The 16th Community Chest Awards were held at the Crown Hotel, Blandford Forum in September 2017. The judges were Fiona Dart and Marilyn Barber, Blackmore Vale Media, Grant Robson, Dorset Community Foundation, Andy Wing and Mark Woodhouse, Hall & Woodhouse together with Colin Brady and Steve Carpenter.
Mark Woodhouse welcomed guests, who included Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, The Hon Tim Palmer, The Bishop of Sherborne, The Rt Rev Karen Gorham and local civic leaders, explaining that the purpose of the Community Chest was to work together towards improving facilities and the life of local residents.
194 applications were received for grants totalling over £330,000. 28 organisations were successful, each receiving a share of £26,450, with grants ranging from £300 to £2,000. This included £500 awarded to Littlewick Green Cricket Club to match funds raised on their behalf by their local H&W pub, The Cricketers, Littlewick Green.
The White Hart, Longham run by Business Partners Paul and Carol Stroud once again generously boosted the Community Chest pot with £1,000 from the proceeds of their Book Club and a Beer & Cheese Evening.
The highest awards of £2,000 went to Amelia’s Rainbow and Yewstock School & College. The former will use their grant towards the purchase of Dexter’s Den, a holiday home at Weymouth Holiday Park which will be let out free of charge to families with children suffering from chronic or life limiting conditions and to bereaved families in Dorset. Yewstock School & College’s award will be used to create an allotment area with 2 large raised beds suitable for participation by wheelchair users.
| Charity | Amount of Award |
|---|---|
| Abingdon Memorial Hall | £800 |
| Amelia’s Rainbow | £2000 |
| AOK Rucksack Appeal | £600 |
| Bere Regis Scout Group | £1000 |
| Blackmore Vale RDA | £900 |
| Blandford Opportunity Group | £300 |
| Bournemouth & District REMAP Panel | £700 |
| Chesil Sailability | £500 |
| Christchurch Foodbank | £1500 |
| Dorchester, Sherborne & Districts & N Dorset CAB | £1000 |
| Cranbrook Education Campus | £500 |
| Dorset Computers4Carers | £1000 |
| Friends of Dolphin | £1300 |
| Friends of North Dorset Women’s Refuge | £500 |
| Gryphon School Dof E & Ten Tors | £1000 |
| High Mead Farm | £1200 |
| Hipp!!BonesC4YSN Limited | £300 |
| Miss Bush Group Riding for the Disabled | £300 |
| Open Door from Gillingham Community Church | £1000 |
| Poole Food Bank | £650 |
| Sherborne Area Youth and Community Centre | £600 |
| Sydling St Nicholas Village Hall | £1300 |
| Tolpuddle Village Hall | £1500 |
| Wessex Warriors | £1500 |
| Wilton RDA | £1500 |
| Woodhouse Gardens Sensory Planting Project | £500 |
| Yewstock School & College | £2000 |
| Littlewick Green Cricket Club | £500 |
Previous Winners
2017 EASTERN AREA WINNERS
