We are Age Concern North Dorset!
We are a very small, independent charity, based in Sturminster Newton. Independent means we have to raise all the funding required to run the charity. Lots of people seem to think we are a branch of Age UK. We are not, we are one of the small local Age Concern charities allowed to keep the Age Concern logo and continue to operate as such when Age Concern and Help the Aged merged to become one big charity in 2009.
For quite a long time there were just three trustees and one member of part-time staff running the charity supported by 10 volunteer helpers; this year three more local people have offered to become volunteer trustees. So now we are six volunteer trustees, 10 volunteer helpers and two part-time members of staff. More trustees for the charity means we can provide a better service because every trustee brings new and different skills.
We cover quite a large area offering services to support the town of Sturminster Newton but also the villages surrounding the town.
Our services are carefully researched to ensure we are not duplicating anything that other charities provide, but if we find a need we will try and provide support for that need. An example of this is our balance classes, started in 2023, when we felt there was a need to support those people who could not join a normal exercise class because of certain health restrictions such as a new knee, hip, stroke or some other health problem which meant a normal class would be far too difficult.
We are very grateful to have support from some local funders who know our work well and feel we are doing a good job and respond positively to our funding requests. However, fundraising can be very time consuming and difficult. The funding we require is core funding, which not all funding organisations offer. Each funding bid requires a lot of work and each funding organisation requires different forms to be filled in. Most funders offer funding for the year, so whatever you can raise has to be spent within that year, this means funds can never grow, raising money becomes a regular need and means charity development becomes extremely difficult.
Because we are local we know the area well, we work with other charities and organisations so understand the needs of the area, and I like to think we are doing a pretty good job at supporting our local community.
If you would like to help a charity like ours, supporting the local elderly with local services, please come and have a chat with us to see how you can help support your local area. The kettle is always boiling!
Dianne Cooper
Chairman, Age Concern North Dorset
On behalf of the Board of Trustees
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