Our Impact…
9 out of 10 users of the Prout Bridge Project rate the service as “good”, “very good” or “excellent”
a small charity with a big impact…
We operate in a rural area with high levels of social and geographical isolation and limited public transport. Although the countryside is beautiful, and people come here on their holidays, parts of our catchment are some of the most deprived Lower-layer Super Output Areas in Dorset and some fall in the 20% most deprived in England according to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation. Housing costs are high and job opportunities are limited. Some of the families and households we work with are only just coping financially.
We are proud of the impact we have:
Working with over 500 beneficiaries last year
Youth club membership of over 300 from Beaminster and the surrounding villages and countryside as well as some travelling from Bridport, Devon and Somerset too. Some clubs are free, there is a charge for others, but it is kept very low at £1 or £1.50 to ensure accessibility to those on low incomes. In cases of real need we provide free places.
Running 90 targeted one-to-one mental health sessions in the past year with young people struggling with issues like low self-esteem, self-harm, bereavement and bullying, supporting them to improve their emotional wellbeing and take steps to make improvements in their lives
Offering holiday activity days in all the school holidays and half-terms, each attended by upwards of 30 young people. Whereas other holiday activity days charge upwards of £20 for a day, through fundraising we have kept our priced at £5 and are therefore much more accessible to everyone.
Growing our youth dance offering, and running 7 classes a week (pre-Covid) of ballet, tap, hip hop and toddler dance, with nearly 50 children and young people attending. The classes are heavily subsidised by the Prout Bridge Project meaning that they are priced much lower than alternative classes. This means that many of the young people involved are trying dance for the first time.
Our young performers in the Phoenix Youth Band, dance groups and choir have grown in confidence, made new friends and learned new skills, and they’ve performed in several high-profile events locally, including memorably at the Beaminster Festival. Those are amazing achievements for any young person, but particularly inspiring when we have young people in those groups who are battling issues in their lives that make participation more difficult for them.
Our Baby and Toddler Group (set up in response to the closure of the council-run group), fitness and yoga for adults, and coffee and craft morning help support our community and offer opportunities for making friends and trying new things.
Our counselling service is free to use and anyone age 16+ can self-refer. This has been invaluable to many users, especially in the context of long waiting lists for other mental health services.