Talbot Village Trust, a grant-giving charity committed to enhancing community wellbeing, has awarded over £487,455 to 36 charitable organisations across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Purbeck, and East Dorset. This funding, part of the Trust’s second grant cycle of the year, will help support a wide variety of local initiatives aimed at making a positive difference.
The grants, ranging from £500 to £40,000, reflect the Trust’s dedication to addressing diverse community needs and encouraging wellbeing across the region.
Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, Chairman of Talbot Village Trust, commented:
“It is always a privilege to support organisations working tirelessly to improve lives in our community. While the needs are always great, we hope this funding will help make a meaningful impact across different sectors, including education, youth programmes, and charitable support services. We’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute to their efforts.”
Here are some of the grants awarded and the beneficiaries:
· BOWRA Foundation: £7,310 to support a year-long programme of activities at Hamworthy Park for stroke survivors and individuals living with brain injuries.
· Diverse City: £40,000 for a two-year creative performing arts programme designed for d/Deaf, disabled, and disadvantaged individuals aged 16-35.
· Home-Start Wessex: £7,075 to fund the "Kinson Haven Family Group," supporting disadvantaged families with young children experiencing mental health challenges and isolation.
· Mosaic – Supporting Bereaved Children: £18,969 to contribute to the charity's running costs.
· Poole Communities Trust: £15,000 towards the design and build of a skatepark on Turlin Moor, Poole, ensuring a further boost to help achieve their fundraising target.
· PramaLife: £11,600 to recruit a part-time project coordinator to manage volunteers supporting carers of individuals living with dementia and to establish a new peer support group for dementia carers in Christchurch over 12 months
· Safe & Sound Dorset: £31,000 to cover rent and part of the manager's salary for 12 months supporting the charity’s work with isolated, vulnerably housed and marginalised women living in the community.
· YMCA Bournemouth: £5,000 to support the delivery of free and paid one-to-one counselling sessions, available in person, online, and over the phone.
Sam Mosley, BOWRA Foundation Operations Manager, said “We are incredibly grateful to Talbot Village Trust for their generous support which will enable us to provide physical activities for people living with the effects of stroke and brain injury, at Hamworthy Park.
This grant is a vital part of the work we do empowering our beneficiaries to drive their own recovery journey, building confidence and hope for the next stage of their lives.”
Sally Smith, Grants Partnership Manager, Home Start Wessex, added “We’re so grateful for this grant which will fund our long-standing ‘Haven’ group in Kinson to stay open. At a time when demand is overwhelming and local families are under immense pressure, this group is vital in providing a nurturing space for parents and their young children to receive help and support.”
Chris Beale, Programmes Director, PramaLife, commented “When we told the carers we work with that Talbot Village Trust would be supporting PramaLife they were all very happy; being supported to share all the skills and experience they have developed as carers with their peers is incredibly important to them.”
Kriss Cocomazzi, Director, Safe and Sound Dorset, reflected “We could not wish for a better start to 2025 for The Well Coffee Lounge: the community hub for Safe and Sound Dorset. We are incredibly grateful to Talbot Village Trust for recognising how valuable community well-being and social inclusion are for our women and girls and the local public. This funding means we can not only continue but enhance the many activities we do: Offer affordable food, and a warm welcoming space for everyone who visits, and increase volunteer opportunities to enhance skills and confidence.
Organisations interested in applying for funding can find more information on the Trust’s website. The Trust plans to launch new grant-giving initiatives in 2025 building on feedback from charities and other local impact organisations: www.talbotvillagetrust.co.uk or by emailing info@talbotvillagetrust.org.