Hall & Woodhouse announced the 38 successful recipients of grants totalling over
£55,000 at its annual Community Chest Awards which took place over two
presentation evenings held in January 2024 at The Brewery in Blandford Forum and
at The World’s End, Patching.
Over 400 applications were received seeking grants totalling over £987,000 during
the application period from May to July 2023.
The Community Chest has now awarded over £820,000 to 940 organisations since it
started in 2002.
Amounts awarded varied between £500 and £3,000 and will be used to support
charities and community groups in a variety of ways. One recipient, Weymouth
Foodbank, which operates from four locations across Weymouth, provides local
people with essential groceries and hygienic equipment. In 2023 the Foodbank fed a
total of 14,156 beneficiaries, a 56% increase from 2022. Their grant of £2,700 will
cover the purchase of milk, cheese and eggs for a whole month.
A grant of £500 awarded to Swindon based Dressability, who provide a bespoke
clothing adaptation service to adults and children with disabilities and/or long-term
health conditions, will cover the cost of the sewing thread they will use in one year.
Three charities in the southeast area each received the maximum grant of £3,000 –
Care in the Garden on the Isle of Wight, the Eastbourne Parents Action Group
(Chalk Farm Hotel) and JubyLee Bakes who are based in Pulborough and brought
with them some delicious gluten free brownies for guests to sample at the awards
evening.
Mark Woodhouse, Family Director of Hall & Woodhouse, said: “At Hall & Woodhouse, we exist to make people’s day, and I’m proud to see this purpose put
into practice in any way we can. We never cease to be amazed by the tremendous
good that organisations can do for their communities and are honoured to help
continue their hard work. It’s all about providing access to funding for small, local,
volunteer-led, and trustworthy organisations that make a real difference.
“It’s always a privilege to meet the people behind the organisations which are making
such a positive change. Already, I very much look forward to launching the
Community Chest again in the Spring.”
| Charity | Amount of Award |
|---|---|
| Arun Counselling Centre | £2000 |
| Bank Youth Project | £600 |
| Being Neighbourly | £1500 |
| Big Yellow Bus Garden Project | £500 |
| Blandford Environmental Trust | £500 |
| Blandford Foodbank | £900 |
| Branksome & Rossmore Community Fridges | £1000 |
| Britannia Sailing Trust | £2000 |
| Care in the Garden | £3000 |
| Castleman Community Larder | £2039 |
| Chattertots | £1000 |
| Chichester & Arun Down Syndrome Group | £1000 |
| Children’s BookFest | £1000 |
| Countrymen UK | £1000 |
| Crowthorne Hopezone | £2000 |
| Dementia Friendly Gillingham | £2500 |
| Dorset Scrapstore | £1000 |
| Dressability | £500 |
| East Sussex Foster Care Association | £2500 |
| Eastbourne Area Parents Action Group (Chalk Farm Hotel LDC) | £3000 |
| Eastbourne First Responders | £1000 |
| Fareham District Scout Band | £1000 |
| Grandad’s Front Room | £2000 |
| Grounded Community | £2000 |
| Island Community Action | £1186 |
| JubyLee Bakes | £3000 |
| Key Changes Music Therapy | £1700 |
| Merry Go Round Toy Libraries | £2000 |
| NOURISH Axminster | £1200 |
| Portland Shed | £1000 |
| Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association | £1000 |
| Read Easy South Dorset | £700 |
| Shaftesbury Refugee Group | £1200 |
| Terry’s Place | £1500 |
| Waste Not Want Not | £500 |
| WeymouthFoodbank | £2700 |
| Wimborne Community Matters Café and Food Supply | £700 |
| Worthing Table Tennis Club | £1250 |
