Play ICA’s weekly, online, lottery and help us raise funds for our Helping Hands services for older people and those impacted by disability or significant illness.

£1 per entry (40p goes to ICA), weekly draws and a 1 in 50 chance of winning a prize. There is a top weekly prize of £25,000, along with special one-off prizes to be won regularly too.

Taking part couldn’t be easier – go to ICA’s GivingLottery page (once there, click on the ‘Buy tickets’ button and and follow the instructions on screen).

A great turn out at Wednesday’s ‘A Public Listening Event with NHS Dorset Integrated Care System (ICS).

12 questions were asked, spanning a range of topics and concerns – Portland Hospital (beds, MIU and general services), processes for out of hours emergencies, older people’s services, prescription reviews + access processes for specialist hospital treatments and GP, pharmacy and dentist services.

The ICS panel confirmed Portland Hospital would not close. They also committed to further conversations around Portland’s healthcare service needs, which will be used to help create the foundation for future improvements.

In addition, Paul Johnson, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Dorset, promised to continue working with the community over the coming 12 months and to return for another public meeting next year in order to discuss the progress that has been made.

See the Dorset Echo report.

***NEW PUBLIC SURVEY – HAVE YOUR SAY IN DETERMINING THE FUTURE OF PORTLAND’S HIGH ANGLE BATTERY***

326 surveys completed in the first week, with two more weeks to go. Fantastic!

If you haven’t done it yet, make sure your voice is heard and you get your opinions and ideas logged.

TO REGISTER YOUR VIEWS, COMPLETE THE PUBLIC SURVEY BETWEEN 1ST AND 19TH FEBRUARY.

YOU CAN ALSO PICK UP A PAPER COPY FROM THE ICA OFFICE IN EASTON (OPPOSITE EASTON PARK) AND A RANGE OF OTHER OUTLETS ACROSS THE ISLAND. 

Read more about the High Angle Battery’s history here:

Wikipedia 

Portland History

Dorset Echo

***NEW PUBLIC LISTENING EVENT WITH NHS DORSET INTEGRATED CARE SYSTEM TO DISCUSS PORTLAND’S HEALTHCARE NEEDS***

***NEW PUBLIC LISTENING EVENT WITH NHS DORSET INTEGRATED CARE SYSTEM TO DISCUSS PORTLAND’S HEALTHCARE NEEDS***

***NEW PUBLIC SURVEY – HAVE YOUR SAY IN DETERMINING THE FUTURE OF PORTLAND’S HIGH ANGLE BATTERY***

Not just an important part of Portland’s military past, the High Angle Battery (also known as the Verne Quarry Battery or the Ghost Tunnels) represents an important part of our Island’s wider history and, for many, our everyday lives (from childhood upwards). 

Already a Scheduled Monument (confirming its national importance), the site is also about to be recorded ‘at risk’ on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.

To ensure its future, Dorset Council are working with a range of partners to plan a programme of repairs, increased conservation of the site’s ecology and a new interpretation scheme.

TO REGISTER YOUR VIEWS ABOUT THE PROJECT AND THE BATTERY’S FUTURE, YOU’RE INVITED TO COMPLETE THE PUBLIC SURVEY BETWEEN 1ST AND 19TH FEBRUARY.

YOU CAN ALSO PICK UP A PAPER COPY FROM THE ICA OFFICE IN EASTON (OPPOSITE EASTON PARK) AND A RANGE OF OTHER OUTLETS ACROSS THE ISLAND. 

Read more about the High Angle Battery’s history here:

Wikipedia 

Portland History

Dorset Echo

Nice piece in the Dorset Echo.

For anyone living on Portland (or across the surrounding area) who is eligible for a winter booster vaccination, Portland Hospital’s walk-in clinic will be open on Saturdays 4th and 11th February.

The NHS vaccination team will see as many people as they can while doors are open. This is one of the last chances to get your winter COVID-19 booster.

Further details on the poster below.

You can find out all you need to know about COVID-19 vaccinations here.

Massive thanks to Hall & Woodhouse (The Community Chest Fund) for their generous donation towards Helping Hands, ICA’s project for older people.

Fantastic night out at their Blandford brewery. Would highly recommend a tour.

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Starting Tuesday 3rd January, BBC TV South broadcast a series of features focused on Weymouth & Portland.

These features were inspired by the Forgotten Towns Weymouth, Portland and the Coastal Economy report by Philip Marfleet and Jenny Lennon-Wood (from The South Dorset Research Group)

The features included the following content sections:

• Past – Interviews with former employees at the Portland Dockyard and defence industries on the closures of the 1990s and their impact.
• Current (Youth) – Interviews with Tom Lane and attendees from STEPS Club For Young People, Weymouth.
• Current (older people) – Interviews with Island Community Action and a parent / toddler group at The Islanders Youth and Community Centre, Portland.
• Future – Live broadcast discussion with Councillor Tony Ferrari (Dorset Council).

Watch the complete BBC broadcast here.

Read the written BBC report here.

Read the full report here.