Ilchester and District Community Association (IDCA) was founded in 1982, at the instigation of the Ilchester Town Trust, to gather together a group of people who had an interest in renovating and running the Town Hall as a Community Centre. In 1983, it was afforded charitable status, and the “community” was extended to include the parishes of Ilchester, Northover, Limington, Yeovilton and Podimore. According to the Constitution, the (abridged) objectives of IDCA are “To promote the benefits of the inhabitants of [the five parishes] ... by associating with the local authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and provide facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation” and “To establish ... and to maintain and manage ... a Community Centre ... for activities promoted by the Association”.
It should come as no surprise then that the Town Hall is now very much the focal point for most of the community activities that IDCA hosts: Street Fair, Christmas Fair, Flower / Produce and Craft Show and Quiz Nights. Apart from providing ‘recreation’ for the ‘inhabitants’, these events raise essential funds that enable IDCA to support local organisations, as well as to administer the production of the Parish Newsletter.