Charity, Dorset | Posted on June 11th, 2026 | return to news

Dorset charity fund to inspire next generation of environmentalists

Dorset Community Foundation has launched a Green Futures Fund, which offers grants for projects to tackle climate change.

Dorset Community Fund (DCF) has launched a new grant programme designed to empower young people’s passion for tackling climate change.

The Green Futures Fund aims to inspire the next generation of environmentalists. The fund was launched on Sunday 7 June at Knoll Beach in Studland by DCF Chair Tom Flood and Dorset Lord-Lieutenant Michael Dooley.

Flood told guests that the fund was inspired by his late husband, Paul Cornes’ love of the natural world, and that the launch fell on the sixth anniversary of his death.

He said: “Paul was a passionate advocate for the environment and for positive change to protect it, a big believer in corporate social responsibility and he adored Dorset.

“By launching on this poignant date, and at the beach where we scattered his ashes, the Green Futures Fund is honouring and celebrating his memory and transforming his loss into a powerful catalyst for positive environmental impact.”

He added: “I want this fund to harness the positivity and energy of young people in Dorset who are as passionate about preserving our natural world as Paul was.”

Flood will be donating £25,000 a year for the next three years from the Paul Cornes Fund, which was set up after his death. He is seeking donors to match the donation each year to establish a £50,000 annual fund for grants of up to £5,000 to groups or individuals with projects that support practical environmental conservation, educational opportunities or careers advice for young people.

He said: “Dorset is widely celebrated for its natural beauty, with 52 per cent of its land officially designated as a National Landscape. But the stark ecological reality is that a staggering 83 per cent of surveyed freshwater points in Dorset suffer from unacceptable levels of nutrient pollution; none of Dorset’s rivers are considered to be in good overall health and there has been a devastating 74 per cent decline in semi-natural habitats in the county since the 1930s – leaving our remaining grasslands and heathlands critically fragmented.

“If we want to preserve our natural heritage for future generations, we must look to build a community response that understands how vital it is to live and work in harmony with nature.”

Lord-Lieutenant Michael Dooley said: “[The fund] perfectly reflects the principles of harmony by recognising that people, place and planet are interconnected.

“The young people I meet across Dorset give me great hope. They are passionate about creating positive change and determined to leave the world better than they found it. The Green Futures Fund will help turn that passion into action, empowering the next generation to make a real and lasting difference in their communities and for the environment.”

To find out more about the fund, contact DCF Philanthropy Director Gareth Owens on 01202 670815 or email gareth@dcf.org. Find out more about the work of Dorset Community Foundation at www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org.