Round 3 of funding for youth projects is open, with grants of up to £5,000 available.
Dorset Council’s Youth Fund grant provides funding for initiatives that deliver youth projects and activities within the Dorset Council area.
Projects meeting the criteria should make a positive impact or difference to young people aged 11 to 19, or up to age 25 if they have special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) or are a care leaver.
£58,549.09 was recently awarded to 14 local organisations, following successful bids for the second round of funding back in the summer.
During Round 2, the fund provided grants of 80% to 100% of total project costs to applicants. Between £1,935 and £5,000 was awarded to projects supporting Dorset Council in delivering the priorities set out in its Children, young people and families plan 2020 to 2023
Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help, said:
“Our voluntary youth projects make a valuable contribution to ensuring young people feel an important part of their communities.
“This grant scheme is a fantastic way for Dorset Council to support access to positive things to do and places to go for young people through youth projects.
“We are really pleased Dorset organisations have the opportunity to apply for and receive grants, and there are still funds available in this financial year. We encourage organisations that have not yet benefited to apply for our third round of grant funding that is now open.”
See more information and the criteria here.
During Round 2, the following organisations received grants:
| Organisation | Award £ |
| 1st Puddletown Scout Group | 2,490 |
| Blandford Youth and Community Centre | 3,000 |
| Bridport Youth Club | 5,000 |
| Buckland Newton Youth Club | 2,500 |
| Crossways Youth & Community Centre | 4,800 |
| Ferndown Youth Centre | 4,990 |
| Gillingham Youth Club | 4,999 |
| Prout Bridge Project | 5,000 |
| Purbeck Youth & Community Centre | 4,000 |
| STEPS (Weymouth) | 4,889 |
| Swanage Youth Club | 5,000 |
| The Rendezvous | 4,946 |
| Tinney’s Youth Club | 1,935 |
| Weymouth Skate Park | 5,000 |
In addition, to the 14 organisations that received funding in the second round, two organisations that applied for the first round of funding were awarded retrospectively
| HiPP Bones | 5,182 |
| Sturminster Newton | 6,100 |
Round 1 of funding took place in March 2021 when 13 organisations shared a total of £70,100.
Young people need employment and a future to keep towns vibrant and successful. My family in Buckinghamshire receive similar news from their council but it’s all positive development. A beautiful new sports and leisure centre, new businesses moving to the county etc but you just highlight what residents expect their council to be doing.
Where is the improvement news regarding the long traffic jams that impact roads into Weymouth, once a thriving town, in your News Letter?
You allow large developments but NO infrastructure improvements so Weymouth is now an old persons’ retirement backwater with a Carer company the largest employment opportunity for young people. How depressing for the young people’s future prospects.
The officers’ mindset, who guide councillors, is such that nothing will change for the Weymouth area except for building over every amenity in the area as per the Local Plan.
Hi Wendy – thank you for your comment. In fact there is a lot of good positive news for Weymouth. We are investining in the harbour walls, There’s the development of North Quay and
custom house quay; The work at the rail station – called the Weymouth Gateway; there’s a new children’s home planned and also the potential of a new buyer for brewer’s quay. In the coming months we will be talking about these and other projects. Regards Fiona