Youth Charity in Poundbury wins national award for outstanding contribution to community

By Kerry Smith

PiP café and community hub, on The Great Field in Poundbury is absolutely thrilled to have been awarded The Kings Foundations - "Building a Legacy" outstanding contribution to community award for 2025.

The award recognises one organisation a year that has been created in a new development and has brought cohesion, bonding and created a place where people feel welcomed and want to be.

PiP opened in the heart of lockdown in 2021 on what had been a desolate playing field in Poundbury, before the investment by the Duchy of Cornwall into a wonderful playpark, a mile of paths, the planting of more than 500 trees and the creation of a fantastic open space for the community to enjoy.

Helena Conibear Founder of The Talk About Trust Charity, who, with her wonderful Trustees had the vision for PiP, (having previously been based in a garden garage) , commented : ‘ PiP is the embodiment of what can happen when you bring people together to brainstorm what a new community needs.

At Poundbury it was a space that was inclusive offering free events and clubs for everyone of all ages, incomes and abilities who live here or in the local villages around.

Consultation with residents and local school children also showed they wanted PiP to be eco-friendly, to offer good value refreshments, shelter and supervision of the planned park to ensure it would be a safe and welcoming community space.

We’re proud to say that with more than 20 clubs and groups running from PiP, from the weekly park run, to the digital drop in, the senior social, teen hang out, youth club and holiday clubs, we are delivering on that vision thanks to the wonderful volunteers, partners and organisations as well as the staff at PiP that make it not only possible, but a joy to provide’

Ben Bolgar MVO Director of The King’s Foundation commented ‘We were delighted to award the President’s Award this year to PiP for their outstanding work in the heart of the community.

This is the only award with a financial contribution and we very much hope that both the award and contribution will allow the charity to have even greater impact and transform more lives in the future.’

The Talk About Trust is a national youth charity, based in Poundbury that works nationally to support children and young adults age 8 – 25 with the knowledge, skills and resilience to make safer choices around drugs, alcohol and other substances. Our mission is to keep young people safe around alcohol and drugs, improve life chances and reduce negative risk taking. We support teachers, parents, carers, community leaders and those under 25. talkabouttrust.org

The King's Foundation is a global charity founded by King Charles III in 1990, rooted in his philosophy of Harmony. It delivers education, public services, and consultancy across sectors like sustainability, traditional arts, health, and architecture to build sustainable communities and transform lives.