Older community activities boost with £132k grant

An initiative to keep older people in the community active and connected has been backed with thousands of pounds in funding.

The Volunteer Centre Dorset (VCD) has been awarded a two-year contract to create the Dorset Thriving Communities Network.

The network has been allotted £132,000 in grant funding, to be divided among community groups and charities in Purbeck, north Dorset and Weymouth over the coming months.

In a statement, the VCD explained the initiative has been created to "establish and strengthen these small networks".

Projects receiving the funding will include lunch clubs, art classes and warm spaces for people to gather, in a bid to help older people feel independent and connected with their community.

Councillor Steve Robinson from Dorset Council said: "This 'proof of concept' exercise holds the potential to develop a completely new method of funding our Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) core costs."

He said the initiative could "create a truly engaged and resilient sector, able to provide long term health and wellbeing support as our older population grows".

Marie Waterman, chief executive of VCD, added: "This is about more than just funding - it's about supporting the people and groups already making a difference in their neighbourhoods.

"By working together, we can create local networks that are responsive, resilient, and rooted in the strengths of each community."

A review into the initiative will be held after a year by Dorset's Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly (VCSA), reporting to the Dorset Health and Wellbeing Board.

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