Thousands of volunteers and charity organisers have been praised for their work in keeping the county safe during the pandemic.

A report by Dorset Community Foundation records the impact made by its £1.1m Dorset Coronavirus Community Fund.

A total of 328 grants were made to 220 groups.

The fund was launched on March 19, 2020, ten days after the first Covid cases were recorded in the county and two days before the first death.

Working with the National Emergencies Trust, spearheaded by Prince William, the community foundation quickly funnelled money to the Covid response groups emerging in communities, with the first grants made on April 6.

Jeremy Mills, Dorset Community Foundation’s Chairman of Trustees, pictured left, writes in the report called Dorset In The Pandemic: “These last 12 months have, without doubt, been a time of uncertainty, anxiety, sadness and disruption never seen on such a scale in this country outside of wartime.

“However, they have also brought out the very best in us as a people and in Dorset we have seen charities and voluntary groups step up despite losing staff and revenue, people who would never have imagined themselves volunteering coming forward to help their communities and new groups materialising to meet the need on their doorstep.

“I am proud that Dorset Community Foundation has stood squarely at the forefront of this effort.”

Community foundation staff streamlined the grants application and assessment process so that the money pouring into its fund from individual donors, trusts and businesses could be turned round quickly.

Grant Robson, Director, pictured right, said: “Our trustees and volunteers really came through for us in helping to make quick decisions without sacrificing the integrity of the process.”

The report details how the money was distributed including:

• £345,000 to groups providing hot meals and food
• £126,000 to those dealing with mental health
• £117,000 for youth groups
• £106,000 for financial advice and support from groups such as Citizens Advice

Grants were made in four phases between April and this February, with £197,197 going out at its peak in September.

“We were bowled over that donors we had known for many years, as well as lots of new ones, came forward to help.

“We reached out to some but many came to us wanting to respond to the pictures they were seeing on TV and in newspapers,” said Grant.

The report also includes tales from many of the groups who were funded on how they tackled the crisis.

Lychett Minster and Upton Town Council, which used a £3,000 grant to set up a foodbank, wrote: “One lady in her 80s rang in because she had run out of tea.

“She said she didn’t like to trouble anyone, but she hadn’t had a cup of tea for a week.”

The Crumbs Project in Bournemouth, which received £4,000 to deliver hot meals, said one beneficiary who was shielding at home in Poole told it: “Before I found you I had gone without a hot meal for three days.”

Grant said: “We are very proud of the report because it shows not just how we responded but how Dorset and its incredible voluntary sector stepped up.

“Because of the generosity of our donors and supporters we were able to fund groups responding to the immediate need of the crisis as well as those who were forced to adapt to the lockdown by switching their services online and had to find the money for equipment and training.”

Jeremy Mills added: “When we eventually look back at this tumultuous time, we will remember the heroism and dedication of our frontline workers who stood firm and steadfast in the teeth of this crisis.

“The voluntary sector deserves to be heralded alongside them.”

• To read the report or find out more about the community foundation go to dorsetcommunityfoundation.org