Make a Difference: Support Portland Charity with Your Vote

Portland Charity is one of the featured charities competing in the My Favourite Voucher Codes charity poll, hoping for the amazing opportunity to receive 20% of their profits to go towards their marvellous charity. They are an independent special education needs and disability (SEND) college and residential care provider. Your vote would make a huge difference and help support their vital work. Learn more about their mission and the impact of your vote below.

What does the Charity do? 

Portland is as a specialist college, residential care provider, and Centre of Excellence for Autism. Their vision is for all people with disabilities to have a lifetime of opportunity.

Founded by Winifred 6th Duchess of Portland, Portland College's history is rooted in local support. Planning for the college started in the 1930s, and it was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1950.

It is recognised as a safe and joyful place, with their mission being dedicated to assisting people in achieving greater independence and fulfilment in their lives. Currently the charity supports over 400 learners and citizens each year.

Portland's education and care programmes are centred on three fundamental core themes: independence, health and well-being, and employability, with a strong emphasis on tailoring these programmes to cater to the unique needs and goals of each individual.

They have been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted and a 'Good' rating from CQC. They have received numerous awards in recognition of their exceptional services and provisions.

What Services do Portland Charity Provide and What campaigns are Portland Charity involved in?

Education: Portland Charity provide education for c.250 disabled individuals, aged 16-25 with an EHCP. This is a vital mission that…

• Promotes equality, independence, and quality of life.
• Helps individuals get into employment.
• Encourages diversity and innovation.
• Ensures inclusivity.

Day Service: The charity also offers a Day Service for people living with a disability. This service…

• Promotes their inclusion.
• Develops their independence and social engagement.
• Offers support for their carers.
• Provides essential support and opportunities for skill development.

Residence: Portland College (Charity) offers a number of independent living options through residential supported living, FE learner accommodation and much needed Short Breaks respite. 

Empowering Independence:

• Autonomy: Enables disabled individuals to gain skills that will help them transition into and lead a more independent life.
• Inclusion: Promotes integration within the community, reducing isolation and enhancing social connections.
• Dignity: Maintains individuals' dignity by respecting their right to make choices about their living arrangements.

Education Residences:

• Accessibility: Provides accessible accommodation for college students with disabilities, ensuring equal access to education.
• Convenience: Reduces logistical challenges for students, allowing them to focus on their studies.
• Inclusion: Creates an inclusive educational environment that values diversity and promotes academic success.

Short Breaks Service:

• Respite: Offers essential respite to individuals with disabilities and their caregivers.
• Family Support: Provides families with a break while ensuring their loved ones receive quality care.
• Quality of Life: Enhances the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by offering enjoyable and enriching experiences during breaks.

Portland Pathways: 

A quadruple award-winning community focused initiative which aims to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This enables Pathways to…

• Enhance individual’s skill development.
• Provide mental health support and resilience qualification.
• Offer 1:1 counselling services, supporting individuals to overcome barriers.
• Support business to overcome barriers to access and identify ways of becoming more inclusive.
• Offer a community-focused approach that fosters a sense of belonging and engagement among individuals with disabilities.
• Support individuals to identify and apply for work.

Leisure & Commercial: Being a community-focused organisation, they are committed to sharing their excellent facilities and services with community members as well. All profits generated from their commercial activities are reinvested directly into their charity, thereby contributing to improved futures for people with disabilities. Their services include: 

• Newstart Theatre: Newstart is a contemporary multi-use sports and performance facility with a state-of-the-art glass LED floor.
• Woodland Adventure Zone: The triple-award winning Woodland Adventure Zone is a fully accessible forest adventure in the heart of Sherwood Forest.
• Weddings: They have the perfect setting for indoor and outdoor weddings, with a stunning backdrop for photography.
• Conferences: Perfect for events, parties, group lunches and team days.
• Physio and Hydrotherapy: Offering disability and rehabilitation physiotherapy, the team supports Portland beneficiaries and private clients.
• Portland Coffee Shop: Their Coffee Shop welcomes members of the Charity to enjoy their Woodland setting over some tasty treats.

Who Does Portland Charity Help and What Impact has the Charity Had?

Portland Charity’s mission is to deliver excellent programmes to inspire and empower people with disabilities to live more independent, fulfilling lives. 

Over its 70 years+ lifetime, Portland Charity has provided support to 30,000 disabled individuals, which has helped individuals to develop their independence, employability and health and well-being.

