The Unsung Heroes Of Dorset

John Young, who became High Sheriff for Dorset in March, reflects on how some local small community groups make this county a better place for us all to live and work in

 ONE of the roles of the High Sheriff is to support the local voluntary sector – Dorset is the home of over 2,300 registered charities which all carry out valuable work to support local people in need.

Many residents can name at least a couple of local charities which are very well known at regional and even national level. However, I would like to give special attention to the smaller charities and volunteer led community groups. These are the unsung heroes of Dorset. Rarely paid for their work, and with very little in terms of donations - they help build thriving local communities. There are just over 4,600 of these in Dorset - double the number of registered charities!

I was introduced to local community groups and smaller charities when I joined Dorset Community Foundation (DCF) as an Ambassador in 2015. The DCF’s role is to inspire philanthropy, local giving and to channel it across Dorset to support those most in need. Our county is often seen as very wealthy, but there is a lot of disadvantage - 13 areas in Dorset fall within the 20% most deprived nationally. Just a stone throw away from Sandbanks, in parts of Poole, over 50 % of children live in poverty. Moreover, many move to Dorset to retire and enjoy the sun and sea, and yet every year hundreds of older people die because they cannot afford to heat their homes. It is not surprising that there are so many local support groups.