Sustainable Conservation Trust

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Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Sustainable Conservation Trust, Nonprofit Organization, Visitor Centre, Victory Gate, Portsmouth.

A non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation and use of historic structures.The SCT’s aim is for every vacant or underused asset within the historic built environment to be meaningfully preserved through sustainable, productive reuse.

24/10/2026

Sarawak, what an unforgettable experience! 🌿❤️

I arrived for ICOMOS GA2026 and left with wonderful new friendships, old ones rediscovered, and a head full of ideas!

From exploring caves filled with bats and fossils to boat trips spotting dolphins and crocodiles, discovering mangroves, beautiful palms and the incredible diversity of traditional buildings at Sarawak Cultural Village — what an adventure!

We even nearly went swimming with crocodiles without knowing! 🐊 Luckily, the water was too hot and shallow, so we decided against it!

But what stays with me most is the people, their cultures, stories and the connections we made. Despite living in different corners of the world, we have so much in common.

I came to share our work at SCT, but I leave inspired by so many new ideas, friendships and possibilities for collaboration.

Heritage lives through people, their stories and the connections we make. The more we share, the richer it becomes.

29/09/2026

A full-circle moment at the Old Pay Office ❤️

We first met Zuzanna when she joined our King’s Trust heritage skills workshops as a Part 1 architecture graduate.

She came back as an SCT volunteer to build her portfolio and practical skills, helped us deliver Sugar & Spice workshops, and became involved in the wider work of SCT.

Now she has successfully applied to The King’s Trust and has returned to deliver the programme with us. The King’s Trust | Free Courses & Job Support

From participant → volunteer → practitioner → programme delivery.

This is what we hope capacity building can do. Create a place to learn, but also a route to come back, practise, contribute and eventually lead.

The person learning today can become the person teaching tomorrow.

25/09/2026

CREATIVE CALL-OUT: RHYMES FOR PORTSMOUTH

Poet, rapper, spoken-word artist, lyricist or songwriter? We have a slightly unusual commission for you.

As part of Portsmouth 100, SCT is working with emerging artist Phoebe on a playful new project inspired by the Welsh Mari Lwyd tradition.

Phoebe is creating a Portsmouth version of the traditional horse-skull figure, transformed through the city’s maritime identity into a half-horse, half-fish creature inspired by Portsmouth’s hippocampus.

Now we need the words.

We are looking for a local creative to develop short, witty and performable rhymes responding to up to six Portsmouth buildings featured in our Portsmouth 100 project.

Traditionally, Mari Lwyd involves a rhyming challenge at the door before the creature is allowed inside. We want to bring that idea into contemporary Portsmouth.

Think local history meets poetry meets rap battle.

SCT will provide the selected buildings, their stories and relevant research. Your job is to turn those stories into words that can be performed as part of Phoebe’s project.

Commission fee: £200
Up to 6 buildings
Application deadline: 15 October 2026

To apply, send us a short introduction about yourself and your creative practice, with a link or example of your work if available, to [email protected]

You don’t need experience in heritage or architecture. We are interested in how you play with words, stories and performance.

Please share with Portsmouth’s poets, rappers, spoken-word artists, musicians, writers and anyone else who might enjoy the challenge.

25/09/2026

This is what skills development looks like at SCT… although perhaps not quite how you’d expect. 💀👽🦇

Phoebe brought in a cat skull, which somehow manages to look both very cute and like a slightly disturbing alien.

Then there’s the fruit bat, looking suspiciously like Dracula asleep in his coffin.

And now Phoebe and Xandar are putting our new 3D printer properly through its paces, printing a gemsbok skull.

What we love about this is that the learning starts with what a young person is genuinely interested in. That curiosity becomes the route into digital making, 3D modelling, scanning, understanding form and material, problem-solving and learning how to use new technology.

The subject might be unexpected, but the skills and outcomes aren’t compromised. If anything, the enthusiasm makes the learning stronger.

So much fun. Slightly weird. Completely fascinating.

We really do love what we do. ❤️ Brave Island The King’s Trust | Free Courses & Job Support

15/09/2026

From Sugar & Spice to some seriously amazing clay creations!

We are still buzzing from Saturday’s tile-making workshop at Victoria Park. Seeing you all transform simple clay into stunning pieces inspired by Portsmouth’s built heritage was truly special. Huge thanks to everyone who rolled up their sleeves with us and Crying Out Loud

It was wonderful to see so many unique patterns and textures taking shape in the clay.

Your pieces are safely on their way to the kiln, and we can't wait to see the finished results!

15/09/2026

With just a little guidance, the kids eagerly began creating their own designs🪟

As part of our three-day workshop, held alongside Architects of Air’s Luminarium and organised by Crying Out Loud our Stained Glass Inspired Windows session encouraged children to express their creativity on paper.

Many recalled seeing stained glass windows in churches and immediately knew what to do.

The variety of unique designs and vibrant colour combinations was truly inspiring, it was amazing to watch their creativity in action.

Swipe to see the work! ➡️

15/09/2026

Our Colorful Brickwork workshop at Victoria Park, Portsmouth was a hit! 🧱

Over three days, children and young audiences explored traditional conservation techniques for brickwork and mortar in a fun, hands-on setting.

Using colorful Play-Doh, participants discovered how buildings and walls are constructed, making learning interactive and enjoyable.

By filling gaps within brick patterns, they learned about color, texture, pattern, and the basics of construction.

The activity inspired participants to see how color can completely transform the look and feel of an architectural structure.

Our free workshops at Victoria Park Portsmouth, held alongside Architects of Air’s Luminarium organised by Crying Out Loud were a huge success!

We can’t wait to host more creative workshops for kids and young people!

12/09/2026

Three-year-old Tommy was absolutely brilliant at today’s Heritage Skills for Kids workshop, getting hands-on with our Play-Doh version of traditional lime mortar and brickwork repair.

If anyone is looking for an excellent brickwork repair person, contact us. His diary may fill up quickly. 😄

Our free workshops at Victoria Park continue alongside Architects of Air’s Luminarium organised by .creatives continue to explore heritage skills, architecture and making through ‘colourful’ play on Sunday as well.

And for the slightly older apprentices: sign up to the SCT newsletter (head to our website) for upcoming heritage skills workshops and creative courses.

Healing buildings starts young. 🧱💚

11/09/2026

A big thank you to our wonderful SCT volunteers, who are helping us make our part of Architects of Air in Victoria Park possible.

Lovely to have some of the team together at last night’s opening, ready for a busy few days ahead.

From today, SCT will be delivering seven free creative heritage workshops over three days, alongside the incredible Architects of Air experience.

It simply wouldn’t happen without people generously giving their time, energy and skills. Thank you ❤️

Come and find us in Victoria Park! Crying Out Loud Architects of Air Victoria Park Portsmouth

10/09/2026

Looking for a fun and creative way to spend the weekend with your kids?

Join us at Victoria Park this weekend for the Colourful Architecture workshops.

SCT invites families to take part in engaging, hands-on introduction to heritage workshops at the Greenhouse, open to all ages and abilities.
Friday, 11th September, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM (schools and colleges only)
Saturday, 12th September, 1:00 PM -3:00 PM
Sunday, 12th September, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

For more details, Tap the link in bio

Workshop in the video: Stained Glass

The event organised by

Address

Visitor Centre, Victory Gate
Portsmouth
PO1 3LJ

Website

https://www.sustainableconservationtrust.com/

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