“Love HamWorthy”: The Power House Secures Three Year National Lottery Funding
2024 started with a bang for us here at The Power House. We are thrilled to announce an award of £243,623 from National Lottery Reaching Communities fund for our ‘Love HamWorthy ‘ project with the added boost of an additional £30,000 for Year 1.
Trustee and co-founder, Maureen La Frenais said of the news, “I am delighted - this funding enables us to have a more visible presence in Hamworthy and by Spring we will have a welcoming space with an office and creative work area. Our active Founder and Project Manager, Alix Digby-West can now recruit 3 more people to the team, bringing additional skills and capacity to extend existing and to develop new projects.”
The Reaching Communities funding was secured through additional awards of match funding from Valentine Charitable Trust, Alice Ellen Cooper Dean, SNG (formerly Sovereign Housing) and Seedbed Christian Community Trust (now ceased). More matched funding is needed for their full organisational costs including setting up an office and community hub.
Over the last seven years, The Power House has navigated the challenges of advancing our vision during a global pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. We’ve consulted with the community, numerous groups and individuals, and have worked in schools and local organisations to communicate our values and ambitions. With a team of dedicated volunteers working across the projects, we work with local artists and creatives to deliver a range of projects including “Celebrating the Old, Inspiring the New” and “Poole Britannia!” Platinum Jubilee exhibitions and community arts programmes funding by Arts Council England and BCP Council and supported by Lighthouse, Poole.
Bringing people together is at the heart of this project; it will champion creativity to help improve wellbeing, develop confidence through new skills, provide a sense of purpose and happiness, through forging connections to reduce isolation, anxiety and loneliness. Across the next three years we will deepen their community engagement with the residents of Hamworthy, extending our successful creative arts activities and experiences programme for young people and adults of any age. 2022 saw the start of “Cornerstone Patch” community garden at Cornerstone Academy.
As we start our two-phase recruitment process we are completing the installation of the Cornerstone Patch water harvesting and irrigation system thanks to Wessex Water through Dorset Community Foundation, and Bupa Green Communities through Groundworks. The Patch being a fundamental project to “Love HamWorthy”, we are also looking to secure funding for Phase 2 Cornerstone Patch installation to add accessibility features and safety landscaping to open the Patch to older and less able members of the community.
Power House Youth Project Member, Emma Roberts, says: “The Power House project is a fantastic place to grow connections with community members otherwise overlooked and through these friendships find yourself. Through volunteering as both an ambassador and a Young Leader I have had the opportunity to gain experience which will help me in later life. Simple things like offering a coffee to someone is an example of the love and kindness driving the project which with this money can only grow.”
Securing a way forward after many years of development is a significant game changer for The Power House and importantly, for the community they serve. When people connect, create, and collaborate they do more than survive, they thrive.
Recruitment for three new roles commences in February. Posts will be advertised across social media, website and local networks.
For more information or if you want to be involved as a volunteer or trustee, or support their work financially you can make contact through our contact form on our website or socials
Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) @PowerHousePoole
Photo Credit: The Power House - Poole
L-R: Ben Butement (Cornerstone Patch Team), Marie Pandolfo (Power House Trustee), Tanishqa Mokate (Cornerstone Academy Student), Isabella Carpenter (Cornerstone Academy Student), Jesse-Mao Tomasso (Cornerstone Academy Student), Madds Cunningham (Cornerstone Academy Student), Kiera McClurg (Cornerstone Academy Student), Alix Digby-West (Power House Project Manager), Azeemah Ogungbenro (Cornerstone Academy Student), Peyton Byrne (Cornerstone Academy Student), Ciara Muswera (Cornerstone Academy Student), Laura Clarke (Cornerstone Patch Garden Lead)