Deadline: 14-Jan-22
The Dorset Community Foundation (DCF) is seeking applications for the Neighbourhood Fund to support local community groups whose work addresses local issues, social problems, poverty and disadvantage.
Priorities
- The Neighbourhood Fund supports local charities and community groups whose work addresses local issues, social problems, poverty and disadvantage due to age, illness, disability, isolation, discrimination or financial hardship.
- Priority may be given to groups that work in partnership with other providers, involve service users in the design of services and invite feedback, and where the service/activities are easy to access with clear referral routes. They are looking to support services that effect positive change and bring tangible improvements to quality of life for Dorset residents.
- In addition to the broad objectives of the fund, the Fund has two particular areas of interest and applications working in these areas may be prioritised:
- 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)
- Services that support those with mental health problems, including those with diagnosed conditions and early intervention (addressing low self-esteem and personal aspirations, relationship difficulties, unhealthy coping behaviours and other issues)
Funding Information
- Grants of up to £5,000 are available.
- The activities funded must start within 2 months of the award and groups have up to 12 months to spend the grant.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Neighbourhood Fund prioritises smaller community groups, therefore, applications made by groups with annual expenditure over £250,000 will not usually be considered by the panel.
- Groups must be local to Dorset. They do not fund national charities but can fund local branches if they are managed separately and financially independent
- Organisations that can apply:
- Registered Charities
- Constituted Community and Voluntary Organisations
- Community Interest Companies
- Social Enterprises (companies limited by guarantee that have a clear not-for-profit clause in their governing document and clear charitable or social objectives)
- To be eligible the organisation must have:
- A management committee or board of Trustees/Directors with at least 3 unrelated people
- A written constitution or set of rules that sets out the purpose and management of the organisation
- A bank account in the name of the organisation with at least two unrelated cheque signatories
- An appropriate Safeguarding Policy
Exclusions
- Schools are not eligible but they can fund PTA groups if they meet their eligibility guidelines
- They cannot fund the promotion of religion or political causes
- They cannot fund public bodies to carry out their statutory obligations
- They cannot fund animal welfare organisations
- They cannot offer retrospective funding for items already purchased or work completed
- Organisations with more than 12 months’ unrestricted reserves are usually not funded.
For more information, visit https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/funds/neighbourhood-fund/