A charity magazine has made its first donation to a local toddler and baby group.

The Poundbury Magazine presented a big cheque of £1,036 to the Cheeky Monkeys playgroup at one of the group's weekly meetings at Brownsword Hall.

The magazine grew out of what was a newsletter for Poundbury which started some 15 years ago, but it is now a full colour free magazine of some 44 pages.

It was taken over by the Poundbury Community Trust 18 months ago and brought under the rules of the Charity Commission, with the idea being that all of its profits would go to the benefit of people living in Poundbury.

Published four times a year, the trust has been building up funds from scratch based on the advertising revenue the publication receives from businesses based in Dorchester and beyond.

Delivery to every home and business in Poundbury is carried out by a dedicated team of 35 volunteers.

The Poundbury Community Trust was initially set up simply to run the magazine, but it is now broadening out to raise funds by holding events, such as garden open days.

Its four trustees, Peter Noble, Barry White, Peter Constable and Fran Leaper, who is also the editor of the magazine, are delighted the first recipient of the funds is the Cheeky Monkey’s playgroup.

Mr Noble said that the playgroup was their first recipient because the playgroup provides a place in the community for children to interact with each other.

He said: “If it wasn’t there they would not have the same community development for their children.”

He added: “It gives kids the opportunity to get to know other kids, and their parents as well.”

The group holds weekly meetings, with craft activities, healthy snack time and song time.

Also, parents and grandparents are served tea and coffee when stay on to help out and get involved.

Peter Noble said that the money given to the playgroup should support it for the next year or so.

He said: “It will help them to underwrite the weekly costs of the hall.”

Unfortunately, organiser Janine Sales was unavailable on the day, so fellow volunteer Sophie Duke stepped in to receive the cheque on behalf of the playgroup.