Family brewer, Hall & Woodhouse (H&W), announced the 20 successful recipients of grants totalling over £30,000 at its annual Community Chest Awards. The ceremony took place at H&W’s Brewery in Dorset last week.

The recently awarded grants are part of a wider £60,000 fund that is donated by H&W to communities where it operates across the south. Every year the fund is split between helping worthy causes in the southeast and southwest. This year’s fund is the largest donation H&W has made through its Community Chest initiative since it began in 2002. To date, the H&W Community Chest has awarded over £800,000 to more than 900 causes across the south of England.

H&W’s 2024 Community Chest fund supported organisations that provide essential services to people within the community, including children and young people, the elderly, people with disabilities, the vulnerable, and those providing aid to combat homelessness. 

Mark Woodhouse, Family Director of Hall & Woodhouse, said: “We’re delighted to deliver a record-breaking Community Chest fund to support the multitude of voluntary organisations we have in the south.

“Our Community Chest Awards celebrate the amazing people doing fantastic things in our local areas and are a chance to thank and to give back to those who go above and beyond to help others. We are proud that the Community Chest is now in its 23rd year and have already committed to returning the awards for 2025, extending our support further with another grant fund.” 

Routes to Roots was awarded £3,000 enabling the charity to continue to provide home-cooked lunches at its drop-in sessions in Poole. The charity’s Homelessness Hub hosts drop-ins five times a week and provides basic necessities such as showers, hot food, clothing, sleeping bags, and offers access to mental health workers and housing advisers.

Ups and Downs Southwest received £2,000 at this year’s awards. The charity supports children with Down’s Syndrome and their families in the southwest. The grant will be used to offer local families a life-changing 12-week intensive support plan to help them with health, behaviour, emotional, and financial support.

Another beneficiary was Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs, which received £1,000 to cover training costs and professional services to support its Autism Specialist Dog Trainer. The charity’s assistance dogs provide invaluable support for various needs and are trained to perform a variety of tailored tasks, from interrupting self-harming behaviours, to assisting with clothing and operating appliances. 

The Community Chest is part of H&W’s wider charitable activities, which has seen it donate and raise over £800,000 in the last year (2024/5) for local good causes.

The H&W Community Chest works in partnership with both the Dorset and Eastern Community Foundations. Please visit www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk for more information.