Exceptional Grants

Event staff at outdoor cheese festival

Supporting Our Community Through Cheese

The Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival is far more than a celebration of great food. 

As part of our commitment to give back to good causes we will support large charity projects to help communities.

Yewstock Mini Bus

In 2025, the Cheese Festival, working in partnership with the Sturminster Newton Rotary Club, was proud to award Yewstock School sufficient funding to purchase a replacement minibus for their previous vehicle, which had reached the end of its operational life.

Yewstock School provides education and specialist support for children and young people with complex needs, creating opportunities for pupils to learn, grow, and develop in a safe and supportive environment. Reliable transport is an essential part of that provision, enabling students to access experiences beyond the classroom.

The new minibus will allow the school to continue offering a wide range of off-site educational visits and enrichment activities. These outings help pupils build confidence, develop independence, and engage with the wider community, while gaining a better understanding of the world beyond their families and the school setting.

For many pupils, these experiences are invaluable. Visits into the community can support social development, communication skills, and life skills that are difficult to replicate solely within a classroom environment. Having suitable and dependable transport ensures these opportunities can continue for years to come.

This grant reflects what the Cheese Festival is all about. Every ticket purchased, every trader attending, and every volunteer giving their time helps generate funds that can be reinvested into worthwhile local causes. Supporting organisations such as Yewstock School is a clear example of how the festival benefits the wider community long after the event weekend has ended.

We are delighted that the festival has been able to play a part in helping Yewstock School continue its outstanding work and support the young people and families who rely on it.

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THANK YOU

Every person who attends the festival contributes to the success of this charitable effort. Whether you visit for the cheese, the music, or simply the atmosphere, you are helping support local charities and community projects.

And for that, we are incredibly grateful.