Deadline: 7-Oct-22
The Dorset Community Foundation is seeking applications for the Dorset Welcome Fund to support local community groups offering activities and services to welcome and support refugees of any nationality who are arriving, residing or settling in Dorset.
The Dorset Welcome Fund Fund will award grants to local community groups, to support immediate community action to help refugees of any nationality arriving, residing or settling in Dorset. Work must take place in the Dorset Council area.
Funding Information
Grants of up to £4,000 are available – or up to £1,500 for new groups who have been operating less than 12 months.
Activities
The Fund anticipate funding a range of activities and services such as (but not limited to):
- Supply of practical personal or household items to address hardship such as clothing, bedding, mobile phones
- Community events and social activities to welcome refugees, address isolation and support people to connect with other refugees and the wider community
- Befriending support
- Advice and Advocacy support
- Mental health services
- childcare to support parents to attend ESOL or other appointments
Eligibility Criteria
- 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.
- Work must take place within the DORSET COUNCIL AREA – if this changes, will will notify groups via the Grant Alert system.
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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)
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To be eligible the organisation must have:
- A management committee or board of trustees/directors with at least three 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 required for payments
- An appropriate Safeguarding Policy
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New and emerging groups (those operating less than six months):
- New and emerging groups who do not currently meet the eligibility rules may apply for a grant if they can identify an established voluntary sector organisation that is willing to accept grant funds on behalf of the group and take responsibility for the use of the funds – please ask this organisation to email them to confirm
- New and emerging groups may be required to attend Safeguarding as a condition of the grant award
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 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 Dorset Community Foundation.
For more information, visit https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/funds/dorset-welcome-fund/