ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Island Community Action: Registered Charity 1157978 The Easton Centre, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1EB

T: 01305 823789 / E: office@islandcommunityaction.org.uk / W: https://islandcommunityaction.org

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT During 2019 ICA delivered:

• The third year of our older people’s project, Silver Island

• The fourth Auction of Promises event

• The second Nothe of the Living Dead event – our Halloween fundraiser in partnership

with the Nothe Fort, Weymouth

• Party in the Park @ Victoria Gardens – delivered in collaboration with The Friends of

Victoria Gardens group and themed to celebrate volunteering across the Island and the

complete of the Garden’s new stage area

• A new environmental project, Portland 4 The Planet – Youth project.

We also continued to deliver our Volunteer Bureau, Community Hub and Infrastructure Support

offers for local residents and other local community organisations and groups.

In addition, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary – an incredible and exciting milestone in

ICA’s history.

During these 20 years ICA has supported 1,000s of residents across Portland, Wyke Regis and

the local area. We have also engaged 100s of volunteers and delivered dozens of services,

activities, events and projects.

In achieving these successes, we have been lucky enough to have worked with and been

supported by some of the area’s most talented, energetic, knowledgeable and inspiring

individuals and organisations.

To them and our current team of volunteers, staff, Board of Trustees and partners, we say a

huge thank you. Your dedication, effort and skills provide the foundations on which our success

is built.

Massive thanks also to all those who have supported us financially or with donations and

legacies. Your input has been critical in enabling us to continue supporting local people across

the area.

Julia Willoughby Chair – Island Community Action (ICA)

KEY FUNDERS & SPONSORS

GRANTS

THE NATIONAL LOTTERY COMMUNITY FUND ICA continued to benefit from the Big Lottery Fund’s: Reaching Communities five-year (2016-2021) grant. The grant is supporting delivery of our Silver Island (older people’s) project.

We were lucky enough to also receive an Awards for All grant towards the Man Shed.

THE ALICE ELLEN COOPER-DEAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION Provided a grant towards our Silver Island project.

THE VALENTINE CHARITABLE TRUST Also, provided a grant towards our Silver Island project.

HALL & WOODHOUSE Awarded ICA a grant for our dementia friendly Forget-Me-Not Songsters singing group.

MARS (through the Dorset Community Foundation) Awarded ICA a grant towards the Portland Man Shed expansion. COOP LOCAL COMMUNITY FUND Also awarded a grant towards the Portland Man Shed expansion.

iWILL (through the Dorset Community Foundation) Awarded ICA a grant for a new environmental / climate change focused project, Portland 4 The Planet – Youth Project (a collaboration between ICA, Atlantic Academy and Portland 4 The Planet)

ADDITIONAL DONATIONS & FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES In addition to ICA’s successful grant applications, the charity was grateful to benefit from a range of funding opportunities over the past 12 months, including • Pengillys Solicitors (monthly contributions and sponsorship for Nothe of the Living Dead) • The Court Leet of Portland (contribution towards the Senior’s Christmas lunch) • The Rotary Club of Island & Royal Manor of Portland • The Portland Community Bingo team (led by Margaret Stone) • The Lobster Pot (in-kind contribution towards the Senior’s Christmas lunch)

ICA also generates income through…

The Portland Lottery ICA continued to raise valuable funds towards its core costs through our ticketed Portland Lottery

The Giving Lottery ICA launched its Giving Lottery offer to provide an online alternative for people to raise funds for our services. www.givinglottery.org.uk/support/island-community-action

Bingo and Coffee Mornings ICA’s fortnightly bingo sessions continue to raise vital funds towards our core costs, as do our coffee mornings.

Recycling ICA’s recycling programme continued through 2017, with the community continuing to donate everything from old jewellery and mobile phones to CDs, DVDs and foreign currency.

One-off or regular donations Made by cash, cheque, standing order or via Local Giving at: www.localgiving.com/charity/islandcommunityaction

Legacy gifts Made via the donor’s will, these contributions range from direct donations instead of flowers at a funeral to a specified sum of money, a % of an entire estate or a particular item.

Sponsorship Regular donations made in return for specific promotional activities e.g. a business logo and contact details on an ICA vehicle.

Sponsored events From bake sales and marathons to parachute jumps and fire walks.

Donations of prizes From unwanted gifts to free experiences, trips and treatments.

