Fund opens to help Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole households

Groups and charities which support households impacted by the rising cost of living have until 11 November to apply for a grant from Dorset Community Foundation’s BCP Food and Energy Support Fund.

The fund, which is backed by BCP Council, aims to support projects in the area which provide a range of help for those who are struggling to afford household essentials including energy and water bills, food, and wider essentials. This may include community meals, food skills initiatives, warmth packs and warm spaces, alongside support with signposting and advice. Grants can be up to £10,000.

This is the sixth time the fund has opened in three years, with more than £1 million distributed through hundreds of grants. The community foundation’s grants manager Ellie Maguire said: “The fund can support any costs associated with providing the funded activities, including perishable and non-perishable goods, capital costs and equipment such as additional fridges or storage, staff and volunteer costs, venue hire, transport, admin costs and reasonable contributions to organisation overheads or core costs.”

The most recent round, in the summer, awarded £225,000 to 32 groups across the BCP area. Among the recipients was Poole Waste Not Want Not, which used an £8,174 grant to stock its social supermarket and provide free food bags to vulnerable families and picnic bags to parents so they could take their children out in the summer holidays.

Chief executive Erika Sloper said the supermarket supports more than 650 households in the area.

She said: “This grant has directly benefited our members who struggle financially, ensuring they have access to nutritious food, such as fresh meat, chilled items, butter, yogurts, and fruits and vegetables, not forgetting hygiene and cleaning products. Our aim is to have a lasting impact on well-being and stability in families, by offering healthy food choices at prices they can afford.”