Open House Shaftesbury, Dorset

Open House Shaftesbury provides many vital services to local people. We got in touch with Project Manager Nikki Hall to learn about what they do and how our funding has helped.

How did the charity begin?

Nikki: "Open House was set up nearly 10 years ago by an individual who had been through challenging times and recognised the need and a gap in services.

"Since then, the charity has helped over 700 families and individuals. Here in Shaftesbury, we are in a very rural area with limited resources, and we provide a place where people can turn to if they need help."

Who do you support and how?

Nikki: "All our clients come from Shaftesbury and the local area, and almost all live in social housing.

"We are very fortunate to have very experienced volunteers who can help anyone looking for the benefits they are entitled to. The forms they must complete are very extensive and can take up to three hours to complete.

"For many clients, these forms are just too overwhelming to complete themselves, so we help them apply."

How has our grant helped you?

Nikki: "We were awarded a Community Fund grant for running costs in 2024.

"This helped us provide a coffee shop environment with free tea, coffee and homemade cake every Tuesday from 10am to 2pm at a local church.

"We have over 40 volunteers keeping everything going and value all their help."

What else do you offer?

Nikki: "We also provide emergency aid, such as food bank parcels, baby packs and gas/electric top-ups.

"We have a support service desk which provides help with writing CVs and letters, understanding bills, basic budgeting and using the internet.

"We also run Store House, which is a second-hand furniture project and a community fridge that is open for four sessions a week, offering free food to anybody who needs it."