Merchandise ICA sells cards, lottery tickets, merchandise and more.

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PROJECTS & SERVICES The funding ICA receives supports its core costs projects, including: SILVER ISLAND – ICA’S OLDER PEOPLE’S PROJECT

CORE SUPPORT Delivered by ICA staff, volunteers or external tutors to clients on an ongoing basis.

These services will enable clients to maintain their wellbeing and independence, so they are able living longer-term

Advice: Benefits Surgery

(with AgeUK)

Advice: Legal (with

Pengillys)

At Home: Befriending

(Face-to-face)

At Home: Befriending (Telephone)

At Home: Cleaning

At Home: DIY

At Home: Dog walking

At Home: Gardening

Chesil Art Group (Art)

Exercise: Get Together

Club (Gentle seated

exercise)

Exercise: Osteocise

(Mid-range)

Exercise: Fit+

(Advanced)

Food: The Dining

Room 1 (lunch club)

Food: The Dining

Room 2 (lunch club)

Food Provision:

Sunday Lunch

The Man Shed

The Women’s

Shed

Shopping: Store

(2 x weekly @ Tesco)

Shopping: Store

(Other)

Showtime Cinema Club

(with Gracewell)

Singing: Community Crooners

Singing: Forget-Me-Not

Songsters

Social: Bingo

Social: Special events

(ad-hoc) Social: Trips

(weekly)

Transport: Car (x 2)

Transport: Minibus

Number of Interactions During its second year of delivery (2018-19), Silver Island delivered the following: • Advice, information and training sessions

o 42 benefits and legal surgeries o 11 training

• At Home services… o 3,131 telephone befriending calls (including weekly check-up calls) o 1,044 home befriending visits o 535 home support / larger errands o 530 gardening o 102 Pledge A Plate meals

• Clubs and social activities... o 1,762 attendances at the Get Together Club, Osteocise and Fit Plus exercise

classes. o 1,319 attendances at Community Crooners and Forget Me Not Songsters o 423 attendances at the Chesil Art Group o 622 bingo o 1,425 attendances at the Man Shed and Old Boys Club men only groups

§ Food provision… o 1,114 meals served

• Transport: o 2,585 passengers in the car (passengers not individuals).

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TABLE 2: SILVER ISLAND’S SUMMARY OF INTERACTIONS: ACTIVITY / SERVICE

STRAND NUMBER OF

INTERACTIONS 2017-18

CTIONS 2018-19

Advice sessions

(with partners – Benefits/AgeUK and Legal/Pengillys Solicitors)

36 53

At Home services 5,461 5,342

Clubs and social activities 4,131 5,551

Food provision 1,110 1114

Transport 2,422 2585

TOTAL 13,160 14,645

In addition, ICA dealt with 6,616 Silver Island specific enquiries and advice sessions from clients, families, carers and external organisations (e.g. GP, Adult Social Services and NHS) about potential / future ICA referral care packages and support for clients. Grand total interactions for Silver Island during 2018-19 period = 22,272. NB: Figure excludes other project related interactions, including: • Community Hub ‘non-Silver Island’ enquiries = 1,211 • Other project related interactions (e.g. Portland Pride, Volunteering Bureau,

Community Consultations and Infrastructure Support).

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PORTLAND PRIDE Continues to promote and support Portland’s local food initiatives. In 2019, this included collaborating on a new environment project, Portland 4 The Planet – Youth Project. See later in the report. COMMUNITY HUB In addition to Silver Island interactions, the ICA office receives thousands of general enquiries per year. CONSULTATIONS In 2019 ICA’s Voluntary Community Organisers supported a range of project based consultations, including evaluation for Silver Island and Portland 4 The Planet – Youth Project. INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT ICA provides support to a range of other organisations across the Island, including: • Advice and support e.g. for start-ups and funding • Networking opportunities • PR & Marketing • Training

TRAINING ICA believes that training is a core part of our offer to the community, our partners and our volunteers. 2019 saw us deliver training across a range of subjects for all three groups, including Befriending, First Aid and Defibrillators.

We have also provided ICA volunteers with a full induction course and ongoing peer support and, where appropriate, DBS checks.

We aim to continue providing training wherever there is an identified need to do so. We will do this through partnerships and the activities and services we deliver. VOLUNTEERING In addition to engaging its own volunteers, ICA is Portland’s official Volunteering Bureau and continues to work with those wishing to volunteer or offer volunteering positions. ICA works in collaboration with Volunteer Centre D

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NOTHE OF THE LIVING DEAD 2019 delivered a second successful Nothe of the Living Dead event.

