DORSET residents are being encouraged to support a week-long campaign to celebrate the wide array of local charities and organisations in the county.

The annual Do It for Dorset Day has been extended across five days, from June 15 to 19, to allow people to fundraise during the event for causes across the county.

Run by Dorset Community Foundation, the event will encourage schools, companies, groups, workplaces and individuals to do their bit and raise money, whether through bake sales or coffee mornings, sponsored runs, quizzes, auctions or other ideas for Do It for Dorset Week.

Tracy Melling, development director at Dorset Community Foundation, said: “I’m really pleased that quite a few of our trustees and ambassadors will be participating and hopefully that will encourage the general public to also get involved.

“Our trustee, Henry Digby, will be donating the proceeds from entries to the Minterne House Gardens, Jennifer Gould, who is another trustee, will be doing a sponsored dog walk and picnic and our ambassadors, Sara Jacson and Colin Brady, will be organising a coffee morning.”

All donations from the activities will be going to the Dorset Fund, run and managed by Dorset Community Foundation, which supports issues affecting communities across the county.

The Dorset Fund currently helps older people to lead healthy and independent lives, young people from disadvantaged background looking to continue their education, apprenticeship or training and also people with mental health issues through arts projects.

In addition, the foundation is running its own #LoveDorset photographic competition. Residents will be asked to share their favourite place in Dorset, at the same time making a £5 donation to the Dorset Fund.

Dorset Community Foundation aims to raise funds for those most in need with £10million having been distributed to community groups and individuals since its inception in 2000.

For more information on Do It for Dorset Week and the photographic competition, go to Dorsetcommunityfoundation.org

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e: samantha.harman@dorsetecho.co.uk

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