Chronology of
Friends Of Stour Connect
October 2017
First Meals On Wheels orders accepted and delivered. Funds received Waitrose and Serco.
January 2018
Process of Chritian Registration started.
Funding received (from AFC Bournemouth and ASDA.
May 2018
Closure of the Sturminster Newton Stourconnect Hydrotherapy Pool announced.
Immediately the 'Save Our Hydrotherapy Pool' Campaign commenced by Friends of Stourconnect with help from Blackmore Vale Magazine.
August 2018
Full charity registration achieved by Friends of Stourconnect.
Funding recieved via Peoples' Postcode Lottery for the Connect Sports Project.
June/July 2019
Following campaign to re-open the Hydrotherapy Pool at Stourconnect this autumn was achieved.
Friends Of Stourconnect achieved funding from:
William Williams Trust: to fund the rental on new larger premises for Mens Shed Stour. The popularity of this project means that we have outgrown the premises we were originally in.
Stur Quest Enterprises to fund a new Dementia (Specialist) Service based in our Community Cafe, and a gardening project.
National Lottery Awards for all to fund staffing costs to consolidate the growth of the charity and its projects and enable the trustees to further develop the charity.
First Scan (Stourconnect Additional Needs) Festival announced in conjunction with Tricuro Stourconnect.
October 2019
Launch of Friends of Stour Connect new Face Book page
December 2019
Our new shop J' Emporium opens selling bric-a-brac, books, kitchenware, garden ware, children's toys and plants as well as all the handmade products made by the guys in the Men's Shed. J's Emporium is adjacent to the Community Café. To see some of our products click here
March 2020
Friends of Stour Connect responds to National Government guidelines and closes due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Most projects and facilities come to and temporary closure, Only a handful of staff keep the centre ticking over.
July 2020
The centre begin to re-open as lockdown eases and more of the staff are allowed back in. The Men's Shed Stour re-opens on the 30th July
Also during this month a new project called SCATE commences for two weeks offering young people the chance to gain work related skills and participate in volunteering.
August 2020
The Community Café and the shop, J' Emporium, re-opens on the 11th August for Tues, Weds and Thurs only