A truly wonderful day out at Sculpture by the Lake on Thursday, with everyone agreeing it was one of the most tranquil, beautiful and inspirational places they’d ever been.

This outing forms part of a series of trips and workshops that we’ve been running, all aimed at getting people out and about, learning something new and socialising through their passions in order to help improve their health and wellbeing. We can honestly say, this one hit the spot in a zillion ways.

Thanks as always to our brilliant volunteer drivers, Paul and David – you make everything so much easier.

Thanks also to NHS Dorset for their Mental Health & Wellbeing grant programme funding (via Dorset Community Foundation). This grant has allowed us to offer these activities free or at a much lower rate than normal.

Keep your eye out for future workshops and trips. In the meantime, here are a few shots from the day. If you haven’t been, we’d highly recommend you take a visit and check out the 120+ sculptures displayed across its 26 acres.

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A fantastic day out was had on Sunday with our trip to the New Forest and Bucklers Hard.

This outing forms part of a series of trips and workshops that we’ve been running, all aimed at getting people out and about, learning something new and socialising through their passions in order to help improve their health and wellbeing.

Our wonderful volunteers Paul and David ensured everyone got there safely and had a wonderful day in the sunshine.

Thanks to part-funding by NHS Dorset’s Mental Health & Wellbeing grant programme (via Dorset Community Foundation), we can offer these activities free or at a much lower rate than normal.

Our next trips include a half day boat fishing and a trip to Bridport’s Hat Festival!

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These young people joined our workshop today about how to protect and respect public spaces and local wildlife as part of Portland Youth Councils campaign.

The group discussed their favorite public spaces, what makes a public space good, what problems we might find with a public space and how to overcome these – all whilst enjoying a walk in the sunshine!

We also met some of the wildlife characters that Portland Youth Council had created along the way and learnt about their habitat, diet, threats and how we can help them.

We spoke about public space ownership and how sometimes communities come together to fundraise to buy spaces to turn them into public spaces.

They then met Charlie Pascoe Art who coached them in painting skills to make postcards of their favorite Portland public spaces and contribute to a piece of public art using patterns, words and messages.

Thank you to the lovely Sally and Poppy who came along to support and of course to Charlie for her wonderful workshop.

Thank you to our partners and funders for helping support this work…

Dorset Council (Local Alliance Group), Portland Town Council and The National Lottery Community Fund

Join Snapper Charters for a half-day fishing trip from Weymouth, and try your hand at catching a variety of fish against the stunning backdrop of the Jurassic Coastline.

The trip starts with a gentle steam along the harbour before emerging into Weymouth Bay. Skipper, Luke, will then prepare the bait, set up the rod for you and provide a demonstration on what to do. He will be there to support you throughout the trip, from baiting your hook to netting your fish.

It’s not a problem if you’ve never fished before; Luke welcomes hundreds of complete beginners each summer. In fact, many people catch their first ever fish on Snapper and are ‘hooked’ from then on in!

COST: £20, includes the trip, tackle and bait. Excludes refreshments (bring your own) As part of ICA’s Wellbeing Tasters offer, we want to encourage as many people as possible to try something new, meet new people and socialise.

Thanks to part-funding from NHS Dorset (via the Dorset Community Foundation) under their Mental Health & Wellbeing grant programme, we can offer these sessions free or at a greatly reduced rate than normal.

BOOK HERE.

Full trip details and list of FAQs can be found the Snapper Charter’s website.

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Bridport Hat Festival is a colourful and creative celebration of hats, a fundraiser for head-related charities and a giant summer-ending party for the town and its visitors.

The most creative, quirky, stylish and inventive headwear combines with live music, food, multiple competitions, demonstrations, talks, displays, shows, a hat auction, games, hatted dogs (yes, hatted dogs) and much, much more, all ‘topped’ off by a HUGE mass hat-wearing photoshoot in Bucky Doo Square on ‘Haturday’ at 1 pm. And all you need is a hat!

Transport available, picking up from TESCO and the Masonic Lodge car parks, Portland.

£5, covers transport. Event if FREE entry.

BOOK HERE.

Find out more about the event on the Bridport Hat Festival website.

Thanks to part-funding from NHS Dorset (via the Dorset Community Foundation) under their Mental Health & Wellbeing grant programme, we can offer these activities free or at a much lower rate than normal.

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It’s that time of year again when we ask for volunteers to help with our charity Halloween Fundraiser ‘Nothe of the Living Dead.’

We can’t wait to welcome new and old volunteers, for another incredible scaretastic event that raises much-needed funds for three local charities – ICA, EPIC Games Dorset and The Nothe Fort.

