SMALL grants totalling more than £84,000 will make a big impact for grassroots community groups and charities thanks to donors who have supported Dorset Community Foundation’s Neighbourhood Fund.
This is the second round of the fund, which supports groups across Dorset with less than £250,000 in revenue, this year. A previous round awarded more than £139,000 to 37 groups.
Among the recipients was Poole Men’s Shed, which will use a £4,000 grant to buy an extra storage container to create space for a second building to be used as a social room and craft workshop at its base in Leareoyd Road. “It will also enable us to provide social activities more days a week as we will not have to hire somewhere as we do now,” said Chair Ian Price.
He said the shed, which provides workshops and materials for men and women, is an important part of its members’ lives:
“Men have a tendency to become isolated when they have a life change, such as bereavement or redundancy. Men’s Sheds is a concept designed to address this by using access to a workshop as encouragement, and our growth in numbers demonstrates their need and value.”
The Crumbs Project in Bournemouth will use a £5,000 grant towards running its hospitality training for people facing adults facing significant barriers to employment, including disabilities, neurodivergence, mental health conditions, addictions and brain injuries.
Fundraiser Millie Capon said the Hibberd Road charity, which this year celebrates its 30th year, is facing rising costs of fresh ingredients for its training kitchen, where learners receive hands-on experience of food preparation, cooking, service, and teamwork.
She said:
“This funding will ensure we can continue delivering consistent, high-quality sessions without reducing opportunities or limiting participation.”
An ageing kitchen at Alderholt Village Hall, near Blandford, can be upgraded thanks to a £3,000 grant to the village hall trust. The kitchen, which supports community groups and fundraising events, no longer meets modern health and safety expectations, said trustee Wendy Hood.
She said:
“The project will benefit residents of all ages and backgrounds, ensuring that our village hall is a safe, accessible, and valued part of community life.”
Powered by Youth in Poole was awarded £2,310 towards the cost of youth workers, venue hire, volunteer expenses, refreshments and activity materials.
Founder Poppy Sargeaunt said:
“The grant will support us to deliver monthly youth sessions over a year to neurodivergent young people with autism, ADHD and other neurodiversities who are struggling with identity and mental health issues, social connections and a purpose in life.”
Dorset Community Foundation Grants Manager Ellie Maguire said:
“Thanks to our donors, these grants will support grassroots community groups delivering services or activities that address a broad range of local social issues, problems, poverty and disadvantage.
“We want to support targeted services that support people with identified needs, effect positive change and bring tangible improvements to quality of life for people in Dorset.”
Find out more about the work of the community foundation at: dorsetcommunityfoundation.org.
Full list of grant recipients: First Beaminster Scout Group, Age Concern North Dorset, Alderholt Village Hall Trust, ASCape, Building A Neurodiverse Community CIC, Chaldon Herring Village Hall, Churchill Gardens Community Association, Corfe Mullen Allotment Association, Dorset Menopause Support CIC, I Am Confident, Meredith’s Mission, Poole Gig Rowing Club, Poole Men’s Shed, Powered By Youth, Powerstock Hut, Prime Time Kids Club, Read Easy South Dorset, Ripple Workshop, Stourton Caundle Village Hall, Swanage Action for Refugees, The CRUMBS Project, The Shine Project and Weymouth Skatepark Association.
