The Neighbourhood Forums were established by Portsmouth City Council who continue to support them. Each is run by a committee of volunteers and is assisted by a City Council Link Officer.
 
Forum boundaries are designed to reflect local communities and do not follow any other geographical or political format. See below for a forum map.
 
All residents in a Forum area are members of the Forum. They meet, in general, on a quarterly basis and steering groups normally meet prior to the main Forum meeting. They are funded by the City Council and are consultative, a two-way channel of communication between residents, the Council and other organisations and are one of a number of complementary ways in which the Council talks to local people.
 
They are non-political and represent all residents in the area, decide their own agenda and may discuss all local and city-wide issues, not just those involving the City Council.
 
They provide a regular opportunity to meet Ward Councillors and Council Officers and can invite representatives from other bodies to join in the discussions. They can bid for money for environmental improvements, crime prevention schemes etc.
 
The Official Neighbourhood Forum web site is part of the City Council site.