Pictures: Sussex Community Chest Awards 2020

Thousands of pounds have been given to voluntary groups across the region in the annual Hall & Woodhouse Community Chest Awards which are run with the media support of this newspaper and its sister titles.

The annual event was established in 2002 and has seen the brewer donate more than £650,000 to terrific causes in Sussex and Dorset in the 18 years since.

Despite the challenges of Covid-19 - not least on the pub and hospitality industry - this year's event saw the amount of money potentially available for each application increased to £5,000, encouraged the company's pubs to become charity partners to good causes in their area, and included emergency help during the depths of lockdown.

Lucinda Gray, Company Relationship Manager and Next Generation Family Director of Hall & Woodhouse, said: “In a year of such challenge, we’re proud to be helping others make a difference to their communities. We understand and have heard first-hand from the charities, how necessary the grants are for the survival of these local causes.

“The donations are going to a real mix of charities across the south; from youth services to mental health support, to those that specialise in facilities for people with disabilities, to free computer access for those who need it most.”

For the first time, the annual awards ceremony took place virtually this year and included an online beer and cheese tasting session led by Mark Woodhouse. All winners and judges received a ‘Dorset Dozen’ beer box, a selection of characterful and crafted Badger ales, along with the recommended selection of accompanying cheeses, so that guests could participate in the event online.

This year, the Chichester Information Shop received a grant of £1,500. The organisation provides free information, advice, support and counselling for young people aged 13-25 who may be suffering issues such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, self-harm, bullying and complex trauma. The grant will help to support a bank of volunteer counsellor sessions and relative clinical supervision.

Horsham Matters has received a grant of £1,500. The charity supports vulnerable residents facing crisis across the Horsham District and provides a range of services from foodbanks to night shelter, as well as the supply of furniture and essential household items to newly housed persons.

The Black and Minority Ethnic Young People’s Project based in Brighton has receive a grant of £2,000. The organisation provides weekly support via telephone calls to members, including young people and their families, during this challenging period. The grant will be used towards the annual salary of a youth worker, to enable the weekly sessions for young people to continue.

As part of the Community Chest Awards, an emergency fund of £9,500 was allocated to help local causes earlier in the year during the nationwide lockdown.

Applications will be open for the 2021 Community Chest awards in March, where voluntary groups can request funding ranging from £300 to £5,000 to help them achieve their aims. Grants could be awarded for new equipment, training, transport or running costs, and can be made towards youth services, the elderly, or any other projects that enhance the local community.

Gary Shipton, editor and editorial director of this newspaper and its sister titles congratulated Hall & Woodhouse on continuing to support the community so generously through such difficult times. "We are very proud to be long-standing media partners and to promote the work of the community chest," he said.