Impact stories
Fund is a perfect solution for client’s desire to benefit the community
LEE Young has been a partner in the wills and tax team at Frettens, which has offices in Christchurch, Ringwood and Wimbourne, since 2009. He first became aware of Dorset Community Foundation after meeting a trustee at a function but it was only when a client spoke to him about her will that he realised
Actress’s love for Dorset prompted legacy
German film actress, model, photographer and DJ Renate Morley left a gift in her will that will continue to support the community she loved. Renate, of Milner Road, Bournemouth, died on Christmas Eve 2021, aged 85 after a long illness. Friends said she lived a long, colourful life, full of excitement, creativity and love. Her
Flexible funding is helping youth club thrive
Gillingham Youth Club used a £5,000 grant from our Neighbourhood Fund to cover staff wages, hall hire and activity costs to deliver sessions that reduce young peoples’ isolation and improve their mental wellbeing. Senior Youth Leader Shelley Finch said the grant allows the club to hire trained youth workers, plan activities and organise community events
Surviving Winter grants ease the worry of living in fuel poverty
A Surviving Winter grant of £200, distributed through our partners at Citizens Advice East Dorset and Purbeck, enables people living in fuel poverty to switch the heating on during cold weather. It can also be used to buy smaller items to help vulnerable people keep warm. Energy Team Manager Dan Fancy said the people he
Grant puts Brazilian support group on a stronger footing
Grants from the EDC Project Fund for Strength and Sustainability are helping the Brazilian Educational and Cultural Centre (BREACC) improve its teaching and put it on a stronger footing. The Bournemouth group, which supports Portuguese speaking children aged two to 15 all over Dorset, with educational programmes, used an initial £2,306 grant for a new
Grant helps members find their sea legs
Chill Dorset used the restorative power of the sea and the freedom of swimming to give 65 people struggling with their mental health a new found confidence and a sense of community. The group was awarded almost £6,500 from the Community Wellbeing and Mental Health Fund, run in partnership with NHS Dorset, Community Action Network
Funding help siblings keep it strictly ballroom
Four siblings who moved across the world to follow their ballroom dancing dream in Dorset have been helped with grants from Dorset Community Foundation’s Lord-Lieutenant’s Fund for Young & Talented. Logan Taylor, 16, and Ethan, 15, Gisel, 14, Ohara, 13 and dad James moved from Melbourne, Australia, to Boscombe so they could study at the
SWEF grant adds a shine to young entrepreneur’s car cleaning dream
Entrepreneur Kieran Jackson is being helped to clean up in the car washing business thanks to a SWEF Enterprise Fund grant from Dorset Community Foundation. The 20-year-old, from Blandford St Mary, set up specialist car cleaning firm KJ Detailz a year ago but needed help to expand when he found he couldn’t keep up with