Christmas cheer A PROJECT supporting adults with learning disabilities is being given a further boost by the Dorchester Curiosity Centre.

The venue has given plenty of support to Cowden Care Farm, Charminster, in recent years, providing space to sell furniture and other items made by its service users, alongside the antiques and other items on sale.

The items have proved popular and a close relationship has developed between the two organisations.

Now Michelle Duncan, from the Dorchester Curiosity Centre, wants to give people at Cowden Care Farm some added Christmas cheer and is determined to raise some additional funds.

She has organised a raffle in aid of the farm and has been taken aback by the response from local businesses in offering prizes for the draw, which takes place on Thursday, December 18.

Those who have offered prizes include the Wise Man pub at West Stafford, Sculpture By The Lakes, Medusa in Dorchester and Whitcombe Riding Stables, while Alastair Chisholm is also offering a place on one of his ghost walks as a prize.

Michelle said: “We have been working with Cowden for the last couple of years.

“They approached us about needing an outlet for the items that they make, like painting and recovering chairs and garden bits and things like that.

“The chairs have proved really popular. We also attend their workshops and events they run and support their open days.”

She is now hoping the Christmas spirit shown by businesses is replicated by people coming to buy tickets and raising as much as possible for Cowden.

Raffle tickets cost just £1 and can be purchased from the Dorchester Curiosity Centre on the Grove Trading Estate or from Cowden Care Farm.