Try This… Dorchester is a volunteer-led project, supported by a variety of small funding grants that offers a broad range of activities and learning opportunities to local residents. Having run successfully for two consecutive years, the project is now gearing up for an even bigger and better 2015.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to unionlearn for providing Try This… not only with a funding grant but with a committee member who has supported the cause from the very beginning.

Try This… is a festival of people teaching other people what they know and what they can do. Running for a week in the autumn, Try This… invites you to open your mind a bit, learn something you've always wanted to learn or something you've never even heard of before.

Over 30 one or two hour sessions are scheduled in venues across the town and all are led by members of the local community completely free of charge. Every session is free, accessible, and anyone is welcome to attend.

I first came up with the idea for Try This... at a workshop run by the RSA in collaboration with the Oxford Hub entitled 'Empty Shop Talk'. The premise of this evening was to think of ways through which an abundance of recently vacated shops on Britain's high streets could be used for social good.

My inspiration came particularly from the wonderful Trade School initiative in New York. Having grown up in Dorchester, I was aware of the number of highly skilled members of our community who were generous and enthusiastic, but had no easy way of sharing their skills and knowledge with those to whom it could make a difference. Luckily, a group of local professionals and volunteers agreed with me and together we built a committee with which to pilot the scheme.

Back in 2013, making Try This... a six-day festival gave it momentum, focus and identity. We were able to schedule 36 of the sessions offered by members of the public, including 'Get back on your bike', 'Getting started with family history', 'How tax works', 'Everyday first aid' and 'Running for sofa lovers'.

Overall, the festival was a success; not only the figures but the verbal feedback was very encouraging, and approximately 300 people got involved in the project. Most encouragingly, 100% of our 2013 session leaders told us that they would run a similar session again. What else could we do but begin to organise Try This… 2014?

Since that point, Try This… Dorchester has been growing in size as well as stability. Most importantly, we continue to see the positive impact of Try This… after each year's festival: in 2013, at least 3 session leaders decided to run regular sessions in the town as a result of the project, and other established groups gained new members.

Undoubtedly, it is the wonderful folk of Dorchester and the particular social ethos of this town that allowed Try This… to succeed as it has. Nonetheless, I am certain that there are ways to extend its positive impact beyond our borders and to encourage other communities across the country to 'Try This…'.