups learn from each other through shared materials, facilitators and community calls.
- National
Our House plans national conventions in summer 2027 to bring local charters together.
- Pushed for
The charters are then taken to the people in power.
These are plans and routes to influence. They aren't proof that national reform has already been won.
What it offers local groups
- Charter-building materials, including a game groups can play to write their own charter
- A network of experienced facilitators
- Community calls, to learn from groups facing similar challenges
- A route for Portsmouth's demands to join a wider movement
How CAP fits in
Community Action Portsmouth brings neighbours together to make practical changes locally and build a stronger voice in the decisions that affect us. As part of Our House, we also connect Portsmouth's ideas for a better democracy with communities across the UK.
Our House's charter work is about democracy and decision-making. Our local work also takes on everyday problems in Portsmouth's neighbourhoods. Residents here choose what CAP works on.
How it's run
Our House's website names the Social Change Nest as its fiscal host, which holds and manages its money, and Movements Trust as its charitable sponsor.
Have your say
Add your ideas to the Portsmouth People's Charter on Pol.is. You can agree or disagree with what others have written and add your own. Pol.is is an outside service with its own privacy terms.
Or come to an assembly, where we work on the charter together in person.
Find out more
From Community Action Portsmouth's information and discussion paper, November 2026, based on Our House's public website. Their plans and what they offer may change.