A reminder of today’s Youth Council beach clean.

When Atlantic Academy students asked if they could use ICA’s community minibus to transport them to their 2023 Prom, how could we refuse.

Massive thanks to all those that helped turn the usually quiet minibus into dazzling disco for the night – Katy Pascoe, Jackie Carpenter and Vicky Short. Also to Keith Bedford for playing chauffeur and Georgina Bolt for the photos.

A wonderful night was had by all.

The ICA team will be supporting Portland Youth Council with their treasure hunt, raffle and basketball shoot out this Sunday at the Portland Pirate Day.

Do come along and support them in their mission to fundraise enough to create affordable activity opportunities for children and young people locally.

Come along and help support Portland’s first Youth Council to achieve their aim of delivering a Chesil Beach Litter Pick.

All the plastic waste collected will be added to their recycled materials sculpture, ‘Fish & Strips,’ which is being displayed as part of Portland Marina‘s ‘Plastic Shores’ installation during Portland Week, 21-27 August.

Meet at 10am on Saturday 29th July, on the sea wall (Cove Pub end). All equipment will be provided. Families with children are welcomed (if accompanied by a supervising adult).

Children can achieve a stamp for their Do One Thing – Portland reward. Prize for the piece of marine litter that has started its journey from the furthest location.

Calling all Crafters! Could you help us with one (or both) of our new knitting and crochet projects?

1. A kaleidoscope of butterfly broaches to be displayed in our window as part of b-side‘s Fringe Festival in September (before being sold off to raise funds for our Helping Hands initiative, which provides support services for our Island’s older and vulnerable residents).

A consortium of Octopi to be showcased within Portland Marina‘s Plastic Shores display during their Portland Week celebrations 21-27 August (before being ‘gifted’ to the Island’s new babies).

Patterns available from the ICA office at the Easton Shopping Centre, via Facebook Messenger or email.

Donations can be dropped into the office or handed to volunteers at the next ‘Spin a Yarn’ social knit and crochet group get togethers at The Kitchen at Portland Marina  on Tuesday 25th July or Tuesday 29th August.

We can’t wait to see what woolly wonders local people create this time. 

Fantastic day spent with Atlantic Academy Primary for the 2023 Environment Day. Activities included a BioBlitz and creation of bird feeders, bug hotels and toad abodes.

Huge thanks to Carrie Dalby, Jackie Hambling and Martin McCleary for volunteering as our experts on the BioBlitz. Thanks also to our Atlantic Academy work experience students, Miya-Lei and Jonathon, and the Atlantic Academy Portland Primary team.

Each student will get a Do One Thing reward card and two stamps (one for each of the two activities they completed on the day). The card can be used to collect up to ten stamps over the coming months (one for each activity they do). Collect ten stamps and get a reward. See more on our Do One Thing page.

New monthly knitting, crochet and social group starts tomorrow (Tuesday 27th June), 2pm-3.30pm, at The Kitchen at Portland Marina.

Free parking for everyone that attends and refreshments available to purchase.

Bring your own project or join in with our brand new Community Crafters initiative – Butterflies & Octopuses, which will see the local community create two incredible displays over the next few months:

1. A ‘Consortium’ of Octopuses – to dangle from the ceiling as part of Portland Marina‘s ‘Plastic Shores’ display during Portland Week (before they are donated to Portland’s newest generation of babies). Finished octopuses into the ICA office, Easton by Friday 18th August. All colours and sizes welcomed.

2. A ‘Kaleidoscope’ of Butterflies – with broach pins on the back, so that we can create a beautiful display (that can also become gifts). Finished butterflies in any colour and patterns, the brighter the better, into ICA by 31st August please. We can add broach pins in the office if you don’t have any of these available.

Patterns available at Spin A Yarn and the ICA office.

A range of photos from last week’s Environment Fayre.

The event, attended by around 300, was a collaboration between ICA and b-side and aimed to celebrate Portland’s amazing natural environment and the ways we can help protect it.

Thank you to all who participated and made the day so special, from our amazing volunteers to Portland’s fabulous Youth Council and all those who exhibited:

• Angela Heron – Cyanotype
• Ants on a Rock
• Artizani
• The Buzztastic Bee Circus
• Eden Portland
• Hedgehog Friendly Portland
• Nottingham Trent University (Slow Memory)
• Portland 4 the Planet

Thank you also to photographers:

• Jayne Jackson – www.jaynejacksonphotography.co.uk
• Pete Millson – www.petemillsonphotographer.uk

The event was part-funded by The Dorset Performing Arts Fund (via the Dorset Community Foundation), the National Lottery Community Fund, the Great Big Green Week (via Save the Children) and Arts Council England.

Here are a selection of the Wild Art pieces created by children during last weekend’s Environment Fayre. I’m sure you’ll agree that they’re absolutely beautiful.

Well done to all who made them.

The Fayre was a collaboration between ICA and b-side.

The event, which aimed to celebrate Portland’s amazing natural environment and highlight how we can help protect it, was part-funded by The Dorset Performing Arts Fund (via the Dorset Community Foundation), the National Lottery Community Fund, the Great Big Green Week (via Save the Children) and Arts Council England. 

Just a brief summary of what we’ve been up to over the past three months!

Thank you to the following organisations, all of whom have either supported or partnered our work over this period.

The National Lottery Community Fund

Portland Town Council

Dorset Council

b-side