Small Charities. Big Impact - Celebrating Small Charity Week 22-29 June

Small Charity Week is a national moment to recognise something we see every day in Wiltshire: small charities make a big difference.

Across the county, small charities are rooted in their communities. They listen. They respond. They step in where they’re needed most. Whether it’s supporting people through a crisis, offering practical help, or creating opportunities for people to thrive, small charities are where real change happens.

At Wessex Community Action, we see this up close through our work as the Council for Voluntary Services for Wiltshire. And as a small charity ourselves, we know just how much dedication, creativity and heart goes into keeping local support going.

Right now, communities are under pressure. Demand is rising. Costs are rising. Many organisations are stretched. Yet small charities continue to show up every single day, creating connection, support and hope. That’s why Small Charity Week matters - it’s a chance to celebrate that impact and back the organisations making it happen.

Small Charities Making a Big Difference in Wiltshire

Wiltshire is full of small charities doing extraordinary work. Here are just a few examples of the impact happening quietly, consistently, and often without recognition:

Waste Not Want Not in Chippenham rescues furniture and household items that would otherwise go to waste, giving them a new life with families who need them. Their work reduces waste, supports people on low incomes and strengthens the local community.

Warminster Action Group provides practical help to people, from emergency food and essentials to advice, signposting and community support. They are often the first place people turn when they don’t know where else to go.

Home-Start North Wiltshire supports parents through the early years of family life. Their trained volunteers offer emotional and practical help to families who are struggling, helping children have the best possible start.

Devizes Open Doors offers a warm welcome, hot meals, support and companionship to people who are homeless or vulnerable. Their volunteers create a safe space where people are treated with dignity and kindness.

These organisations and hundreds more like them, are the backbone of community life in Wiltshire. They fill gaps, solve problems and bring people together in ways that larger systems simply can’t.

Our Impact in Wiltshire

As a small charity ourself, we’re proud of the difference we make by strengthening the voluntary and community sector across the county.

Shaping local partnership and policy

• We helped shape the Wiltshire Council VCSE Partnership Framework, improving how the council and the voluntary sector work together.

• We provided evidence that supported the creation of the Wiltshire Community Lottery, opening new fundraising opportunities for local causes.

• We highlighted the pressures facing charities including rising costs and closures, gaining local media attention and amplifying the sector’s concerns.

Supporting people and organisations

• 75 people and groups supported so far in 2026 with volunteering, funding and governance advice.

• 11 events and forums hosted in 2026 so far, bringing people together to share learning, build confidence and strengthen connections.

What people say

“These sessions (The Volunteer Managers Forum) have been incredibly valuable to me, offering practical guidance, new perspectives, and the kind of support that strengthens both confidence and capability in a leadership role.”

“I think the service that Wessex Community Action provides is vital and so important to us. We are particularly grateful for your support for our fundraising and volunteers.”

Why Small Charities Matter

Small charities are often the first to spot a need and the last to give up on finding a solution. They are trusted, local and deeply connected to the people they serve. They bring compassion, flexibility and understanding that larger systems can’t always offer.

Their impact is huge not because of their size, but because of their commitment.

This week, we celebrate every small charity in Wiltshire and beyond. Your work strengthens communities. Your work changes lives. And your work deserves recognition.