Bournemouth, Charity, Christchurch, Poole | Posted on May 30th, 2025 | return to news
BCP Council partners with charity to offer £5,000 community grants
Dorset Community Foundation and BCP Council are offering grants for capital projects to improve community buildings.
Dorset Community Foundation and BCP Council have once again partnered together to offer grants worth up to £5,000 for capital projects in community buildings.
Last year, the BCP Thriving Communities Fund awarded more than £70,000 in grants to 24 grass-roots charities and voluntary groups.
Among last year’s recipients was Hengistbury Head Outdoors (HHO), which received £3,000 to help it complete a project to replace a derelict slipway used to launch dinghies, kayaks, dragon boats, and paddleboards to allow safe access to the water for people with a range of abilities.
HHO Treasurer Bill Howlett said: “The range of young people that will be able to use the site and have adult support in learning water-based activity skills will be a major benefit to the society as a whole.”
Another recipient was St Andrews Church in Charminsterm which used a £2,999 grant to update kitchen appliances as part of a refurbishment project in its hall that led to the opening of pop-up café spaces.
“Our hope for our project is that the redeveloped St Andrew’s Centre will become one of the central gathering spaces for the local community in Charminster ward, and a place where particularly those in need can access relational community and greater support,” said operations manager Jordan Clements.
The grants come from money awarded to BCP Council through the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances by investing in communities.
Grants manager Ellie Maguire said: “The fund is offering grants to support capital improvements, for community groups running community buildings in BCP that provide facilities for local community-led groups and activities. Community buildings must support multiple local groups and community activities – not just deliver their own services. Examples include community centres, community hubs or village halls.
“Applicants will need to describe the kinds of community groups and activities that take place in their community building and how they support the needs in the community. This might be by addressing isolation and loneliness, improving health and wellbeing, offering opportunities for lifelong learning, and opportunities for social connectivity and support. They will also need to describe how the grant will be used to improve your community building for the groups who use it.”
Grants must be used to support capital costs that will help to maintain, enhance or increase the use of community buildings. Examples include kitchen improvements, replacement flooring, doors, windows, lighting or heating, redecoration or refurbishment, new furniture, equipment for use by multiple groups, or energy efficiency upgrages to cut overheads.
Dorset Community Foundation Director Grant Robson said he is delighted to be working with the council again. “I’m very pleased to be working with BCP Council and that we’ve supported it through each of the previous rounds of this fund.
“Our unrivalled knowledge of the voluntary sector right across Dorset, and the close relationship we have with the groups working within it, means the council can be sure that this money is getting to where it will make the most impact.”
The deadline to apply is midday on Wednesday 2nd July. More information on how to apply and a link to the online application form can be found on the website: https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/funds/bcp-thriving-communities-fund.
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