ISLAND COMMUNITY ACTION (ICA): Championing Portland, its people, and its potential.

ICA is a small local charity (number: 1157978) based on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. Formed in 1999 to help address the increasing challenges facing local people. We achieve this through a range of workstreams, including:

HELPING HANDS: 20+ services for older people + those impacted by disability and/or serious, life-limiting, or terminal illness (unless otherwise stated). Services include everything from advice, befriending, and community transport to art groups, exercise classes, and lunch clubs.

CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES: Youth volunteering, life and leadership skills training, and large-scale events. ICA also manages the Portland Youth Council and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme (DofE).

Community Development: Covers a wide range of projects, including Community Connectors (residents, volunteers, and organisations trained to identify and signpost those in need of support), Portland Community Forum(a space for local organisations to network, coordinate support, forward plan, and build capacity), and Portland's Volunteer Bureau – (support for those who volunteer or offer volunteer roles).

CULTURE AND HERITAGE (ALL AGES): Currently includes Community Crafters (creativity and crafting for local good causes), Nothe of the Living Dead (a collaborative, large-scale Halloween fundraiser focused on challenges, games, and all things undead), and Tales and Trails (media-rich walking experiences and live-action treasure hunts and geocaches).

FUTURE PORTLAND: Activities that support, inspire, and drive positive, transformational change across the island, from community consultations and collaborations to research and development projects.

In the past year, ICA supported over 2,500 local residents, delivering 18,948 separate interactions and fielding 22,387 ICA-related and 7,484 non-ICA-related phone calls, digital conversations, and face-to-face inquiries. We also engaged 438 volunteers, who provided 31,270 hours of support.

We are thankful for the amazing support provided by these volunteers, along with our dedicated staff team. However, as the island's problems continue to grow, including an ageing population, increasing deprivation, reduced statutory provision, worsening social mobility, and limited grant funding opportunities, our work is becoming more challenging. Therefore, we are immensely thankful for any financial contributions or donations toward our efforts to support the local community.

You can find out more about our work here: https://islandcommunityaction.org. Should you want to donate, you can do so via: https://islandcommunityaction.org/donate.