The Do It for Dorset Campaign is a joint initiative between Daily Echo and the Dorset Community Foundation – a registered charity dedicated to promoting charitable giving and grant-making for charities and community groups across the county.

The Foundation works with secret millionaires, family businesses and companies that want to give back to their community.

The Do It for Dorset Campaign aims to raise awareness and funds for charities signed up to localgiving.com – where donors and volunteers can find out a bit more and support them.

The Infectious Academy is a local charity which works to transform lives, build community and challenge assumptions through relationship, performance and training.

They welcome around 180 people a week, from age 5 to 55, to their street dance and singing classes and also hold community events, run self-esteem courses, activity residential trips and develop young leaders.

Everyone is welcome at Infectious, whatever their age, size or ability.

Infectious began on Turlin Moor in 2001, when Nikila Newman started teaching street dance to get young people from this socially deprived area, involved in a positive activity. They aim to strengthen the community by developing future leaders to achieve sustainable change and empower people to make a difference locally.

Their members have greater self-confidence, opportunities for leadership in a safe, non-judgmental environment and are encouraged to be the best they can be.

School teachers, local shop owners and the police have all commented on the positive impact and difference Infectious are making to the well-being of the entire community.

People are impressed by the positive attitude and creativity of their dancers and singers. Barriers are being broken down as they encourage more people to come onto an estate that has a stigma attached to it.

Support the charity direct at: https://localgiving.com/charity/infectious.

Main Contact: Sally or Lisa, accounts@infectiousacademy.org, 07850 369215 If you are a charity, sports club, village hall or a community group and would like to join the Do It for Dorset campaign, please contact our localgiving.com Manager – Tracy Melling on 01202 315952.