In a move to encourage young people in Dorset to bounce back from Covid, funding of more than £32,000 has been made available.

Dorset Community Foundation teamed up with Made By Sport, a national charity which raises awareness of the power of playing and competing, to distribute grants to clubs and groups working with young people to develop life skills, improve job prospects or reduce anti-social behaviour and crime.

Among the recipients is Hope In The Community in Bournemouth, which has been awarded £2,021 to fund a youth worker to encourage young people in Southbourne through sports activities including football and skateboarding.

Chairman Peter Southcombe said a worker has already worked with young people in the area and the demand is there for someone to be out permanently organising activities for them.

Poole Sailability, which gives young people with disabilities the opportunity to go sailing in Poole Harbour, received £2,021 to help it recover from the pandemic after it lost vital income in the lockdowns.

The group works with Bournemouth and Poole College to take out its young people with learning difficulties and also with young carers.

“We usually get income from other organisations but because they’ve all been closed own so we are very grateful for the grant,” said trustee Peter Davies.

The Power House in Poole has been awarded £2,021 to run a summer holiday sports activity programme in Hamworthy.

Outreach worker Alix Digby-West said there is no real youth provision for young people in the area.

She said: “This will give them a consistent contact with trained youth workers, ensure they have the activities and support they need to develop socially, connect in their community, and grow friendships with peers.”

The Youth Empowerment Platform in Bournemouth will set up a basketball team for BAME youngsters in the area thanks to a £2,021 grant. The group was founded in 2019 to offer young people in the community football coaching with AFC Bournemouth as a way of countering anti-social behaviour.

Youth worker Kundai Muzura said: “The pandemic has limited the opportunities to bring young people together face to face and some have been impacted mentally due to isolation and loneliness. Basketball is something the young people have asked us about, as well as swimming.”

Dorset Community Foundation director Grant Robson said: “We are very proud that Made By Sport has chosen to work with us because it appreciates that we have the in-depth knowledge of the voluntary sector in Dorset that allows its money to go exactly where it is needed.

“These grants will help these brilliant groups use sport and physical activity as a force for good, encouraging and engaging young people and giving them a focus for their energy. The great thing about these activities is that they give youth workers an opportunity to build up trust and respect with young people and that allows them to make a real difference in their lives. We are very pleased to be able to play a part in that.”