10 Years as Faithworks CEO: Ice buckets, the Unexpected & Simple Grace
“I have never written a budget before in between a comics emporium and a New Age shop.” – Alistair Doxat-Purser, CEO In my first week of working for Faithworks as the new CEO in June 2013, we sat in a cramped and slightly mouldy couple of rooms for a team meeting, discussing the fact that the building
Volunteers’ Week: 1 – 7 June 2023
“You are the lifeblood of all that we do” – Alistair Doxat-Purser, CEO 285 volunteers enable us to run 5 Food Banks, our CMA debt advice and budget service, SMILE lone parent families project and support for those moving on from homelessness, addiction and prison via our Arch programme. Many of you who give your time have
Easter Holidays Free or Low Cost Activities
As spring is fighting its way through the wintry weather, the Easter holidays are rapidly appearing on the horizon. We have therefore put together another list of free or very low cost activities which will help you to enjoy the Easter Holidays without the stress of adding too much to the budget. Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) The
February Half-term – free or low cost kids activities in Dorset
“What are we doing today?” is often the question dreaded by parents in the school holidays. With the double challenge of finding entertainment that doesn’t break the budget, we are well aware that the February half-term may feel daunting. From coding, building a bug hotel to a free family film club - we have put together a list
Coop Local Community Fund provides vital funds for SMILE lone parent project
On Friday 2nd December, Jodie and Simon from the Coop in Poole presented Racheal, our SMILE Project Lead, with a cheque for £1,862. This was the culmination of a year of fundraising in local Coop shops. Coop members chose SMILE as their preferred project, and then Coop put aside 1% of what these members spent on their groceries in
Project Christmas Hours 2022
Please note that our project Christmas hours 2022 are: Blandford Food Bank+ Closed on Tuesday 27th December Christchurch Food Bank+ Open as usual except on Monday 26th & Tuesday 27th December Poole Food Bank+ Open except on Tuesday 27th December *Please note the change in opening hours Wednesday 28th - Friday 30th December when Poole Food Bank+ will be
Ashleigh’s Story
“I’m now finding out who I am. But I’m also realising the mistakes I made in the past.” Ashleigh* joined the SMILE lone parent community 5 years ago. She was going through many challenges including domestic violence, court hearings over her children, and suicidal thoughts. She was having to face these challenges alone. Domestic abuse had always been a
SMILE Eat the Fruit of their Labour
SMILE were recently joined on their day out by volunteers from JP Morgan. The lone parent families project returned to our friends at Project Manna for woodland and river fun. The day included feeding the sheep, kayaking on the river, toasting marshmallows over a firepit and decorating flower pots. It also provided an opportunity to see how the fruit
