The Society of Dorset Men have made a £500 donation to the Equilibrium Skills Base in Sturminster Newton- part of £4,800 given by the Society to purely Dorset good causes over two and a half years.
The presentation was made by the Society’s Vice Chairman Andy Prowse to three of the tutors at the Sturminster Newton training centre.
The project was founded in February 2012, to teach basic skills in horticulture, vehicle mechanics, building and forestry. The students are all local people aged 16 to 25, brought to the centre by coach from Gillingham, Shaftesbury and Blandford.
Dorset Catering & Hospitality tutor Adele Miller teaches eight young people in her purpose-built kitchen, not only cooking skills, but teamworking and adapting to the hospitality industry. Food safety, costs & menu planning, preparing and cooking different foods are all part of the 22 week course.
Mark Frowd, who hails from Puddletown, shows the students how to maintain and repair cars and motorcycles, in a well equipped workshop, Vehicles which have failed the MoT test are often donated to the centre for students to practice their skills.
Brian Charman, originally from Sussex, imparts his lifelong knowledge of forestry, aiming to improve the Dorset habitat for the future and teaches the safe use of tools like chain saws. Planting techniques, plant production and turf care are part of the course.
Adele Mills says: “the Equilibrium Skills Base aims to make those not in employment, education or training [NEETs] fit for the employment market with employability skills.” Around 40 males and females undertake the various courses on offer at any one time.
Andrew Prowse, Vice Chairman of The Society of Dorset Men comments: “We are always keen to encourage Dorset young people into employment and the future of our county will depend on the skills being acquired by those being trained at the Equilibrium Skills Base.”
The Society of Dorset Men was founded on 7 July 1904. The Society has a long and rich history, beginning as the Society of Dorset Men in London and aiming to bring together fellow Dorsets in the capital city. However, since the 1950s, the main activities of the organisation have been centred on Dorset. Today, there are around 1,200 members throughout the UK and all over the world. The President is Oscar winner and ITV Downton Abbey playwright Lord Fellowes of West Stafford DL. He succeeded Sir Anthony Jolliffe GBE DL DSc DMus in 2011, the only Lord Mayor of London to be born in Weymouth, who still lives in Wyke Regis.
The four objects of The Society of Dorset Men are: “to make and to renew personal friendships and associations, to promote good fellowship among Dorset men wherever they may reside, to foster love of the county and pride in its history and traditions and to assist, by every means in its power, natives of Dorset who may stand in need of the influence and help of the Society.”
The Society of Dorset Men gave £3,800 to Dorset good causes during 2011 and 2012. The recipients were: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra £500; Bournemouth Youth Cancer Trust £200; Dorset County Hospital Mammogram Appeal £500; Dorset Echo Toy Appeal £200 & £100; Dorset Youth Association £350; Julia’s House £500; Will Mackaness Trust £500, Poole Sailability £250; St James’ Church, Poole £100; Tornadoes of South Dorset £350, Weymouth Sea Cadets £250. £500 was given to the West Dorset Womens’ Refuge earlier this year, so the £500 for the Equilibrium Skills Base makes a total of £4,800.
Michel Hooper-Immins
