Deadline: 13-Jan-23
The Dorset Community Foundation (DCF) is seeking applications for the Neighborhood Fund to support local community groups whose work addresses local issues, social problems, poverty and disadvantage.
Priorities
- The Neighborhood Fund supports grassroots community groups delivering local services/activities that address a broad range of social issues. Grants help local groups to improve the lives of those most in need of support. They want the grants to support and reflect the diversity of the county and they welcome applications from groups supporting diverse communities including communities who may be facing discrimination.
- 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 outlined, the Fund has two particular areas of interest and applications working in these areas may be prioritized:
- 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 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 behaviors 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 Neighborhood 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
- Organizations that can apply:
- Registered Charities
- Constituted Community and Voluntary Organizations
- 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 organization must have:
- At least 3 unrelated people responsible for running the organization (for registered charities these are your Trustees, for CICs/Social Enterprises these are your Directors)
- A written constitution or set of rules that sets out the purpose and management of the organization
- A bank account in the name of the organization with at least two unrelated check signatures required for payments
- An appropriate Safeguarding Policy
Exclusions
- Schools are not eligible but they can fund PTA groups if they meet the 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 organizations
- They cannot offer retrospective funding for items already purchased or work completed
- Organizations with more than 12 months’ unrestricted reserves are usually not funded
For more information, visit DCF.