Dorset Coronavirus Community Fund – Phase 2 (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 28-Aug-20

The Dorset Community Foundation is currently seeking applications for its Coronavirus Community Fund 2020.

The Dorset Coronavirus Community Fund supports local charities and voluntary organisations that are assisting some of Dorset’s most vulnerable people during the Coronavirus epidemic.

Aims & Priorities

• The overall aim of the Fund is to effectively and efficiently support local voluntary and community organisations that are helping vulnerable people impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
• Under phase 1 they have supported groups providing services to address immediate needs until the end of September 2020. Phase 2 will see grant making transition from the initial immediate relief to a longer-term emergency phase, looking to support those who are suffering hardship as a result of the short and long term economic and social consequences caused by COVID-19.
• Priority will be given to groups who are reaching the most vulnerable or at greatest risk of negative social, health or economic impact as a result of COVID-19. Groups funded in phase 1 will NOT be given higher or lower priority; applications will be prioritised according to how closely they address Phase 2 Criteria.
• ONLY groups with annual expenditure less than £500,000, according to latest accounts, are eligible (This is due to the amount available for distribution against anticipated high demand and is in line with usual priorities as a Community Foundation, to support small grassroots groups.)

Funding Information

• You can apply for EITHER
  • Fast track grants of up to £2000 for groups with more immediate funding needs and addressing immediate community needs – grants must be used within 3 months of award
• OR one of the following
  • Grants of up to £5000 for groups looking to address the longer term emergency of Coronavirus and its social, health or economic impact – grants can support services/activities up to 31st March 2021.
  • Grants of up to £10,000 will be considered for partnership applications where two or more groups are delivering a joint service – grants can support services/activities up to 31st March 2021.
    • A ‘lead partner’ should submit the application and disperse funding to partner groups if successful
    • Groups are encouraged to speak to the Grants Manager before submitting.

Activities

Funding will be targeted at services/activities that:

• Support vulnerable people continuing to self-isolate such as the elderly, people with pre-existing medical conditions etc.
• Support the ongoing needs of vulnerable people to ensure that their health & wellbeing is maintained.
• Support vulnerable people to increase their independence and reduce the impact of social isolation.
• Support those in financial hardship caused by the pandemic, including food poverty.
• Support those with mental health needs, where there are increased risks & needs as a result of the crisis
• Support communities identified as disproportionately affected by this pandemic including BAME communities; People with disabilities and chronic health conditions; low income families; carers; refugees and homeless people

Funding may also now be offered to:

• Replace income lost directly due to the Covid-19 crisis; only available where services/activities are now being delivered and are supporting vulnerable people experiencing negative social, health or economic impact as a result of COVID-19 as per Fund criteria – In these cases additional financial information may be required following your application
• Support organisations to adapt to the crisis such as renting larger premises to accommodate social distancing requirements, recruiting different staff to reflect changing service needs, capacity building or organisational development
• Prevent problems emerging or getting worse.

All organisations should adhere to government guidelines regarding social distancing, self-isolation & shielding.

Exclusions

• Individuals cannot apply
• National charities cannot apply
• Statutory bodies such as City and County Councils or health institutions cannot apply
• Parish and Town councils cannot apply
• Schools cannot apply and PTA groups cannot be funded to support the delivery of education (including adapted/online delivery) or improvements to premises
• Grants that are solely for the provision of cash bursaries to individuals or families are not eligible
• Retrospective grants for expenditure already incurred are not eligible, unless the application is to replace loss of income caused directly by Coronavirus.

Eligibility Criteria

• Organisations that can apply (must have annual expenditure less than £500,000):
  • Registered Charities including Charitable Incorporated Organisations
  • Constituted Community Groups
  • Community Benefit Societies
  • Social Enterprises (companies limited by guarantee with a not-for-profit clause)
  • CICs (must be limited by guarantee and have community benefit objectives)
  • Churches and religious organisations (if funded activities are not promoting religion)
  • New and emerging groups.
  • All of the above must be local or regional organisations; local branches of national charities are eligible if they are financially independent and separately managed.
• All organisations (apart from New & Emerging Groups) must have:
  • A management committee, Trustees or Board of Directors with at least 3 unrelated members
  • 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
  • If the organisation has less than 6 months history of service delivery they should also provide the name and contact details of a referee from an established voluntary organisation who can endorse them.
• Alternatives for New & Emerging groups:
  • New & Emerging groups are those with less than 6 months service delivery experience. These groups can apply for grants of up to £2000 only and should:
    • Provide the name and contact details of a referee organisation who can endorse you AND receive/manage the money on your behalf. Your referee organisation should be an established voluntary sector organisation or Town/Parish Council, and the individual providing the reference should not be an active member of your group (although they may be working with you)
    • Face to face activities with vulnerable residents will be considered carefully by the panel as emerging groups are unlikely to have formal Safeguarding training, policy & procedures. They will NOT fund new & emerging groups for direct unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults.

For more information, visit https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/dorset-coronavirus-community-fund/