Beneficiaries
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Beneficiaries ⚑
Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries
of the 2026 Fair
Are you a children's charity or a voluntary community group that helps and supports children and young people? Are you based in Dorset or Somerset?
Would you like to be considered as a beneficiary seeking funds for a specific project or an individual in particular need? If so, please apply by the end of January to be considered for the current year.
In 2026 the Committee of the Sherborne Castle Country Fair are very pleased to help the charities and organisations listed below:
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Based in Weymouth, AStars is a volunteer-led, weekly support group and youth club for the families of children on the Autistic Spectrum. The club has been running for more than 17 years and has supported more than 250 families during that time. They also organise Autism-friendly events and subsidised trips that might not have been affordable or possible for their families under different circumstances.
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Supporting vulnerable children through performance activities.
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Supports 400 cadets in 10 units
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Supports children and young people with Downs syndrome
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On a farm near Sherborne, Future Roots use farming and the countryside to help young people to make progress in their education and their lives. They work with young people at risk of exclusion from school, children with special educational needs and disabilities, as well as families in crisis. Over 100 young people visit the farm every week where they learn new skills, develop personal qualities by caring for animals, growing plants and learning rural crafts.
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Small village youth group, reducing crime by keeping young people busy and involved in the community.
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Supporting local disadvantage children with school trips, equipment family needs and the Christmas box project.
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Hands on activities on a farm on a 12 week programme of engaging educational activities.
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Our mission is to transform the lives of young people facing difficult circumstances through long-term, one-to-one mentoring relationships with trained local volunteers. By providing consistent support, encouragement, guidance, and positive role models, we help young people build confidence, resilience, and important life skills. We create safe, compassionate relationships that empower young people to overcome challenges, raise aspirations, and make positive choices for their future. Working alongside families, schools, and communities, we aim to create lasting change that benefits not only each young person we support, but also the wider community around them.
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PTA wanting to transform the outdoor field into Forest school/outdoor classroom.
milborneportschoolptfa@gmail.com
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The community centre at Tinney's Lane, Sherborne, is the home of Tinney's Youth Club. It is currently running at a record membership with 50-60 attending each junior session and 30-40 each senior session on Mondays. The Wednesday sessions are also seeing record attendances. Extra activities are therefore needed: the "Focus on Youth" week in early-August, the "Focus on Youth" blocks of special activities which are run as part of the weekly Youth Club sessions, and funding to improve the outside multi-games area.
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The charity provides immediate practical and emotional support. 100 families with children with visual impairment use their services so that the children can do fun activities together and benefit from sharing experiences whilst their parents learn that there are many careers available and technology to make life easier. Activities enable children to build skills and confidence and to build a support network to enable them to thrive.
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The Rendezvous provides targeted services for young people who would otherwise fall through the cracks. They provide one to one support to improve mental health and wellbeing, English and Maths tuition leading to Level 2 nationally accredited English and Maths qualifications, engagement projects including outreach sessions in Sherborne and Gillingham, a Friday cooking project and group work for those struggling witih anxiety. If they are a young parent they can take part in group sessions or have home visits and advice appointments to resolve housing and benefits. The Rendezvous works closely with schools, GP surgeries, social care and increasingly parents who are often desperate to find support for their children.
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Supporting bereaved children 4 to 11 years
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Uses outdoor adventure to empower vulnerable young people
Website
Interested in being a beneficiary of
the Fair?
Are you a children's charity or a voluntary community group that helps and supports children and young people? Are you based in Dorset or Somerset? Would you like to apply for funds for a specific project or an individual in particular need?