If your organisation or community group has had to suspend activities during the pandemic, you can apply for funds from Dorset Council’s new Community Restart Grant Programme.

There are two new grants available which offer small one-off grants – the Village Halls and Community Spaces Support Grant and Dorset Community Restart Grant.

These grants are specifically for voluntary and community sector organisations which have not been able to operate due to the Government restrictions.

Charities, parish councils and constituted community groups can apply for sums between £500 and £2,000 to enable community venues, organisations and groups, working at local community level, to restart their activities that have been suspended over the past year due to the pandemic.

Applicants will need to meet the council’s eligibility criteria which states that activity must be delivered in the Dorset Council area and the annual income should be less than £100,000.

Applications can only be submitted online at https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-community/support-for-voluntary-and-community-organisations/funding/dorset-community-recovery-grants.aspx and must be completed by Sunday 25 July.

Cllr Jill Haynes Dorset Council portfolio holder for Customer and Community Services said: “Since March 2020 we have all experienced restrictions to varying degrees, and the devastating impact lockdowns have had on some of our most vulnerable communities is yet to be fully realised.

“The Dorset Community Recovery Grants programme is therefore vital in ensuring we can quickly and successfully get those lifeline groups, events and projects back up and running in a safe way, so that they can resume doing their work in supporting mental and physical health, and increasing social connectivity.”

Grant awards will be made in August with the expectation that activity will start in the autumn.