Delivered in partnership with the Nothe Fort and Bored to Board Gaming, the event raises funds for both the ICA and Nothe Fort charities.

Nothe of the Living Dead plunges participants into an immersive zombie experience, where survivors of the new apocalypse battle their way through a web of tunnels infested with flesh devouring zombies. Along the way, each survivor must overcome a series of challenges and collect the vaccine required to gain access to the rescue teams waiting at the tunnel’s end.

The two-night event proved to be a huge success, attracting 216 participants and many new volunteers. A massive thank you to everyone involved, including the Nothe Fort and B2B teams, the volunteers and participants and Pengillys. Without their combined commitment, creativity and courage the event would absolutely not have been possible.

No surprises then that based on this success, Nothe of the Living Dead is back on Dorset’s Halloween calendar for 2020. The event sponsors were Pengillys Solicitors.

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PORTLAND 4 THE PLANET – YOUTH PROJECT

The project, which is funded by the #iwill (Youth Social Action Programme) through the Dorset Community Foundation, is a collaboration between Island Community Action, Atlantic Academy and Portland 4 The Planet.

The project is supported by Portland Town Council. This new pilot project was created for students at Atlantic Academy, Portland (aged 10-14 years / school years 7, 8 and 9). Through the project students will learn about the key environmental problems facing the world, including climate change, biodiversity, food, pollution and single-use plastic, but with a focus on the solutions and how they can help. The aim is to inspire, empower and support young people to work together and independently in order to create their own campaign for change and lead the way on projects that will have a positive impact on both a local and global level. The project, running from January to July 2020, will involve a range of activities, including:

• After school enrichment sessions, focusing on the key issues • Training to help students develop their own campaigns e.g. research skills,

filmmaking, public speaking and marketing. • Volunteering • Conservation work.

It will culminate in the first Atlantic Academy Environmental Fayre on Saturday 11th July 2020, featuring environmental films and activities, exhibitions, traditional games, refreshments and students selling eco-friendly products. The Fayre’s highlight will be project students showcasing their final campaigns to the wider community and securing pledges of support to take their ideas forward.

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GENERIC PR, MARKETING AND BRAND AWARENESS

ICA has continued to benefit from promotion across a range of media platforms throughout 2019, including: BBC Radio Solent, Wessex FM, Dorset Echo, Free Portland News, partner newsletters and social media at:

• Facebook at: www.facebook.com/islandcommunityaction and www.facebook.com/Portland-Man-shed-450146508827360

• Twitter at: https://twitter.com/ICA_PortlandUK

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20TH ANNIVERSARY PROMOTIONS

“Without my weekly visit I would only have the TV for company as I’m unable to go out as I used to. ICA have provided me with a lovely lady to have a good giggle with”

GLENYS - CLIENT, 96 YRS

“Ed, my befriender, is such a kind person and he has really helped me increase my self-confidence and my happiness. We have some great discussions and we have become great friends. In fact, I would like him to visit me more often and wondered if I could have another

befriender too!” SUZANNE - CLIENT, 84 YRS

“Finding a volunteer role that fits my interests, skills and lifestyle has been fantastic. It has made me feel like a useful member of my community again. It’s also kept me busy, which

is helping to keep me healthy after a serious heart attack that forced me to re-assess how I was living.

KEITH – VOLUNTEER, 74 YRS

“I’ve suffered from anxiety and depression in the past and thought Volunteering would help me get out and socialise more and give me a reason to get out of bed in the mornings.”

ED – VOLUNTEER, 62 YRS

“I love it because I have made friends and it has massively increased my self-worth and self-esteem. I have found something that I enjoy work wise, I used to work in an office, and I didn’t enjoy it then, but I really enjoy coming into the ICA office and we have a lot of fun. It has also made me feel part of the community and it’s made me love Portland even more.”

HELEN - VOLUNTEER 54 YRS

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WEBSITE One of the most significant developments for ICA in the 2018-19 period was the launch of our website at: https://islandcommunityaction.org.

The site, which is continually being developed over time, provides a range of information and ‘new news’ about ICA, its activities and services, current funding structure, achievements, partnerships and the different ways in which to we can be supported.

