2022 WINNERS ANNOUNCED

39 Charities and community groups located in key regions within Hall & Woodhouse’s trading estate in the south of England have received a share of £50,000 from the annual Community Chest.  The awards were made at 2 presentations evenings held in January 2023 at the Brewery in Blandford and at The Black Rabbit, Arundel.

295 applications were received seeking grants totalling over £685,000 during the application period from April to June 2022.

The Community Chest has now awarded over £767,000 to 902 organisations since the awards were first held in 2002.

Hope Housing, Training & Support was one of the charities in Dorset provided with the maximum £3,000 grant for its services to support homeless, vulnerable adults in Bournemouth and Poole.  The funding will be specifically put towards appointing a Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer, who will be able to identify ways of helping people struggling to access advice and guidance.

£3,000 was also awarded to Vale Pantry, which provides aid to those in North Dorset with limited access to food, by offering help packages and advice centres.  The grant will be used to purchase fresh food to ensure the charity is able to continue making food packages to meet the increased demand for this service.

In the east, Terry’s Place which is a unique day care charity in Chichester supporting older people and their families to access respite day care services, received a grant of £2,682.  This will help fund a sensory and wellbeing activities programme which will bring stimulation and happiness to the people who come to Terry’s Place.

Mark Woodhouse, Family Director of Hall & Woodhouse, said: “Our Community Chest was founded over 20 years ago to support and strengthen the local communities which make Hall & Woodhouse such a vibrant company that is committed to providing support for those in need.  This year, we have found the need to provide people with food, warmth, and shelter to be extremely high due to the cost-of-living crisis.  It is both an honour and a necessity to provide funding for these good causes that play such vital roles in our communities.

With costs rising during a financially difficult time for many, being able to offer necessary support for those in desperate need is more important now, than ever before.  We are proud to make it our duty to help where we can with this critical fund.”