From ocean to art studio: The diverse impact of the Charles Burnett Memorial Fund
HIWCF CEO, Jacqui Scott, gives us her firsthand report of the inspiring visits she recently made to five small charities that have been funded by our Charles Burnett Memorial Fund.
We hope you enjoy her insight into the life changing impact being made in the New Forest area.
This week, I saw firsthand how one person’s legacy can have a huge impact on communities
I had the privilege of meeting with five of the community groups who have received grants from the Charles Burnett Memorial Fund programme. This programme is particularly close to my heart, as it was generated through Charles’s tragic sudden death – a well known New Forest local. The funding is therefore primarily for use in and around the New Forest, my home.
Not only was it wonderful for me to see the funded groups in action, but also a privilege to spend time with the Advisory panel, all of whom were very closely connected to Charles in his lifetime, and for each of whom, this funding holds special meaning
Charles was well known for his philanthropy and very diverse interests in his lifetime – and we could not have met a more diverse range of community groups if we had tried! So a big up to each group:
Ocean Youth Trust – the most engaging and thoughtful group of young volunteers and staff (and some more “youngish”!) who taking disadvantaged young people out on the water through residential sailing trips, many of whom had joined OYT on one of their programmes. They provide incredible life changing experiences – often for children who have never been on a boat before in their lives, and who then spend several days living and helping to crew one.
Rose Road – a really well known organisation in Hampshire, supporting people (young and adult) with severe and complex learning needs as well as often complex physical and medical issues, mainly through different types of day and respite care. Masses of passion and compassion within those walls.
FarmWild / Four Acre Farm – who received funding for a composter – and had their visitors enthralled by their knowledge and passion about that subject and everything connected to food and how it can be grown. The Ringwood community have a fabulous asset there.
Charles Burnett
Charles was a well known philanthropist who had a passion for creating connections within communities in the New Forest
Community First Wessex – gave us the opportunity to meet a couple of young carers taking part in one of their groups. Young carers have caring responsibilities at home, often for parents or siblings with complex needs, and this can often impact their school attendance and outcomes and we all know how that can have a lifelong impact. These young people get the chance to just chill, recalibrate and spend some time with other young carers and trusted adults. It’s voluntary to attend and they definitely choose to be there!
SPUD – Spud Works have such a wide range of art and architecture work that they are doing with their local community – architecture workshops for young people (I met a Year 8 who was sketching a complex building); crafting groups for people with dementia and their carers; art classes for LGBTQ+ young people – and so much more. And who had just received an award for a significant project they had designed AND built for the community near Winchester. What a fabulous end to our day.
I often find it hard to articulate how much small local community groups can do for their local community. But the life changing impact of these groups was so obvious as we spoke to them, watched them in action and talked to their clients.