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WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP

Collaboration is critical to the success of most community-based organisations. This is very much the case for ICA. As such, we would like to thank the following businesses and organisations for ongoing their support and input into our activities and services during 2019.

Too many to list here, but we also want to say a huge thank you to the wide range of community groups and charities we have collaborated with locally across our Volunteer Bureau workstream.

Partner Nature of Partnership Age UK Dorchester Benefits Advice Surgery and referrals Atlantic Academy P4TP, events and intergenerational activities Dorset Council – Adult Services Advice, information sharing, funding, referrals and training CCG, NHS Foundation / Locality Team etc

Portland Hospital & Healthcare Working Group, advice, information sharing and collaboration across Portland and Wyke Regis’s future healthcare offer

Dorset Community Action Advice, information sharing and events Dorset Fire & Rescue Advice, information sharing and referrals Eden Portland Community Consultation Friends of Victoria Gardens Collaborative events Gracewell of Weymouth Collaborative events, including ICA’s Cinema Club Housing & Care 21 (Foylebank Court) Activities, lunch clubs and Portland Pride’s training kitchen Nantes Solicitors Funding and events Nothe Fort Collaborative events Pengillys Solicitors Funding, sponsorship and Legal Surgery Portland Carers Group Advice and information sharing, PR and referrals Portland Churches Events and referrals Portland Community Hospital Referrals and service support Portland Community Partnership (PCP) Advice and information sharing Portland Herb & Healing Garden Collaborative courses and events Portland Library Collaborative events and PR and marketing Rotary Club of Island & Royal Manor of Portland

Funding and collaborative events

Portland Town Council Climate & Ecological Emergency Working Group, advice, information sharing and collaborative events

Royal Manor Health Centre Data sharing, referrals and volunteer recruitment Tricuro Data sharing, referrals and resource sharing Venues C2000, Conservative Club (Jubilee Hall), Easton Methodist

Church, Royal Manor Health Centre, St. George’s Centre, St. John’s Hall and the YMCA.

Volunteer Centre Dorset Advice, information sharing, DBS checks, PR and marketing and Volunteer Bureau support (including VC Connect)

Wyke Regis and Lanehouse Medical Practice

Data sharing, referrals and volunteer recruitment

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FINANCE

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2019

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

Note Funds Funds Funds

2019 Funds 2018

£ £ £ £

Receipts Grants and donations 2

7,881

109,906

117,787

106,116 Sales 2,700 - 2,700 2,845 Fundraising and sponsorship 3,330 - 3,330 8,763 Motor vehicles/Minibus 6,669 - 6,669 8,775 Clubs and Memory Café 14,428 - 14,428 12,157 Compensation for lost stock and materials 2,000 - 2,000 - Memberships 949 - 949 - Consultation 600 - 600 - Interest 2 - 2 2 Total receipts 38,559 109,906 148,465 138,658 Payments Salaries and wages 3 19,820 67,665 87,485 93,424 Pension 4,390 - 4,390 2,242 Project costs - - - 1,222 Rent 7,700 6,930 14,630 11,380 Rates, water and electric 469 473 942 732 Insurance 1,933 - 1,933 999 Telephone 120 - 120 1,645 Postage, stationery, printing and advertising 1,981 62 2,043 5,202 Photocopier Hire 4,664 - 4,664 1,639 Motor 3,869 6,852 10,721 8,761 Travel, accommodation and subsistence 15 272 287 1,049 Repairs and maintenance 1,758 1,481 3,239 3,841 Subscriptions and membership fees 505 763 1,268 305 Sundries 164 307 471 1,432 Equipment donations - - - 313 IT 628 1,067 1,695 1,331 Christmas lunch - Seniors 246 - 246 - Training, tutors and speakers - 10,166 10,166 11,863 Fundraising 1,196 - 1,196 - P.R. and marketing 130 395 525 460 Storage - - - 715 Room hire 403 5,485 5,888 5,518 Accountancy fees 1,422 - 1,422 1,310 Bank charges and interest - 104 104 378 Capital - - - -

Motor vehicles etc. - - - 51,179 Motor Vehicle Disposal - - - (11,000)

Computer equipment - - - 1,388 Other equipment - 180 180 - Fixtures, fittings and equipment - 162 162 -

Total payments 51,413 102,364 153,777 197,328 Net receipts before transfers (12,854) 7,542 (5,312) (58,670) Creditors 2,418 Transfers between funds 825 (825) - Net movement in funds at bank and in hand for the year

(12,029)

6,717

(5,312)

(56,252)

Bank and cash balances 31 March 2018 12,029 29,571 41,600 97,852 Bank and cash balances 31 March 2019 - 36,288 36,288 41,600

NB: The higher outgoings figure is down to the additional rent and refurbishment work carried out for the Man Shed during its move to a larger premises (ICA covered the rent for both the Man Shed’s workshop and showroom during the move as the Shed was closed and not generating the income required to cover these). This work is now complete.

