‘It would be devastating if we lost the club’ – that's the message from a community fighting to keep their only youth centre open.
The Islanders Youth and Community Centre, on East Weare Road, Portland, has been a fixture on Portland since 1974 providing a safe and enjoyable space for kids to spend their time.
Nowadays it is the only space of its kind available to residents of Underhill.
However, since re-opening post-pandemic, the new team of volunteers have found that the building is in dire need of urgent refurbishment or it may be forced to close for good.
Sue Beacock, 59, the chairperson for Islanders, said: “We could shut at any time. If some of the repairs aren’t done we just won’t survive.
"We can’t let kids play in an unsafe space so it is all reliant on these repairs as to whether we can keep going."
The club had a close call in December when it was found that one of the fire doors was in an almost unsafe state of disrepair, which would have forced the centre to close. Although they were able to put the money together to pay to have the door repaired, volunteers say that there are three other doors that will need similar work in the future, which they simply cannot afford.
This is not to mention the broken gutters, windows, plumbing, sports hall and outdoor area - all of which are in need of repairs and refurbishment.
It is estimated that £12,000 is needed just to fix the toilets, particularly because the disabled toilet is too small for a wheelchair to fit into.
“We want to show the kids that there’s good out there and they are not forgotten. We have got to go big or go home," said Cassie Beacock, 32, a volunteer at the Portland Islanders Youth and Community Centre.
“The club means everything to the community; it’s a place people can come and be safe and it’s just a positive space with things for them to do."
Lisa Reed, 52, a committee member of the club, said: “It helps me a lot to come down here. They are like my family. Without this I would have nowhere to go to, there is nowhere on the island for me to go.”
Catherine McHale has two young kids who use Islanders. She said: “There’s nothing like it on Tophill, it’s good for the community. I think it would be devastating if we lost it.”
Fee Goodfellow comes to the club with her son, she said: “It means so much to the community, it would be devastating if we lost it, not just for kids, but for the mums too.”
Cassie and fellow volunteer Emma Johns, 41, have decided to 'take matters into their own hands’ and intend to walk from Lands End to the Islanders Centre - over 200 miles in nine days - during the Easter half term in a bid to raise funds.
Their fundraising page can be found here: www.gofundme.com/f/ef3vty-the-forgotten-island-our-future-relies-on-you
Cassie Beacock added: “The drive and passion at Islanders is amazing, it’s the only place like this on Portland.
"There is nothing like the community on Portland, it is such a special place. The people here care about each other so much and that’s what makes it so special and that’s why people stay.”
The costs of the walk have been covered by the Penn Castle Estate, so all money donated will go directly to the centre.
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