The Designs for Humanity Fund was established in 2019 by our Ambassador and internationally recognised local artist Stuart Semple to support families and individuals in need of support in our local communities.
The idea behind the fund is that art and designs can be life changing in many ways including through raising donations for charitable purposes, which support fellow humans.
Last year the funding supported 352 families experiencing financial deprivation or crisis, living in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and Wimborne by providing Christmas hampers.
The groups supported were Christchurch, Poole and Wimborne Foodbanks and Citygate Church in Bournemouth. The hampers included a full fresh Turkey and trimmings for Christmas dinner, other Christmas food goodies, stocking gifts for all the family, plus a general food parcel including toiletries also included a toy store voucher so children received a Christmas gift. Some particularly vulnerable families also received a voucher for fuel costs to keep them warm over the Christmas period.
Read some of the feedback the groups have given us from their beneficiaries.
‘K was blessed by being able to help pack and deliver the Christmas dinners and Christmas goodie hampers (Funded by the Designs for Humanity Grant) and take out to individuals and families in our community. His way of giving back.’
Poole Foodbank
‘She could barely stand and she was so overwhelmed she was unable to talk, she just cried.’
A Citygate Church driver talking about a hamper recipient
‘Am overwhelmed and so grateful, its been a tough few weeks a long way to go this means so much. So appreciated, x thank you so much. Xxx’
That same Citygate Church hamper recipient
‘Words cannot express the difference this funding made in the lives of the beneficiaries. Most recipients were either in tears or speechless at the generosity shown. I think that the biggest difference is that the families have been supported in feeling ‘normal’, in as much as they have been able to ‘have a Christmas’ – like everyone else. This is the reason that I feel that tackling social exclusion for economic reasons is one of the key successes of this project. Those of us who can afford a Christmas dinner and afford to put the heating on felt truly humbled to be able to offer this on behalf of someone else – so a massive thankyou! .’ Poole Foodbank
“One mother who was overwhelmed by the initial invitation and then by the contents of the hamper told us that she had been ‘dreading Christmas’ but now she could go home and start to plan Christmas for herself and her children.”
Poole Foodbank volunteer
‘On behalf of every volunteer at Wimborne Foodbank, Thank you so so much for your Christmas Hamper donation, this has a huge impact on our clients & literally turned their Christmas experience around. It is a privilege to be able to give them to families & see the difference that it makes. THANK YOU!’
Proceeds for the fund are raised through the awesome Christmas arts and craft hampers available through the Culture Hustle website.
Currently, applications to this fund are by solicitation only.
