Island Community Action – Senior’s Christmas Lunch

Food, friends and festive fun bring Portland’s older residents together.

Thanks to the generosity of The Lobster Pot, Portland Bill and Bluebird Care, over 80 of Portland’s older residents celebrated Christmas in true festive style this year.

The annual event kicked-off with a fantastic three-course lunch, including turkey with all the trimmings courtesy of The Lobster Pot. The meal was followed by a musical session of entertainment, with Peter Howell, and a Christmas gift for each guest.  ICA’s community mini-bus, League of Friends, Weymouth & Portland and a range of volunteer drivers provided transport.

ICA Chair, Kim Wilcocks, said, “At a time when many of us are looking forward to celebrating Christmas with family and friends, millions of others will be feeling quite the opposite. In fact, according to recent research by Age UK, with many lonely adults being isolated from their peers and family due to distance or work commitments over the festive period, 650,000 people over the age of 65 say they expect to feel sad because the time brings back heartbreaking memories of partners, family and friends that have left them or passed away.

ICA’s Senior’s Christmas Lunch provides a real opportunity for us to help alleviate at least some of these feelings of loneliness and isolation, if only for a few hours. Of course, it’s not a long-term solution, which is why we use the lunch as an opportunity to let attendees know about the ongoing services that ICA offers to older people throughout the rest of the year, including a range of befriending and social activities.  

For all these reasons, we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported the lunch, either financially or by volunteering on the day. Their commitment and support made it all possible.”

ISLAND COMMUNITY ACTION JANUARY ROUND UP

PORTLAND LOTTERY DRAW – next draw is on the 27^TH MARCH 2015. £1 a ticket.

The Portland Lottery is drawn quarterly with larger cash prizes. More tickets sold the higher the prize fund. Available from the ICA office and Cards ‘n’ Celebrations in Easton.

RAFFLE & TOMBOLA PRIZES – Have you got any unwanted gifts or items that you could donate? Perhaps you are a business that can offer free experiences, trips or treatments?  Every penny made from these items goes towards the services we run for older people. Contact the ICA office on 823789 to arrange a drop-off or collection. Thank you to everyone who has kindly donated items to us.

PORTLAND CARDS – We have a brand new range of cards in stock, created in acrylic by local artist Anita Busby-Wilcocks. The cards feature a range of local scenes and are £6.00 for six. In addition, we have our regular photographic cards at £4.00 per pack, featuring iconic Portland landscapes. Both packs are blank on the inside, making them ideal thank you notes, get well and / or birthday cards etc. Available from the ICA office, Easton and The Lobster Pot, Portland Bill. 

SHOPPING SERVICE FOR PORTLAND’S OVER 55s – ICA is running a regular Thursday and Friday mornings shopping service to Tesco, Easton. Cost £2 return. Call the ICA office on 823789 to book.

 

EXERCISE CLASSES FOR OVER 50’S –

ADVANCED – FIT+ Starting back from Christmas break on the 7^th Jan, Fit + runs every Wednesday, 11.30am –12.30pm at the YMCA, Reforne.  Suitable for those not quite up to running for the bus, but more than capable of walking to the stop!

Led by an experienced and approachable instructor, the class will feature cardio, core muscle strengthening exercises and a ‘hint of disco-ball!’ 

£3 per session. To register, contact the ICA office 823789. We re-open on 5^th January and class starts on 7^th January ²⁰¹⁵

NEW INTERMEDIATE – OSTEOCISE A new, weekly class starting Monday 19^th January, 10-11.15am at The St John Ambulance Hall, Easton Street. For anyone over the age of 50yrs who would like to work on their core strength, flexibility and stamina. 

This class is targeted at those needing slightly gentler standing exercise, in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, led by an experienced, qualified instructor. 

Sessions have been designed to specifically support;

•     Low impact

•     Improved stamina

•     Cardio-vascular (heart & lungs)

•     Bone building (good for those with osteoporosis)

•     Joint strengthening

•     Core muscles (internal strengthening)

•     Incontinence prevention

•     Improved posture, gait

•     Improved balance

•     Improved balance

•     Weight loss

£3 per session.  To register, contact the ICA office 823789, (office reopens Jan 5^th.)

GENLE – GET TOGETHER CLUB – Improve your fitness and have fun at the YMCA, Reforne every Thursday. Cost £3 per person (including refreshments). This club December re-open on the 8^th January 2015

10.30am – 11.30am – Gentle seated exercise, with a qualified, experienced instructor, followed by refreshments until 12pm

Transport available at £2 return. For more information, call the ICA office on 823789.

