Community Action Network
Local charities, big and small make a phenomenal contribution to our area – we estimate around £158 million a year to the local economy, and that’s before we think about the families they help and the lives they change for the better. The impact of their work in our communities is clear to see but they can also face challenges. CAN are here to champion and support them.
We’re moved to share their stories and successes and give them a much deserved shout out across our social media and website.
We’d like to champion many groups each month, but can only chose one. We usually work around a theme or special day. If you’d like to be considered please contact Hannah Rees - [email protected] who will talk you through the quick and easy process.
Afro*Disiac Radio is named as CAN’s Community Heroes in the Spotlight for October 2022 Read more
Our Community Heroes in the Spotlight for September 2022 are ACTS FAST (Abused Children’s Trauma Support Family Advice Strategy Team) Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for August is The Access to Food Partnership whose mission is for “a Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole where everyone is able to feed themselves and their family nutritious food, all of the time.” Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for July is The Wave Project Dorset – a local charity surf therapy charity who harness the power of the ocean to improve the mental health of children and young people. Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for June is MAST (Men Actively Standing Together) a new project within the charity, Green Front Door. Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for May is MYTIME Young Carers – a local charity with the mission to level the playing field for young carers by providing them with the support, friendship, and opportunities that every child deserves. Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for April is Win on Waste – a local charity which is based around a series of monthly sessions at which they collect hard-to-recycle waste such as crisp packets, Pringles tubes and other mixed-material waste. Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for March is BCHA’s Bournemouth Women’s Refuge to celebrate International Women’s Day and highlight all the great work they do for the women of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for February is Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service (STARS) to mark the importance of raising awareness of sexual violence as it is, for many, a difficult subject to talk or even think about. Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for January is Parks in Mind – an ecotherapy programme meant to help the local green spaces and improve the mental health and wellbeing of those taking part. Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for December is Helping Young Minds. A fantastic local charity that equips young people to face life challenges. Read more
CAN has named The Chatterboxes its Community Hero in the Spotlight in the run up to Anti-Bullying Week (15 – 19 November). Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for October is Untapped Art Therapy – a local social enterprise originally established in 1995. Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for September is a charity that aims to unite people from diverse cultures and work effectively together. Read more
This month, Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs has been chosen by CAN as our Community Hero in the Spotlight which also coincides with International Dog Day on the 26th August. Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for July is The Space Youth project. Read more
Community Action Network (CAN) is celebrating Volunteers’ Week between 1st and 7th June for its Community Heroes in the Spotlight initiative. Read more
The title of Community Hero in the Spotlight for May has been won by “Home-Start South East Dorset”. This is a Dorset charity founded in 1995 and it is all about helping parents create a happy and healthy environment for their children and themselves. Read more
Our Community Hero in the Spotlight for March is The Shine Project – a local charity that commits to see every young girl aged 11-14 develop and maintain good physical and mental health. Read more
Your Planet Doctors, set up in January 2020, is a group of like-minded individuals who care about our planet and everyone’s mental health. Read more
Truth Be Told is a Poole charity has enriched the lives of older people and children during the COVID-19 pandemic with interactive storytelling sessions, delivered online and (when restrictions have allowed it) outdoors. Read more