In Dorset, 18 charities and community groups benefited from the annual fund. Family Director, Mark Woodhouse, and Lucinda Gray hosted the charities at the Brewery Tap in Blandford, to hand out over £25,000 of grants.  

Lucinda Gray, Company Relationship Manager of Hall & Woodhouse (H&W), said: “We are delighted that we were able to celebrate our 20th Community Chest Awards in person with our chosen charities.   

“In 2020 we had to hold our awards virtually, which is just not the same as being able to celebrate over a beer in a pub. The awards evening is an opportunity to hear first-hand from the charities we supported how our financial help will enable their recovery plans, after being severely impacted by the pandemic. The charities we support tend to be small, volunteer led and many can find it hard to access funding for things like running costs.   

“I am proud that as a business, H&W managed to navigate the turbulence of the past 18 months to remain committed to the Community Chest Awards. The need has never been greater to support our local communities and it came as no surprise to the judges that we saw a significant increase in applications this year to over 450. We are thrilled that the Community Chest initiative continues to make such a difference to local people, having now awarded nearly three quarters of a million pounds since the first awards in 2012.” 

MYTIME Young Carers received a £2,000 grant to help fund an employability programme which will support young adult carers into further education, training or employment. Sadly, young carers make enormous sacrifices to take care of their families, but their caring responsibilities often leave them without the time or energy for socialising, hobbies or schoolwork. This is why the employability programme plays a crucial role to support young carers into the workplace. 

Vale Pantry in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, is an initiative created to provide a long-term solution to food poverty across the UK. Members of Vale Pantry pay a small weekly fee in exchange for at least ten items of food. Since using the scheme, members have reported improved financial positions, health and wellbeing. A £2,000 grant has been awarded to purchase food for the 200 families that rely on Vale Pantry’s services each week. 

The Water Lily Project in Christchurch, Dorset, provides a safe place to support and empower vulnerable women. The £1,500 donation will help towards the cost of counselling sessions and bursary funding. 

The Veterans Hub in Weymouth, Dorset, comprises of a café providing free and subsidised meals to veterans and their families within the local community. There is also a therapeutic area with raised allotments, an indoor gym, sensory garden and a reading room. The £2,000 grant will be used towards the cost of providing meals for veterans and for vehicle repairs to provide transport to the Hub. 

The annual awards are an initiative created by Mark Woodhouse, Family Director of Hall & Woodhouse (H&W) in 2012, with the ambition to enrich its communities by improving both the facilities and the lives of local people in the form of providing cash grants to local voluntary groups and charities that require financial support.  

In the 20 years since the Community Chest’s inception, over £700,000 has been donated by H&W to a total of 863 charities and community organisations across the south. 

Applications for the 2022 Community Chest awards are expected to open in February, where voluntary groups and local charities can request funding from between £400 to £4,000, to help them achieve their aims. Grants could be awarded for new equipment, training, transport or running costs, and can be made towards youth services, the elderly, or any other projects that enhance the local community.

Please visit www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk for more information.