RESIDENTS and businesses from West Dorset took part in charity challenges as part of a countywide campaign.

The Do it for Dorset Week fundraising drive was launched to raise money for the most vulnerable people in the county.

It was created by the Dorset Community Foundation trust and one of the week’s organisers, Jennifer Gould, organised a sponsored seven-mile dog walk and picnic between Abbotsbury and West Bexington.

Other local organisations such as the county council have also been urging employees to take part in fundraising activities during the week, which took place between Monday June 15 and Friday June 19.

The Magna Housing Group also joined in with the initiative and held a number of fundraising events.

Graham Colls, chief executive at Magna Housing Group, said: “We are very pleased to be supporting the Do it for Dorset Week initiative this year."

He added: “We have always supported local good causes and fundraising for the Dorset Community Foundation is a great way of reaching out to local people who need support.

“It is all the more relevant to Magna this year as we are doing lots of work on neighbourliness within our communities.”

The money raised is donated to people and groups and charities to vulnerable people such as the elderly and the very young, and also to schemes that offer apprenticeships and help train people with mental health issues for the work.

Magna Housing Group and Cowden Care Farm are the two organisations that have confirmed their Cowden Care Farm, a Charminster-based charity that helps people to develop independent working skills, also held a “onesies and wellies” week to raise funds for other good causes.

The Dorset Community Foundation is a Dorset-wide charity, which since it was established in 2000 the foundation has distributed more than £10 million in grants to local charities and individuals.

For more information about the charity, visit the website at dorsetcommunity foundation.org.