"As a result of engaging with Wiltshire Together, Bylines Network received four approaches from possible volunteers. Just one ultimately decided to get involved, but we are very happy with his work, and in fact his first article is going to be featured in our Best of Bylines supplement this month.
He has been keen to develop his writing skills and the relationship seems to be working well all round."
Safer and Supportive Salisbury (SaSS), the local community charity dedicated to building a safer and more supportive city, today publishes its Dementia Research Report 2025, an in-depth study into the experiences of people living with dementia, their carers, and dementia support providers across the Salisbury area. The research outlines current challenges, lived experiences from across the local care pathway, and practical recommendations to strengthen dementia support and information services.
A day of fun and laughter marked 40 years of White Horse Housing Association as tenants came together to celebrate.
Residents from across Wiltshire, Swindon and Somerset were invited to WHHA’s family fun day at the Codford Social Centre to enjoy games, lunch and entertainment.
Angie is a volunteer on our platform, who looked for volunteering opportunities near her home.
Emma Shearman, the Operations & Fundraising Manager for the Golden-Oldies Charity said:
“It was fantastic to have Angie supporting the Salisbury Goldies sing-along...we would welcome Angie back any time. Many thanks Wiltshire Together for matching us with volunteers!”
Help raise money to support older people in your community by donating your second-hand clothing and quality homeware to sell in their new charity shops.
You can drop off donations at:
Please check their website for opening times here.
| Clothes | Homeware |
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Good quality, clean;
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In good condition;
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Unfortunately, there are some items we are not able to accept, including white goods, coat hangers, unboxed Christmas trees & decorations, etc. A full list of items can be found here. Please check this list before making your donation.
Is it time you changed your bra?
Without wishing to be too personal, it could be a good time to think about treating yourself to a new bra. Salisbury Soroptimists are collecting gently used bras to send to Africa.
The latest Blue Plaque in Salisbury was unveiled on Thursday 13th April on New Street. The Mayor Tom Corbin and Jane Howells jointly pulled the scarf and revealed the plaque to celebrate Frances Hale. The plaque and ceremony were organised by the Salisbury Civic Society in partnership with Salisbury Soroptimists whose project 'Her Salisbury Story' inspired the plaque.
After an absence of five years, the Health and Wellbeing Fair came back to the Civic Centre bigger and better than ever.
Over forty exhibitors ranging from sports and health bodies, to hobbies and support groups met the public to explain how they can help to find their way to better health and wellbeing.
This new National Lottery funding will enable the charity to support more than 100 additional families over 3 years in south Wiltshire. It will also expand its service into Warminster next year.
Chris Jones was awarded an Extra Applause Award in January at the Home-Start UK Volunteer Awards. The nationwide awards recognise and celebrate the amazing contributions of volunteers across the network.
Chris volunteers at the weekly family group in the Friary Community Centre. The group helps parents who are isolated and/or vulnerable, to come together once a week during term time to make friends, get advice and access services.
The Cranborne Chase area which exists between Salisbury and Blandford forum and stretches up towards Warminster. It is an area of great ecological importance, exhibiting exceptionally rich and diverse habitats of local, regional, and international importance.
Though an exciting programme of free training courses, online talks, and on-site surveys, hundreds of volunteers are coming together for the Nurturing Nature project to learn more about the areas vast biodiversity thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Chase & Chalke Landscape Partnership.
The Families and Children Transformation (FACT) Board have invested in the development of Wiltshire Together as the front door for Children and Families services to help make it easier for families in Wiltshire to find the services and support available to them.
The FACT board’s investment has also enabled Wessex Community Action to recruit a Digital & IT Officer, who will be responsible for supporting community groups to get the most out of Wiltshire Together. Offering specific training and regular ongoing monthly support workshops, engaging new services providers and supporting those using Wiltshire Together.
Family charity, Home-Start North Wiltshire (HS), says the £10,000 grant from the Armed Forces Covent Fund Trust (AFCFT) will help local families seeking support and friendship.
Last year, HS helped 79 families and 156 children through weekly home- visiting and group work. Families receive free emotional and practical support to help them cope with challenges such as: isolation, poor health, financial worries, and multiple birth.
The energy paradigm shifted - Two things happened this year that may have changed the energy paradigm forever. The first was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the West’s subsequent dash to wean itself off Russian gas while ramping up renewables.
Lost species returned, others bounced back - The list of endangered species continued to grow at an alarming rate, but some creatures bounced back from the brink in 2022, proving that extinction is not inevitable.
There was progress tackling Cancer & Alzheimer’s - New fronts in the fight against Cancer opened up this year...
Insights from the UK Civil Society Almanac 20200.
Almost a third (30%) of people over 16 years old volunteered with a group, club or organisation at least once in 2020/21. Based on ONS population estimates, this means 16.3m people formally volunteered last year.
Almost one in five (17%) people reported volunteering at least once a month, about 9.2m people.
Across the world, cities adopting a remarkably simple homelessness policy are seeing the numbers of rough sleepers plummet. Now it’s being trialled in the UK, with impressive results.
Homelessness has long been accepted as an inevitable fact of modern city life. But now a strikingly simple policy is making a dramatic impact in helping to all-but eradicate rough sleeping in cities around the world. The crux of the policy? Simply provide homes to people, without any preconditions.
Community Connectors provide truly personal support for people who are frequent attenders at GP surgeries or who attend for primarily social need. The connector works alongside the individual and helps them to reconnect with their lives using their own strengths and resources and those of their community.
The connector works across services, linking in with partner organisations, including drug and alcohol services, housing, social services and third sector groups. They can work with anyone over the age of 18 and do not have an upper age limit.
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