Charity Chronology | Community Connection

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Приятели на Stour Connect

April 2025

Charity Shop Refurbishments

Our on-site charity shop, "Twice But Nice," was closed on April 17th for refurbishments. The shop needed a refresh as it had become somewhat outdated. We are redecorating and reorganizing the space to create a more welcoming and user-friendly environment for our customers. These improvements aim to enhance the shopping experience and attract new customers.

April 2024

Change of Name

Our name is changing from the old Friends of Stour Connect to "Community Connections". Everything else will be the same: we will still be offering the same, quality services we always have including our very popular Meals-on-Wheels service, as well as our Community Café, support groups and on-site charity shop - only our name will change.

May 2023

Timmy Day, New Team Member

Joining the team this month is Timmy Day, our own Roving Reporter. It is his job to report back from all his adventures from across the UK and Europe. His mission is to bring to you his exciting experiences and fav pictures so that those who are unable to travel themselves can share in his adventures and marvel at his photographic skills. Unfortunately, he usually creates mayhem somewhere along the way as he is partial to the odd drop or two of the local wines or a (large!) piece of cheese, and always manages to get himself into trouble!

His adventures are reported on the charity's monthly newsletters. To read more about Timmy click here...

April 2023

Gillingham & Shaftesbury Spring Countryside Show

The Men's Shed at the Country Spring Show has now become a regular event and advertises the facility to those who previously were unaware of its existence.

This excellent venue is a great place where people (guys as well as gals) can come together to use and improve their woodworking skills, all in a friendly and socially welcoming roof of the shed near the Friends of Stour Connect centre.

Spring & Countryside Show (Mne's Shed).jpg

January 2023

Hall & Woodhouse Donation

Friends of Stour Connect received a generous donation from Hall & Woodhouse Brewery of a cheque for £1,250 of Blandford from their Community Chest Fund. This is to go towards the refurbishment of the kitchen at our centre’s “Café Connect.”

April 2022

"Give a Little Love"

The Give A Little Love scheme run by Waitrose & Partners Supermarkets arranges every three months to give a donation to one of the local charities. In March it was our turn as we were chosen to win the donation, based on our popularity of shoppers, and Waitrose awarded us with a gift of £250!

We would like to express a HUGE thank you to Waitrose for their kind and generous donation, without such donations the charity would not be able to offer the services and support it provides to disadvantaged people in the local community.

March2022

Charity Excellence Award

Friends of Stour Connect achieved the accolade of Charity Excellence Award This is down to the hard work put in by our volunteers, part time staff and our Trustees and Patrons, and also to our partnerships with Volunteer Centre Dorset, Stour Connect, Autism Unlimited and others

January 2022

Parkinson's Dance

The commencement of our new event, the Parkinson's/Wheelchair, Dance, which began on the 20th January to run initially for 6 consecutive weeks all in aid to get those with particular mobility difficulties to improve their mobility and, at the same time, to make new friends. More info click here...

October 2021

Winter Warmers

The commencement of our 'Winter Warmers' appeal to provide warm winter clothing and bedding for vulnerable people in our local community.

August 2020

Re-opening of Café and Shop

The Community Café and the shop, Twice But Nice charity shop, re-opens on the 11th August for Tues, Weds and Thurs only

January 2020

Lockdown #1 Eases

The centre begin to re-open as lockdown eases and more of the staff are allowed back in. The Men's Shed Stour re-opens on the 30th July

Also during this month a new project called SCATE commences for two weeks offering young people the chance to gain work related skills and participate in volunteering.

March 2020

The Beginning of the Coronavirus Outbreak

Friends of Stour Connect responds to National Government guidelines and closes due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Most projects and facilities come to and temporary closure, Only a handful of staff keep the centre ticking over.

December 2019

New Charity Shop Opens!

Our new charity shop 'Twice But Nice' opens selling bric-a-brac, books, kitchenware, garden ware, children's toys and plants as well as all the handmade products made by the guys in the Men's Shed. J's Emporium is adjacent to the Community Café. To see some of our products click here

October 2019

Friends of Stour Connect Facebookk

Launch of Friends of Stour Connect new Face Book page. See @thefriendsofstourconnect

June/July 2019

Hydrotherapy Pool
Following campaign to re-open the Hydrotherapy Pool at Stourconnect this autumn was achieved.

Friends Of Stourconnect achieved funding from:

William Williams Trust: to fund the rental on new larger premises for Mens Shed Stour. The popularity of this project means that we have outgrown the premises we were originally in.

Stur Quest Enterprises to fund a new Dementia (Specialist) Service based in our Community Cafe, and a gardening project.

National Lottery Awards for all to fund staffing costs to consolidate the growth of the charity and its projects and enable the trustees to further develop the charity.

First Scan (Stourconnect Additional Needs) Festival announced in conjunction with Tricuro Stourconnect.