A COMMUNITY group is celebrating after receiving a bumper grant of more than £350,000 so it can continue its valuable work on Portland.

Island Community Action (ICA) will use the money to support older people and help tackle loneliness and isolation.

It has received £354,922 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities scheme to fund a five-year flagship programme called Silver Island.

Dorset care agency Bluebird Care is supporting the initiative by providing match funding.

ICA says is grateful for this support and is also looking to others in the community to help with volunteering and funding.

Silver Island follows on from ICA’s Helping Hand initiative which has delivered services to more than 800 residents, improving their physical and mental wellbeing and helping them to lead independent lives. These services have included everything from befriending and community transport to lunch clubs and exercise classes.

As part of the work, ICA will be reaching out across the causeway to support older people in Wyke Regis as well as on the island.

ICA chief executive Kim Wilcocks said: “This award is amazing news for the area, particularly at a time of so much uncertainty, because it will enable us to work collaboratively to deliver an even better range of services for older people.

“Silver Island will not only draw on ICA’s existing knowledge and experience, but also the results of our ongoing consultation and collaboration with local people and partners.

“This combined work has consistently highlighted the need for more ‘preventative/early action’ approaches, in order that we can better identify and support those at risk before problems actually have a chance to develop.”

She added: “Silver Island will be offering more volunteering opportunities for those aged 50+, improved befriending activities and a community reablement package that compliments the area’s existing statutory and voluntary sector offers.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for not only supporting the new project and but also for staying with us on our own journey to improve and extend the services we offer for those aged 50+.”