Why focus on people with disabilities? 

• It is estimated 31% of people with disabilities live in relative poverty. This is 50% higher than non-disabled people. “1”
• Around 51% of people with disabilities of typical working age were classed by the government as economically active. This compares to 80% of their non-disabled peers. “2”
• For adults with learning disabilities those unemployment levels rocket to over 90%
• People with disabilities in the UK score significantly lower than non-disabled on all key well-being measures. “3”
• In the Districts local to Portland College, the percentage of adults on long-term benefits associated with disability and medical conditions is significantly higher than the regional and English averages. “4”
• 1 Joseph Rowntree Foundation UK Poverty

2019/20 February 2020.

• 2 House of Commons Library Disabled People in Employment 01 April 2021.
• 3 Office for National Statistics Outcomes forDisabled People in the UK: 2020 18 February 2021.
• 4 Data from D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

How The My Favourite Voucher Codes Donation would Help

Your vote for Portland Charity in the My Favourite Voucher Codes poll is immensely important. It could secure a crucial donation that would greatly impact their mission, potentially funding a new minibus to enhance accessibility and inclusivity. Your support can be a game-changer for Portland Charity and the individuals with disabilities they serve. Here's how a new minibus would transform the lives of their learners and citizens:

• Enhanced Accessibility: A new minibus would greatly improve accessibility to Portland Charity's services. With a minibus at their disposal, Portland Charity could provide convenient transportation to people in the local community who need it, ensuring that no one misses out on the opportunities offered.
• Increased Programme Participation: Portland Charity's programmes and activities are designed to empower individuals, promote education, and foster community engagement. With reliable transportation, more learners and citizens can participate in these programmes.
• Community Integration: Portland Charity is deeply committed to fostering a sense of belonging and community among its learners and citizens. A new minibus would maximise and enhance the organization capacity to provide experiences, field trips, and community engagement initiatives, allowing individuals to connect with one another and the broader community. 
• Safety and Comfort: The safety and comfort of Portland Charity's learners and citizens are paramount. A new minibus would ensure that they travel in an industry standard approved, secure and comfortable manner, providing peace of mind to their families and caregivers. 

How Can I Contact Portland Charity? 

Contact their Fundraising Team on 01623 499156 or email fundraising@portland.ac.uk to learn more about the Charity. 

How Can I Support Portland Charity?

Aside from your very important vote in this Charity Poll, there are other ways you can support Portland Charity.

As an individual you can:

• Donate – Make a one-off or regular donation to one of their current projects.
• Fundraise – Why not challenge yourself and raise sponsorship from your family and friends?
• Volunteer – If you have some spare time, you could join their team of volunteers. It could be as a one-off or more longer-term, there are a range of great roles to choose from.
• Leave a Legacy – Leaving a gift for Portland Charity in your will is a wonderful gesture which leaves an unforgettable legacy. If this sounds like an option for you, they can also offer you a Will writing service free of charge through Kwil.

As a business: Working with a charity like Portland provides huge Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) benefits to your business. A strong CSR policy boosts your company’s image and reputation. It can attract and retain a happy workforce, increasing productivity and staff morale. CSR is a really meaningful way to give back to society and your local communities, and if you’re concerned about budget, there are many free ways you can get involved. These can include…

• Choose Portland as your Charity of the Year
• Raise money through in-house challenges and events
• Offer work experience placements for their learners
• Enable your staff or teams to volunteer at Portland for a day
• Join Give as You Live to raise funds for free on online business purchases
• Support staff to donate via Payroll Giving

How Can I Find Out More about Portland Charity? 

To learn more about Portland Charity or to stay updated with their latest news and updates, please follow these links:

1. Website: https://www.portland.ac.uk/
2. Social Media:
   • Facebook 
   • X (Twitter) 
   • Instagram

Feel free to explore their website and connect with them on social media to stay informed about their initiatives, events, and ways to get involved in supporting their mission.

In summary, voting for Portland Charity in the My Favourite Voucher Codes poll can transform the lives of individuals with disabilities. They provide vital services like education, day care, and residences, promoting independence and inclusion.

If successful, the donation will be put towards funding for a new minibus, improving accessibility and community engagement. 

In the meantime, you can support them through donations, fundraising, volunteering, or corporate partnerships.

Stay updated with Portland Charity through their website and social media. Your vote and support empower people with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives.