THOUSANDS of pounds in grants are to be awarded to local projects which aim to help boost the county's health.

Dorset Community Foundation worked with Dorset County Hospital Charity to award £35,000 in grants to grass roots charities and community groups for projects which hope to improve the health of Dorset residents.

The NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Community Partnership grants will support ten grass roots groups who are responding to the impact of the pandemic by providing services which work alongside NHS practitioners or relieve pressure on NHS services.

The grants recognises the vital work voluntary and community groups do to support the work of the NHS and were funded by a proportion of the £150 million raised by NHS Charities Together through its UK-wide Covid-19 Urgent Appeal.

The total package secured for the county was £354,000 with the balance funding strategic two-year grants to Dorset’s new Integrated Care System and three NHS charities – Dorset County Hospital Charity, Bournemouth and Poole Hospitals Charities and Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust.

Among the recipients of the smaller grants is Citizens Advice on Portland, which was awarded £2,000 for a caseworker to help families in one of Dorset’s most deprived areas get better information on benefits they might be entitled to and apply for them.

Chief officer, Daniel Cadisch, said: “By supporting individuals to maximise their income through claiming benefits to which they are entitled, to better manage their finances and to deal with their practical problems, we will have a significant impact on their health and wellbeing and, in doing so, reduce the demand on local NHS services.”

Countrymen UK will use a £4,000 grant towards running farming activities for isolated men diagnosed with dementia or Parkinson’s in rural areas of the county.

Chief executive Julie Plumley said many older men in rural areas, especially former farmworkers, are at risk of becoming isolated in retirement and caring for them puts a huge strain on their families.

The charity runs three session a week for 40 men to be able to work with animals and carry out farm tasks at its Rylands Farm, near Sherborne. The activities not only give members a sense of belonging and a chance to get back out into the fresh air but also gives some respite for their carers.

Mrs Plumley said: “Countrymen UK harnesses the therapeutic value of farming to engage older men. Our aim is to achieve a renewed sense of belonging in older men, which in turn has a wider impact on health and wellbeing. In practice, this involves purposeful work-related activities, socialisation and a gentle ‘green gym’.”

Simon Pearson, head of charity for the Dorset County Hospital Charity, which is one of NHS Charities Together’s 240 member charities, said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with Dorset Community Foundation who provide expertise in local grant-making, to provide this essential funding to local organisations on behalf of NHS Charities Together.”

Grant Robson, director at Dorset Community Foundation, said: “Everyone is aware of the huge backlog our NHS has faced since the pandemic and we are delighted that this funding will help some of the amazing groups working so hard in our communities to continue to take the pressure off. Their work prevents many people having to go into acute care, or at least delays it considerably and we are proud that Dorset County Hospital Charity has chosen to work with us to make this happen.”