Hidden deprivation highlighted in online report

A charity has launched a website to highlight disadvantage and need.

Dorset Community Foundation has been supporting charities and groups in the county for 25 years.

Its Hidden Dorset report, which highlights issues such as poverty, homelessness and loneliness, was previously published in 2015 and 2018.

The latest research has been published in an online format to make it more environmentally sustainable and easier to update with the latest information.

Chief executive Grant Robson said: "Being digital means we can continually update the facts and figures contained within it so that it always remains relevant."

Dorset Community Foundation works with donors, funders and businesses to support charities and voluntary groups in Dorset.

Its Hidden Dorset website is broken down into five areas of need - work and education, loneliness, health and wellbeing, poverty, and environment - and features real-life stories from charities and voluntary groups about the challenges they face.

Foundation chairman Tom Flood said: "The groups and charities we have spoken to have been brutally honest about what they are up against, a lack of funding, the difficulties in recruiting volunteers and challenges outside their control like public transport, the after effects of the pandemic and the rising number of people dealing with mental health issues.

"On the face of it, Dorset is a beautiful, vibrant county but scratch the surface and underneath there are areas that are among the most deprived in the UK.

"While Hidden Dorset shines a light very brightly on that, it also showcases the wonderful work going on – much if it supported in some way by us – by some fantastic, dedicated and incredibly caring people."

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