Dorset County Council has re-opened its Community Innovation fund

Dorset County Council has re-opened its Community Innovation fund to back inventive community projects that can help improve local people’s lives.

There is a total of £75,000 available to Dorset-based community organisations that can show how their project would help achieve the outcomes for local people set out in the county council’s corporate plan.

These are grouped into four key outcomes: making sure people in Dorset are safe, healthy, independent and have a prosperous economy.

The fund aims to support community groups to deliver services that meet local people’s needs.  Successful projects will be those that target people with the greatest needs and reduce demand for the council’s services by giving people the support they need early on.
Groups are invited to bid for grants of up to £8,000. There is also a ‘Micro’ grants fund for smaller amounts of up to £2,000 as the council wants the fund to be able to reach all parts of Dorset’s communities.

Cllr Rebecca Knox, Dorset County Council leader, said
“We want to support community projects that can demonstrate how they support the council’s top priorities for local people.

“For example, as part of our aim to ensure people in Dorset are healthy we want to make sure people adopt healthy lifestyles and lead active lives.

“The important element is that the projects must be resident-driven with evidence of the benefits for people and the contribution they will make to helping improve the lives of people in Dorset.”

Apply for a grant through the Community Innovation Fund, view the application guidance and support materials.
This round of the grant will close on Friday 21 September.
http://d4u.org.uk/XCRNH

Are you a looking to fund a community project within South West Wiltshire?

If you are a community enthusiast, community or voluntary group or town or parish council looking to fund a community project in the Mere, Tisbury or Wilton community areas during 2015/2016, then you may be eligible for a community area grant.

Wiltshire’s community area grants scheme provides up to £5,000 to help fund facilities, equipment and other projects that are important to the local community and create a lasting legacy.

Funding is also available to help communities wishing to start a new or maintain an existing basic computer skills activity.  For more guidance on what this could be and what you can apply for please click here.

You can now view grant applications online for ideas and inspiration. So, if you have a project in mind and you want to make it happen, why not register and make an application. Register and apply.

A full list of the parishes in South West Wiltshire is provided below:

Mere Community Area, which includes the parishes of East Knoyle, Kilmington, Mere, Sedgehill & Semley, Stourton with Gasper, West Knoyle and Zeals

Tisbury Community Area, which includes the parishes of Ansty, Berwick St John, Berwick St Leonard, Chicklade, Chilmark, Donhead St Andrew, Donhead St Mary, Fonthill Bishop, Fonthill Gifford, Fovant, Hindon, Sutton Mandeville, Swallowcliffe, Tisbury, Tollard Royal and West Tisbury

Wilton Community Area, which includes the parishes of Alvediston, Barford St Martin, Bishopstone, Bowerchalke, Broad Chalke, Burcombe Without, Compton Chamberlayne, Dinton, Ebbesbourne Wake, Netherhampton, Quidhampton, South Newton, Stratford Tony, Teffont and the town of Wilton.