A PARTNERSHIP with major food distributor and wholesaler Hunt’s Food Group is helping Dorset Community Foundation to support grass roots groups and charities who are tackling poverty and mental health issues and inspiring young people.
The Hunt’s Food Group Community Fund will build on the company’s longstanding commitment to supporting communities and charities and is guided by three strategic themes – relieving poverty and disadvantage, improving mental health and wellbeing and investing in the next generation.

The fund, which is also partnering with Somerset Community Foundation, has already made grants of more than £130,000 over three years to five charities across Somerset and Dorset in communities where the Sherborne company’s more than 600 staff live and work.
Among the recipients of a £26,250 grant over three years is Treads in Blandford Forum, which runs an information and support drop-in for young people that provides them with a safe and encouraging space to talk about their mental health and wellbeing. It also works in schools and youth groups.

Senior Youth Leader Libby Lloyd said: “This grant is great because it gives us certainty and helps us to plan ahead. Knowing we have this money for the next three years will mean we can staff all of our groups and prepare for the work we do in schools.”

“This grant is great because it gives us certainty and helps us to plan ahead. Knowing we have this money for the next three years will mean we can staff all of our groups and prepare for the work we do in schools.”

Countrymen UK will use its £26,250 grant to continue hosting former farmworkers who have been diagnosed with dementia at its farm in Sherborne. The group allows it members to spend a day on the farm enjoying activities and mixing with like-minded people.
Director Julie Plumley said: “The grant will help us to continue growing our Dorset club and making sure that everyone is aware of the offer through better publicity. As a result of the increase in energy prices and costs this will be particularly beneficial.
“We are also hoping to restart our carers group this summer after it stopped during covid. The ladies have requested this and we know from before Covid the benefits of the ladies sharing experiences.”

Dorset Community Foundation Director Grant Robson said the Hunt’s partnership is more evidence of the community foundation’s ability to tailor grant programmes to donors’ needs. “We are really thankful for this partnership with Hunt’s,” he said.
“The company has always shown a real commitment to supporting the community and this fund is more evidence of that. I’m so pleased that our expertise and knowledge of the voluntary sector will help the company’s generosity make a real difference to people.”
Hunt’s chairman Richard Hunt said: “We have a ‘support local’ focus here at Hunt’s Food Group. We’ve over 100 years of history in our local community and hope to continue this for another 100 years by providing employment, supporting local producers and giving back to communities.

“We’re delighted to have established the Hunt’s Food Group Community Fund in partnership with Dorset Community Foundation to provide long-term, strategic funding for vital local charities who work tirelessly to change lives where we live and work. We’re very proud to have recently gained our B-Corp accreditation; the Fund is part of our commitment to using our resources to benefit our wider communities, not just our shareholders.”