The grant will enable the volunteer led group to purchase new equipment and cover the cost of training for essential new volunteers.

Grant Robson, Director at Dorset Community Foundation explained: ’The funding for volunteer training and the purchase of new equipment we hope will be a huge boost to this wonderful group. We are delighted to support the project in partnership with other local funders as we truly believe that charitable trusts, foundations and organisations such as the Round Table need to work together like this to address disadvantage, wherever it may be in Dorset.’

Alastair Hoare, Clerk to Trustees of the Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen Trust added: ‘We are very pleased to be working with DCF and  Christchurch Round table to co-fund this completely volunteer led group which does such a wonderful job locally and as a result of all of our support, the group will grow and continue to thrive.’

Gabriella Kelemen from the Dorset Disabled Canoe Unit explained: ‘We are over the moon with the fantastic grant – the club always needs well trained assistants and as the amount of people we help increases we are delighted we can provide the very best new equipment to our newest members.’

Dorset Community Foundation is a local independent charitable foundation which raises and distributes funding for those most in need across the county. Last year it gave over £380,000 in funding to smaller charities and community groups as well as disadvantaged individuals.