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05/07/2024Dorchester Festival Raises Record Sum for Charity Restore
The recent Dorchester Festival celebrated its tenth anniversary in style, proving itself to be Oxfordshire’s most imaginative and impactful community event. The festival raised a record-breaking £61,800, with the profits shared between local mental health charity Restore and Dorchester Abbey.
Photo by Revd Jane Willis
From 3rd to 12th May, Dorchester festival attracted over 5,000 people with a vibrant mix of 64 events over ten days. Over 6,000 tickets sold and 3,000 pieces of cake eaten! Headliners included the Olivier award-winning ‘Showstopper! The Improvised Musical’, CBeebies megastar Nick Cope, the world-renowned Tallis Scholars, choral legend John Rutter, and folk icon Sam Kelly.
The festival kicked off on a high note as 14 brave volunteers abseiled down the iconic 100-foot Dorchester Abbey tower, collectively raising £12,000. Led by the Bishop of Dorchester, this daring feat set the stage for a series of successful fundraising efforts by Restore integrated through the ten-day programme. Activities included a tea room takeover, a bustling stall featuring local crafts and produce, an online auction and a ten-day raffle. Prizes featured signed memorabilia from Restore patron Monty Panesar, a private dining experience, bespoke garden design package, and dozens more.
Festival Chair, Steph Forman, said: “This year's Dorchester Festival was our biggest and best attended to date and the audience and community response was phenomenal. Despite rising costs we surpassed our previous record by £10,000: this is testament to the unwavering support and enthusiasm of our 200 volunteers and charity partner. We are delighted to have been able to make such a significant donation to the excellent work done by Restore, our partner charity for 2024."
The Dorchester Festival continues to highlight the importance of community, creativity, and charitable giving across Oxfordshire, setting a new benchmark for success. The funds raised will help Restore to continue supporting over 500 adults towards recovery from mental ill health each year, with over 40% of individuals who are coached at Restore moving into employment.
Restore’s CEO, Libby Peppiatt, says “The event has provided an incredible platform to challenge stigma, raise tens of thousands, and open up the conversation about better mental health in our community. From engaging new supporters to hearing heartfelt stories of how Restore has aided in the recovery of local individuals, the festival highlighted the life-changing and sometimes life-saving support Restore offers. We are so grateful to have been a part of such a magical and impactful event."