MEMORY RELATED ACTIVITIES – Wednesday morning sessions at the C2000 Hall, Easton. ICA and the Alzheimer’s Society are working in partnership to deliver a weekly provision for people suffering from any kind of memory loss and their carers.

Memory Café 10.30am – 12 noon on the 14^th & 28^th January 2015. Fun program of activities, from nostalgia and games to fitness and music. Something for everyone.

Singing for the Brain 10.00am – 11.30am on the 7^th & 21^st January

Musical sessions, which uses singing to bring people together in a friendly and stimulating social environment.

Please contact the ICA office on 823789 for more information.

 

COMMUNITY CAR & MINIBUS (wheelchair friendly) –

The community car is available for all your appointments and shopping trips. Advanced booking is essential. This service operates on donations with volunteer drivers.

TRIPS

25^th January 2015 – The Lobster Pot for Sunday lunch – £3 return

NB: Refreshments are not included in the above prices.

The minibus is also available for private bookings.

To make a booking or find out more call the ICA office on 823789.

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PRIZE BINGO – St Georges Centre on the 23^rd January 2015. Doors open 1.30pm, eyes down 2pm. Good prizes & everyone welcome.

THE COMMUNITY CROONERS – ICA’s weekly sing-a-long group for over 50s

Every Tuesday from 10.00am – 11.30am (including time for refreshments) at the YMCA, Reforne. £3 per person.  Crooners will re-open on 6^th January 2015

For anyone who are looking to fill their morning with fun, music and friends, in a safe, warm and welcoming environment.

Please contact the ICA office on 823789 for more information or to book transport to and from these sessions at £2 return.

 

AT HOME SERVICES –

Befriending – ICA offers a range of befriending services from companionship to help with local errands, personal correspondence and small DIY tasks…or perhaps just a friendly phone call or chat over a cup of tea.  Counselling sessions are also available.  All our volunteers are police and reference checked, interviewed and fully insured.

Gardeners – We are also able to offer help with gardening. Small jobs only, including mowing, weeding, planting and hedge trimming (no landscaping).

DIY – Any small jobs or DIY concerns, why not contact the office to see if we can help?  Wide variety of work undertaken, from putting flat pack furniture together to fixing broken curtain rails or changing light bulbs.

Dog walkers – We currently have a list of volunteers willing to walk well behaved dogs on a regular basis. For those that cherish the companionship their pets provide, but are struggling with the physical exertion required to exercise them.

Please note that some ‘At Home’ services carry a cost. For more information, call the ICA office on 823789.

OVER 50’s BENEFIT ADVICE SURGERY - The Age UK Benefits Advice Surgery will be on Tuesday 13^th January 2015 for anyone over the age of 50yrs.  One to one appointments are available by contacting the ICA office on 823789.

 

The committee and staff of Island Community Action would like to

Wish you a very Happy New Year

Portland Volunteer Vacancies – January 2015

A GREAT TIME TO START SOMETHING NEW!

Island Community Action is seeking 10 people to fill the last remaining places on an exciting new volunteer program designed to help local people make a difference to their community.

This is a free opportunity, open to anyone within Weymouth & Portland, who has a real passion for their local community and wants to make a difference.

Kicking off in February 2015 with an introductory weekend, the six month program offers a fantastic training package, which has been designed to build your confidence, communication, listening and analytical skills and also enable you to feel more connected to and able to support your community.

After the initial induction weekend, the remaining elements of this volunteer program can be completed flexibly to fit around busy work and family lives. In total it requires just two hours commitment a fortnight.

As the program progresses, you will use your newly acquired skills to work through a simple conversation, initially with your friends, family and neighbours, before engaging with the local community. Throughout this period you will learn about the issues that are really important to local people and what ideas and solutions they have to combat these. 

The program evolved from Community Organising, a growing national movement that originated in America. In fact, Barrack Obama started his career as a Community Organiser. So, by joining us as a volunteer you will not only follow in some pretty impressive footsteps, you will also play an important part in a growing network of over 3,300 individuals working to improve the areas they live in and get local voices heard.

Volunteering is already recognised as a great way of keeping your CV current, meeting new people, socialising, expanding your skills and knowledge or just simply ‘giving something back.’  In fact, in the local area some of the most vulnerable people have gained success and national recognition as volunteers using this technique to take decisive and collective action across a range of projects.

Why not do something great in 2015 for yourself and your community?  We feel confident our new volunteers will achieve great things, feel a huge amount of personal satisfaction and help Weymouth & Portland reach its full potential as an amazing place to live.

