GRANTS totalling £200,000 have been awarded to 32 grass roots groups and charities helping people face the future with confidence as well as staying well fed and healthy, thanks to Dorset Community Foundation’s partnership with BCP Council.
The community foundation’s BCP Food and Energy Support Fund has distributed money allocated to the council from the government’s Household Support Fund for the sixth time.
The projects funded will use the grants for advice and support that aim to achieve longer term outcomes, such as helping people maximise their income and get into work, as well as helping groups supply food and vouchers, bring people together for community meals or teach cookery and budgeting skills.
Among the recipients is Grounded Community in Bournemouth which has received £8,400 to evolve its long-running food box scheme into a community pantry. The charity, established in 2015, wants to give people more choice in their food, as well as offer help on how to use different produce, plan meals and budget.
In the first four months of this year it collected and distributed 17,966kg of food and provided 1,291 food boxes to 800 adults and 283 children. Volunteer and funding co-ordinator Sharon Brinkman said half of the people the group helps are in work.
She said: “We wish to respond to this need by moving to an ‘add value’ model, including a new pantry and food display area. We will continue to provide free food for those in need but be able to give more choice and an improved experience. Moving to a food hub/pantry will allow us to redress the power balance by bringing people together, promoting community cohesion and building resilience.”
It’s All About Culture in Boscombe will use a £6,500 grant to provide free weekly multi-cultural lunches at the We Are Humans café. Trustee Charmaine Beckles said the group has been offering lunches at £5 each but the grant will mean more people can get a hot, nutritious meal. “We often see one person buy a meal to share with two or three others because they can’t afford a meal each, or just purchase a drink so they can stay and enjoy the company. This funding will mean no one needs to go hungry.”
Faithworks Wessex in Bournemouth is using an £8,149 grant to run debt advice sessions for people using foodbanks in Poole, Christchurch, Bournemouth, Boscombe and Winton. Programme manager Nick Bold said everyone will be offered the chance to talk with someone from its Community Money Advice team about their finances.
He said: “The majority of debt is now related to council tax arrears, rent arrears and utility cost arrears which are on the increase due to the effects of the significant increases to the cost of living.”
They need our urgent assistance with accessing grants and benefits, housing, food and other essentials, managing debt and skills to shop and cook on a budget and manage their finances
Home-Start Wessex will use a £4,000 grant to support homeless families with children staying in hostels in Poole and Bournemouth. “All are extremely vulnerable and struggling to cope with low income and rising costs of living, alongside not having a stable home,” said grants partnership manager Sally Smith. “They need our urgent assistance with accessing grants and benefits, housing, food and other essentials, managing debt and skills to shop and cook on a budget and manage their finances.”
Cllr Millie Earl, BCP Council’s deputy leader and Portfolio holder for connected communities, said: “Congratulations to the 32 voluntary organisations who have been awarded the BCP Food and Energy grants. These wonderful projects will make a positive difference to the lives of our residents and families most in need. I would like to thank Dorset Community Foundation for administering the fund.
“If you are struggling with the cost of living, please reach out to access the invaluable help which is being provided in our communities.”
Dorset Community Foundation Chief Executive Grant Robson said: “Together with the support of BCP Council we have already helped dozens of groups get families and individuals through some very tough times. We are proud that the council continues to trust us to make the most effective use of this money and I’m delighted that as a result another 32 groups will be able to maintain and expand the vital work they are doing.
“Every project funded is making a real difference on their doorstep and thanks to this funding a great many people will eat better, feel more hopeful and be made to feel they are part of their community.”
Full list of groups funded: AIMCommunity, Boscombe Salvation Army, Bournemouth Churches Housing Association, Bournemouth Community Church, Bournemouth Foodbank, Christchurch Foodbank, East Dorset and Purbeck Citizens Advice, Faithworks Wessex, Grounded Community, HealthBus Trust, Home Start Wessex, Hope Community Church, Hope Housing, Training and Support Ltd, Immaculate Conception and St Joseph’s Church, It’s All About Culture (IAAC), Kinson and West Howe Foodbank, LOVECHURCH, Poole Communities Trust, Poole Foodbank, Poole Waste Not Want Not, PramaLife, Recreate Dorset, Safe and Sound Dorset, Salvation Army, Winton, Samee, Somerford ARC Community Centre, Somerford Youth and Community Centre, Southbourne Food Bank, Townsend Community Association, Townsend Youth Partnership and West Howe Community Enterprises.