Click here to access the application form + all the other information that you need to know about, including roles, dates, times and costumes etc. Alternatively, use the QR code on poster.

Any questions please contact: katypascoe@islandcommunityaction.org.uk who will respond in September when she returns from her extended summer holiday!

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ICA’s Woolly Wonderland has seen around 1,500 people from across Portland, Weymouth and beyond (including three generations of one family from Winfrith) create thousands of wool-based items to decorate Easton Gardens, Portland today.

Seeing everything come together was a truly emotional, magical and proud moment. Seriously, you are all amazing!

So, huge thanks to everyone who knitted, crocheted, felted, wrapped, tied, worked at height, decorated and created the zillions of art pieces on display, which include a giant lighthouse, umbrellas, hot air balloons, mermaids, parrots, hedgehogs, seagulls, seascapes, tassels and even a bike.

Individuals, families, and community groups from across the area have been working for months creating their pieces, from young children like Flo, aged three, who created tassels with her childminder, to those who are housebound due to age and frailty, like Joan, aged 97, knitting at home in front of her TV.

Thanks to a range of funding, including £615 from Portland and Weymouth’s Town of Culture Launchpad Grants programme, every child attending school on Portland has been able to join in making pompoms, bunting, or other display items. This funding has also helped 21 children and young people, aged from 7 to 14 years, to learn how to crochet and/or knit during a 12-week club run after school, delivered by a fabulous, skilled team of ICA volunteers.

A range of local groups have also contributed, including 1st Portland Scouts, Atlantic Academy‘s SEN Club, Hedgehog Friendly Portland, ICA’s Hooked Crochet Club (for those in their 20s-40s) and Memorability Club (for those with dementia and their carers), St. John Ambulance Badgers, St George’s Primary School, The Sanctuary’s Wellbeing Group, Sunninghill Prep School, the knitaholics and Women’s Institutes. If we’ve left anyone off the list, we apologise profusely!

This truly intergenerational project has engaged every sector of the community, from older residents working with children to share traditional skills to volunteers helping those who are isolated to get involved and feel more connected to their community.

Our Community Crafters have also spent hundreds of hours transforming thousands of items into a kaleidoscope of displays. A phenomenal achievement, made more special because it forms part of the Towns of Culture project, evidencing just how creative our community is.

We hope everyone enjoys the displays this summer. We really want it to bring you all happiness and a sense of pride in our wonderful island. So, let’s treasure it and take care of it until it comes down after the b-side Fringe Festival on 15th September.

CAKE PICNIC – As part of the celebrations, tomorrow we’ll be running a Cake Picnic between 2-4 pm to celebrate the official launch of the Yarn Bomb. Everyone is welcome. Bring a cake, a blanket and discover the amazing creations around you.

Children are also invited to enter the Fuzzy Buzzy Bees competition – they just count bees in the displays, pop over to the ICA office (opposite the Gardens), register their guess and grab a lolly. The competition is running until September, when the winner will be announced.

Here are just a few photos to celebrate. More to follow.

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Just under 700 people attended MEMO Portland’s recent consultation days and mine visits to discover more about the project’s plans.

NOW, ahead of its new planning application and funding bids, the MEMO team want to hear from you.

This is an amazing project with potentially huge benefits for the island and surrounding areas BUT only a short survey, the results of which will be critical in shaping its next steps.

Complete it digitally here, use the QR code on the poster or pick up a paper copy from the ICA office, Portland, DT5 1EB (opposite Easton Gardens).

All information banners are currently on display at the Heights Hotel.

A successful Kayaking Taster at Portland Marina. Everyone really enjoyed it and some (if not all) intend to do more.

A big thank you to Zac from Adventure 4 All for delivering the session.

Keep an eye out for more tasters coming your way.

The tasters form part of our Wellbeing 2025 offer, kindly part funded by NHS Dorset (via the Dorset Community Foundation) under their Mental Health & Wellbeing grant programme. Thanks to this funding, we can offer these activities at a much lower rate than normal.

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A great afternoon out on our recent Pyrography Taster. Totally impressed by the excellent pieces created by all those who participated.

Thanks to our volunteers, tutor Angela Woodhouse – The Art Machine, and The Crafty Cuppa.

Keep an eye out for more tasters coming your way.

The tasters form part of our Wellbeing 2025 offer, kindly part funded by NHS Dorset (via the Dorset Community Foundation) under their Mental Health & Wellbeing grant programme. Thanks to this funding, we can offer these activities at a much lower rate than normal.

#TOC2025

#weymouthandportlandtownofculture

#townsofculture2025

#portlanduk