Grant funding has enabled rural media charity Windrose, known for its film archive of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire life, to forge ahead with new community-based work.

All its current projects had been cancelled or postponed because of the Covid19 pandemic.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has helped Windrose with a grant of £30,000 to fund a range of work, including ensuring the film archive continues to be looked after and used and also allowing the team to work on the creation of future projects.

Windrose director Trevor Bailey said: “We want to be active and doing some good in the present situation.”

One new project that will be doing just that is a partnership with Age UK North, West & South Dorset funded by a £5,000 grant from Dorset Community Foundation.

“We will be contacting and interviewing older people isolated at home, by telephone or Zoom, to record their memories and life stories,” Mr Bailey said. ‘The recordings will then be shared with other older people and, via websites, with the wider public.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has also funded an initiative to publicise Windrose, its work and the resources it has available much more effectively than before.

“This is something which we have never been able to do before. It has always been one of our greatest inadequacies. Now we have on board a professional in PR who knows our work.” Mr Bailey said.

And Arts Council funding of £14,016 is supporting a project combining old films and live singing for groups, assisted by Alzheimer’s Support Wiltshire.

“It works beautifully to involve people and stimulate memories,” Mr Bailey said. “The difference is that we are now going to deliver it online by involving carers using Zoom.”

“All this is happening over only the next few months but it is really encouraging to know that we have the means to pursue new ideas, involve new people and reach out to the community as never before.”

Windrose was set up in 1984 under its earlier name of Trilith. It uses the visual and audio media for educational, archival and creative work in rural communities throughout Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Over the years, it has presented 256 archive film shows in village halls, cinemas, theatres and arts centres. Windrose has also created a huge range of media projects for local communities.