For more information, contact islandcommunityaction@btconnect.com or speak to Bill or Katy on 01305 823789. A free crèche, provided by AbracaDeborah Day Nursery will be available for children aged 2+ for both the induction and the mid-course get together weekends

Free Draught-proofing Workshop

Free Draught-proofing Workshop: 10:00am - 1:00pm Saturday 22nd Nov 2014, Chapel in the Garden, Bridport 

Learn how to draught-proof your windows and doors using professional draught-proofing strips. Materials and tools will be provided and are on sale for half the normal retail prices.  Once you get home, all you will need to draught-proof your home is a pair of secateurs a small hacksaw, a tape measure and hammer. For further details or to book a place contact: admin@transitiontownbridport.co.uk Chit Chong: 07970 483188

http://www.clsdorset.org.uk/news_articles.aspx?id=177

Read Easy training – Tuesday 25 November 9.30am to 12.30pm at Dorchester Library

Do you know people who struggle with reading?

Read Easy can help your customers/clients/service users improve their reading skills with free one-to-one support.

They can help your organisation:

•             identify people who struggle with reading

•             understand their difficulties

•             put them in touch with a reading coach who can help

•             improve two way communication with them

Aims of the short course:

To increase awareness of the difficulties faced by people who struggle with the written word

To improve services to people who struggle with the written word

Objectives:

At the end of the session participants will be able to:

•             Describe the difficulties faced by people who find it difficult to read and write

•             State why some adults find it difficult

•             Identify people who may need help to improve their reading skills

•             Support people to get help

•             Identify areas for improvement in personal and organisational practices in relation to people who need help with reading.

If you would like more information or would like to book a place on the course please contact Jane Hunt at caid@shelter.org.uk

Places are limited so please register your interest as soon as possible. Please note that due to the high demand of places, a maximum of four places per organisation can be booked.

Island Community Action – Auction of Promises Night

Friday, 14 November 2014

Your Nanny Needs you!  Come along to support ICA's fund-raising Auction of Promises.

Every fancied being a farmer for the day, trying scuba diving or archery, learning to speak Italian or having a go at glass blowing?  Here’s your chance.  All of these and many more exciting offers are up for grabs at ICA's Auction of Promises Night. Local businesses and individuals from across the Island have offered a fantastic range of services, days out, experiences, meals and more.

The auction is taking place on Friday, 14^th November at the Jubilee Hall in Easton.  Doors open at 7:00pm, and a licensed bar will be available to help the evening along.  Entry to the event is £3.00 and includes a sausage and chip supper, from the CodFathers Fish and Ship shop in Weston.

All the lots will come under the hammer of experienced auctioneer, Matthew Denney, from Duke's Auction House in Dorchester, who has generously offered his services free of charge for the evening.

Tickets are available from the ICA Office in Easton and from Elite Hair Salon in Chiswell.

The event is being held to raise money to help older people across the Island. ICA's Helping Hand project, funded by the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities programme, supports Portland’s older community, particularly those impacted by isolation, ill health or disability.  Helping Hand currently delivers a wide variety of activities and services, including befriending, community transport, DIY and gardening.  Activities include lunch clubs, singing groups, exercise classes and a regular memory cafe for those suffering from dementia.

So, if you are looking for an unusual Christmas gift idea for that hard to buy for loved one, or simply a well earned treat for yourself, then come along, bid and support a fantastic cause.

Should any individuals or local business wish to offer sponsorship or a lot for this event or any of the ongoing activities ICA offer, we would be very please to hear from you. 

For further information about the Auction of Promises and Island Community action, contact Katy Pascoe on: 01305 823789 / islandcommunityaction@btconnect.com.

Reading Made Easy

A new reading scheme, which aims to help adults who struggle to read, has been launched for the Gillingham & Shaftesbury area by volunteers.

"Most of us take reading for granted" says Murray Walker, chairman of the group's management committee. " But it is estimated that one in twenty adults in England has a reading age at or below the level expected of a five year old, so we can help change lives with this free literacy service".

Read Easy Gillingham & Shaftesbury will use a simple, proven system based on phonics to help new readers ‘crack the code’ in one-to-one learning as part of Read Easy UK www.readeasy.org.uk. This registered charity has grown quickly from the first group in Dorchester four years ago and currently new groups are being set up in North London, Leeds, Winchester and Oxford among other places.

The Gillingham & Shaftesbury group is now looking to appoint a volunteer Co-ordinator who will match readers with coaches, organise and keep records, arrange training and meetings, and provide support throughout, linking with the management committee of the group. If you can spare a couple of days a week, and share the group’s commitment to make a difference, please phone the Secretary David Honey for more information on 07775 175 762 or email 

readeasy.gillinghamshaftesbury@gmail.com