Deadline: Ongoing Opportunity
The Dorset Community Foundation has announced the South West Enterprise Fund for young people in Dorset who need support with business start up costs that they would otherwise not be able to afford, and particularly those who are not in education, employment or training.
Funding Information
- The South West Enterprise Fund awards grants of up to £2,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- You can apply if you:
- Are aged 18 to 30
- Currently live in the county of Dorset
- Are from a low income household or facing other challenges preventing you from developing your business
- Are running a business that has been trading for under two years (including those about to start a new business)
Criteria
- If you meet the above criteria you can apply for a grant of up to £2,000, regardless of your background or how well you did in education. The grant can be used for equipment, materials, stock or services you need in order to get your business running or support the development of the business. You cannot apply for your salary or living costs.
- If you ask for £500 or less and are successful, you will be able to re-apply for a second grant at a later stage. Very early stage businesses should consider if an initial smaller grant is helpful, before applying for a larger amount.
- They need you to tell them about your business in your application form, and how a grant would help you to make it more successful or support start up costs. Please provide a breakdown of specific costs to help them understand how you would use the grant, with weblinks if appropriate. Avoid general terms like ‘marketing’ that do not provide enough detail about how you will spend the grant.
- They need you to send them a copy of a recent bank statement (no more than three months old) to confirm your account details, should you be successful.
- They also need a reference to support your application. Your referee should be a person who can tell them about your character or abilities and can confirm your circumstances. It might be a tutor, support worker or someone who you have worked for.
For more information, visit https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/funds/south-west-enterprise-fund/