About
Dorset Community Foundation helps people give back to Dorset to improve the lives of others. Many people in the county face disadvantage, with some living in areas that are among the poorest in the UK, while others struggle with mental health issues, loneliness, disability or discrimination. The Foundation's expertise inspires donors to give to those most in need and, because of the partnerships they form, communities in Dorset have benefitted from £22 million in grants since 2000. The Foundation is part of a UK-wide charitable network of 47 other community foundations managed by UK Community Foundations.
Funding Opportunities
Dorset Welcome Fund
The Dorset Welcome Fund awards grants to local community groups in Dorset to support community action helping refugees and asylum seekers of any nationality who are arriving, residing, or settling in Dorset. The fund supports activities focused on wellbeing, community cohesion, and participation in community activities. Examples include community events and social activities to address isolation, wellbeing and mental health services, cultural heritage activities, advice and advocacy support, English language skills development, employment and volunteering pathways, and provision of practical items to address hardship. Priority is given to groups working collaboratively with clear referral routes that bring tangible improvements to quality of life for refugees and asylum seekers. Grants of up to £5,000 are available to support new or existing activities, with funded activities required to start within two months of award and grants to be spent within 12 months. The fund is currently closed.
Community Wellbeing and Mental Health Fund
The Community Wellbeing and Mental Health Fund supports community-based non-clinical services and activities for adults aged 18+ across Dorset (including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole). Delivered in partnership with Community Action Network (CAN) and funded by NHS Dorset, this programme aims to strengthen early intervention and preventative mental health support in the community. The fund supports activities that help people improve their wellbeing and mental health, build resilience, find their own solutions, and lead independent lives while reducing the need for NHS appointments and clinical intervention. Priority is given to services supporting communities experiencing health inequalities, including people in areas of high deprivation and inclusion health groups. Examples of eligible activities include social/support groups for people experiencing isolation and loneliness, facilitated support groups for people with shared experiences, green social prescribing activities, dementia-friendly activities, support groups for carers, and supported music, crafting or sports activities focusing on wellbeing outcomes.
Neighbourhood Fund
The Neighbourhood Fund supports grassroots community groups delivering services and activities that address a broad range of local social issues, problems, poverty and disadvantage. Grants help local groups to improve the lives of those most in need of support. The fund prioritises smaller community groups with annual expenditure under £250,000. In the last round, 62% of applicants were successful and the average grant was £3,800. Priority may be given to groups that work in partnership with other providers, involve service users in the design of services, and where the service/activities are easy to access with clear referral routes. The fund has two particular areas of interest: services that support older people to lead more active, healthy and independent lives (addressing social isolation and loneliness, declining health, poor access to services and support for carers), and services that support people experiencing mental health issues, including those with diagnosed conditions and early intervention work (addressing low self-esteem and personal aspirations, relationship difficulties, unhealthy coping behaviours and other issues). Applications do not need to be for new services. The fund can support the continuation of existing services that are delivering evidenced outcomes, the expansion or adaption of these services in line with local needs or increased demand, piloting new ways of working or launch of new services.
Wessex Water Community Fund
The Wessex Water Community Fund supports community-based activities or projects that meet a local need and seek to improve the lives of local people who are most in need of support. The fund is being delivered across the South West by Quartet, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire Community Foundations. The programme aims to support activities that are informed by the people or community it seeks to serve and have considerable reach and wide community benefit. Priority is given to work that takes place in areas of multiple deprivation or rural isolation where people lack access to local services, helps build stronger communities by enabling people to work together and create solutions to local challenges, and helps people take steps to manage or avoid debt and build their financial capability. This programme is targeted at groups and organizations where a small amount of money can make a significant difference, with grants of up to £4,000 available for new activity or continuing existing work. Activities funded must start within six months of the award and groups have up to 12 months to spend the grant. The fund particularly welcomes applications from groups led by diverse and ethnically minoritised communities.
