Dorset Community Foundation has announced that applications can be made to a number of grant funding bodies in the next few weeks.

Organisations have until 7 October to apply to the Dorset Welcome Fund.

Grants of up to £4,000 are available for local community groups offering activities and services to welcome and support refugees of any nationality who are arriving, residing or settling in Dorset.

From 19 September until 28 October, applications are invited for grants of up to £5,000 from the GVC Fund. This supports local groups offering sports and healthy activities for adults, and especially those supporting men’s health.

Wessex Water Community Fund applications run from 26 September to 24 October.

Grants of up to £3,000 are available for groups working in Dorset and Ringwood offering services and activities that aim to strengthen local communities by addressing local needs.

The DCF Bursary Scheme and Stem Bursary will be open until 13 January 2023.

It is relevant to groups working with young people living in Dorset. Bursaries are offered to young people age 16-25, where household income is under £30,000, who are studying vocational courses at specific colleges/sixth forms.

Superior STEM bursaries are offered to students studying STEM subjects at Bournemouth & Poole College, Brockenhurst College or Bourne Academy Sixth Form.

In addition, now open on a rolling basis is the South West Enterprise Fund which offers business start-up or development grants of up to £2,000 to young people age 18-30 who need financial support to launch or take next steps in a new business in its first two years.

For more details of all of these funds see the Dorset Community Foundation website.