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REFLECTIONS & THE FUTURE

As with previous years, ICA’s core challenges remain constant and include: • The change and increase in local demand

Expectations from the Statutory Sector for charities and voluntary groups across the UK to ‘pick up the slack’ from national austerity measures continue to grow and take their toll on organisational capacity.

In ICA’s case it is no longer a rare occurrence for us to be asked to deal with problems that lie outside of our core offer.

Of course, we are not the only community-based organisation experiencing this. Collectively we not only recognise this approach is not sustainable long-term, we also know that we may never achieve maximum impact while this trend continues.

The challenge is, therefore, to not only find ways of meeting this growth in demand, but also to help statutory providers understand that it must back its own vision by providing an acceptable level of resource (including financial) to community-based organisations.

• Funding

For many community-based organisations, short term funding for ‘new projects,’ remains a big challenge. This is why it is crucial for funders to invest in longer term support – particularly relevant for ‘early action’ projects like Silver Island, where measuring ‘true’ impact often requires ongoing monitoring over several years.

As such, we must respond to funder’s request for ‘new,’ ‘short-term’ and ‘innovative’ projects with caution in order to ensure we do not dilute our existing offer or take our work in a direction that deviates from our strategic plan. This has meant us having to step away from a number of potential funding opportunities because creating yet another new project could jeopardise our ability to deliver those services and activities that we are already committed to.

Whenever possible, we continue to discuss this with relevant decision makers locally in the hope that we can collaboratively deliver change.

Critically, reduced funding has also resulted in us having to cut our staffing hours to remain financially viable. We are extremely grateful for their flexibility and understanding in these difficult times.

In addition to these challenges, however, there have been some great positives, including ICA celebrating its 20th Anniversary and also being invited to work with:

• Dorset CCG and the NHS Foundation Trust on the Portland Hospital and Healthcare Working Group

• Portland Town Council on their Climate and Ecological Emergency Working Group.

We are grateful for these opportunities and look forward to working with both groups (and the local community) to develop and deliver strategies and projects that lead to a stronger, more resilient, impactful and sustainable offer for local residents.

This is particularly relevant as we await the Government’s review of the NHS, especially its mental health provision. At ICA we are trying to prepare for early action on any community led initiatives that might be promoted and financially supported following this review. Although this puts a further strain on our resources, ' chance favours only the prepared mind'!

If you feel you would like to get involved, ICA is always looking for volunteers to fulfil a wide range of roles, from trustees and drivers to those with expertise across areas such as IT, legal and finance. Just give us a call or pop-in for more information.

Thank you.

Kim Wilcocks, CEO – ICA

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ISLAND COMMUNITY ACTION The Easton Centre

Portland Dorset

DT5 1EB Tel: (01305) 823789

Email: offfice@islandcommunityaction.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/islandcommunityaction

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ICA_PortlandUK Website: https://islandcommunityaction.org

Opening Hours

Monday 10.00 am – 2.00 pm Tuesday 10.00 am – 2.00 pm

Wednesday 10.00 am – 2.00 pm Thursday 10.00 am – 2.00 pm

Friday 10.00 am – 2.00 pm Saturday CLOSED Sunday CLOSED

Management Committee

Chairperson – Julia Willoughby Vice Chair – Douglas Pigg

Secretary – Anita Busby-Wilcocks Treasurer – Mervyn Burden Trustee – Pauline Carlyle

Employees CEO – Kim Wilcocks

Project Manager – Jackie Carpenter Project Manager – Katy Pascoe

Befriending Coordinator – Sue Leach Portland 4 The Planet – ML Anderson

Carl Stott – Man Shed Manager

All ICA staff are part-time.

ICA continues to work to a code of practice and ensures tits Equal Opportunities Policy is adhered to at all times. It has full public and employer’s liability insurance in place.

A copy of these documents + our constitution and all other policies can be viewed at the ICA office.