EDC Project Fund for Strength and Sustainability
The EDC Project Fund for Strength and Sustainability is part of a wider partnership project called the EDC Project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund for three years from April 2024 to March 2027. The Fund supports community groups that represent and support ethnically diverse communities in the BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) area. The project is delivered by a partnership of local agencies including Community Action Network (CAN), Dorset Community Foundation, Dorset Race Equality Council (DREC), and BCP Council. The fund awards grants of up to £3,000 for training, consultation, technology, or projects that will strengthen governance, sustainability, and skills. The funding programme has been co-designed with groups already engaged with the EDC Project and aims to distribute £40,000 per year for each of the three years. This is an invitation-only funding programme available exclusively to groups that are actively engaging with a Capacity Building Officer at CAN. The EDC Project aims to provide support for local groups led by people from ethnically diverse communities to maximize the success of long-term delivery of their activities, helping groups become more sustainable, have strong governance, be better able to apply for grants, and run as efficiently as possible.
Wessex Water Environment Fund
The Wessex Water Environment Fund supports charitable and community activities that improve local biodiversity or have a positive impact on the local environment for local people in Dorset or Ringwood. The fund is delivered in partnership with Wessex Water through Dorset Community Foundation. Applications must demonstrate involvement of communities in environmental activities, restoration or enhancement of the local natural environment, or engagement of people in supporting the natural environment. Priority areas include reduction in water use, improving environmental sustainability in the local area, and improvements in local biodiversity. The main focus is on achieving positive outcomes for the environment and activities with direct environmental impact. Examples of previously funded projects include restoration of wildlife ponds, litter picking activities, community tree planting, community gardens with rainwater harvesting, community beehives and bee-friendly corridors, and education projects promoting environmental sustainability behaviors.
The Lord-Lieutenant's Fund for Young and Talented
The Lord-Lieutenant's Fund for Young and Talented aims to ensure that every young person has the same opportunities to develop their sporting talent regardless of background, financial or personal circumstances. The fund seeks to 'level the playing field' by providing financial support to talented young sports people in Dorset. Grants of up to £1,000 are awarded to help young athletes overcome financial barriers and fulfill their potential. The funding can be used for kit/clothing costs, competition fees, coaching, travel costs and accommodation expenses. Applicants must demonstrate sporting talent that has been recognised or acknowledged by an appropriate national governing body and must be unable to achieve their ambitions without help due to financial or personal circumstance. Up to three grants may be awarded to an individual over a period of time, provided the applicant has shown real improvement and requires further support in order to progress further.
Superior STEM Bursary Fund
In partnership with leading Wimborne engineering company Superior, the Superior STEM Bursary Fund supports disadvantaged young people aged 16-25 on STEM courses with bursaries of up to £1,500. The scheme is intended to assist young people attending further education courses in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics). Applicants must be residents of a specific area in Dorset and plan to attend a STEM course at Bournemouth and Poole College, Brockenhurst College or Bourne Academy Sixth Form. Applicants must be aged 16 to 25 who live on a family income of less than £30,000 or have other challenges including care leavers or cared for young people, those who have caring responsibilities for other members of their family, disabled young people and those with special educational needs. Grants of up to £1,500 may be used to support essential costs associated with the course including required equipment or clothing, course fees, travel costs, and IT equipment.
DCF Bursary Scheme
The DCF Bursary Scheme supports Dorset residents between the ages of 16-25 who are enrolled in vocational (job-related) courses. Bursaries of up to £1,000 are available to assist young people attending vocational, further education courses. The scheme is intended to help students cover essential costs associated with their course, including travel costs, required equipment or clothing, essential study trips, IT equipment, and meals at college. Applications are accepted in five annual rounds, with decisions typically made within 6-8 weeks of each deadline. Applicants must attend one of the participating colleges or sixth form colleges in the Dorset area and must have applied for their college or sixth form bursary before applying for the DCF bursary.
At a Glance
- Total Funding Opportunities
- 11
- Active Now
- 9
- Source Domain
- dorsetcommunityfoundation.org
Catalog Data
This funder profile was automatically extracted from grant listings. Information may be incomplete.
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