Portland Project

ICA’s new project, running 2021-26, is part-funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and Portland Town Council.

The Project will deliver 11 workstreams, details of which are outlined below:

1. HELPING HANDS – OLDER PEOPLE + THOSE IMPACTED BY DISABILITY AND / OR SERIOUS, LIFE LIMITING OR TERMINAL ILLNESS (UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED).

See the Helping Hands page for information about its services and activities.

2. CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES:

ICA will collaborate with relevant organisations, including Atlantic Academy, b-side, The Drop In, Portland Town Council and other local educational and youth providers, to support their work and also develop a range of complementary activities.

These activities will include a youth volunteering scheme, life and leadership skills training, consultation activities and events. ICA will also support Portland Youth Council.

3. FOR ALL AGES:

  • Community Crafters (crafting for community-based good causes). Aimed at reducing isolation and loneliness and strengthening community and intergenerational bonds. 
  • Cratetivity (activity boxes for ‘mind and body’ delivered to the housebound).
  • Continue supporting Portland’s Man / Women’s Shed.

4. GROWING LOCAL (FOOD and ENVIRONMENT) – Helping make affordable, healthy and nutritious food more accessible, encouraging engagement with nature and the environment and increasing understanding around the links between climate change, the natural world and food.

See the Growing Local page for more information.

5. VOLUNTEER BUREAU – Supporting those wishing to volunteer or offer volunteer roles, from recruitment to training and DBS checks. 

6. COMMUNITY HUB – Providing advice, information and signposting to local residents around a host of different subjects. ICA deals with around 7-8,000 queries a year.

7. COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS – ICA has three qualified Community Organisers who provide a range of community consultation services for ICA and other organisations.

8. COMMUNITY CONNECTORS – Residents trained by ICA’s Community Organiser team to identify and signpost those in potential need of support. This will be based on the Health Connections Mendip model.

9. COMMUNITY FORUM – A space for local organisations to network, coordinate support, forward plan and build capacity.

10. COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT – Providing advice, information and training for other local community-based organisations, from governance advice to First Aid training.

11. COLLABORATIONS – ICA has continued to work in partnership with a number of groups and support structures, including:

  • The Portland Resilience Committee and Portland Food Security Group (with Portland Town Council, Portland Foodbank and Churches Together).
  • The Portland Hospital and Healthcare Working Group (with Dorset CCG and the NHS Foundation Trust).
  • Nothe of the Living Dead – An annual zombie themed fundraiser (with the Nothe Fort and EPIC Games Dorset). 

See ICA’s videos: www.youtube.com/channel/UCfSye3_ZzdjKolDdRAYlg8g