Excellent report for St Mary’s

after a merger between Wimborne Academy Trust and Minerva Learning Trust.

Headteacher Kate Batorska said: “The report is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our staff, and the efforts of our pupils. We have a clear vision about building a caring community and everything stems from this. Christian values lead to a loving environment.” The report also said: ‘watching over one another in love, is the spontaneous culture of the school’ and that a ‘language of expectation, challenge and next steps, flow across learning’. It also noted how pupils were instrumental in making the school ‘plastic free’ and had written to supermarkets calling for policy change and had even visited parliament to lobby the Government. Liz West, chief executive officer of Initio Learning Trust, said: “This is a fantastic report. “Rarely do you see one as positive as this and I know staff there will continue to maintain the incredibly high standards they have set.”

£300k Lotto windfall a boost for mental health

Burrough Harmony mental health and wellbeing centre in Bridport is celebrating after being awarded £299,086 from The National Lottery Community Fund.

Harmony will use the funding to continue the development of their mental health and wellbeing services to meet local needs, take on more staff and improve facilities.

Centre trustee Ali Cliffe said: “Thanks to this National Lottery funding, we can develop our capacity and, working in partnership with other local organisations, provide a better mental health and wellbeing hub for the benefit of the whole community.”

Carrie Gamble, the centre’s services manager, said: “This will make a big difference to people’s lives.”

Hunter’s gatherers bring in £10,500 for Parkinson’s

Regulars at the Hunter’s Moon pub in Sherborne raised £10,500 for Parkinson’s UK. They raised the cash throughout 2022 with a series of events including Easter bingo, a 24-hour cycling challenge, summer and Christmas markets and quiz nights.

Landlord Dean Mortimer said fundraisers chose to support Parkinson’s UK after his friend started showing symptoms of the illness.

He added: “I’m glad to say that this person is now in a happier state of mind with the help and support of the Parkinson’s charity, The Michael J Fox Foundation and, of course, the local hub and his nearest and dearest.

“We at The Hunter’s Moon soon realised that so many of our friends and customers had or knew someone affected by Parkinson’s.”