Funding Opportunities in Dorset
Discover a range of funding opportunities available for clubs, community organisations and projects in Dorset.
Not sure about what funding is suitable? Send us a message, and one of our team will help you find the correct funding for you.
Sport England Funding
Each year Sport England invests more than £250 million of National Lottery and public money to help people play sport and take part in physical activity.
Sport England currently have the Active Together fund, while the Small Grants Programme is fund dedicated to projects using sport and physical activity to bring bring people together and tackle inequalities.
The fund, which is worth £160 million over the next four years, replaces the Small Grants Programme and Active Together fund, and will offer crowdfunding pledges, grants and resources to provide physical activity opportunities that can help us tackle long-lasting inequalities.
Funding between £300 and £15,000
Dorset Council Capital Leverage Fund
NatureSave is looking to support the following types of projects:
Vehicles – clean fuel, batteries or both. This can include electric vehicles, hybrid power systems and fuel cells.
Activity – walking, cycling or using a scooter instead of driving.Applications are accepted from a range of UK based organisations, including charities, social enterprises, voluntary organisations, small grassroots community groups and businesses.
Applications close: 27th February 2025
BCP Council Communities and Place UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a key part of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda. It provides £2.6 billion for local projects until March 2025. The fund aims to make communities better places to live by investing in local areas, businesses, and skills.
Support areas for Communities and Place include:
New local green spaces, and improvements to existing ones
Funds for volunteering and social action projects
The grant is administered by the Bruce Wake Charitable Trust and is available for voluntary and community organisations in the UK for the provision of leisure activities for the disabled.
No minimum or maximum level of grant is specified. However, for projects to improved access for wheelchair users, up to £3,000 is available for projects with a maximum budget of £25,000 are considered.
The Richard Davies Charitable Foundation
The Richard Davies Charitable Foundation provides grants for local charities in Bristol, Dorset and South Gloucestershire. The funding is for a range of charitable activities, with a focus on supporting children/young people, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Grants have usually been between £1,000 and £5,000. The Richard Davies Charitable Foundation does not maintain a website or an email address. Groups should write to the Trust for further information on how to apply
Richard Davies Charitable Foundation
76 Wollaton Road
Ferndown
BH22 8QY
Dorset Community Foundation | Neighbourhood Fund
The Neighbourhood Fund supports grassroots community groups delivering services/activities that address a broad range of local social issues, problems, poverty and disadvantage. Grants help local groups to improve the lives of those most in need of support.
Grants of up to £5,000 available
Applications close: 17 January 2025
The funding is intended for local groups which operate or have an impact in an area in which Hays Travel have a branch and whose project helps young people up to 25 years of age develop in at least one of these areas: education, prevention of poverty, health, arts, culture or sports.
Grants tend to be in the £2,000 to £15,000 range. The average grant last year was around £3,500.
Sports Foundation for the Disabled
Grants are available to not-for-profit groups for projects which promote access to sporting opportunities for disabled individuals and groups in South West England and Wales.
Grants up to £5000 are available
Grants are available for up to 50% of low carbon project costs (between £1,000 and £75,000).
These grants can be used towards costs relating to the installation of energy efficiency and/or renewable energy measures.
The Steve Bernard foundation is a not-for-profit sporting support organisation. The foundation offers guidance, financial support and equipment to a range of good causes across Bournemouth, Dorset and the South Coast. To date the Steve Bernard Foundation has supported more than 400 projects covering more than 30 sports.
Dorset Community Foundation have compiled a list of Dorset Based funders. View them here.
The two local councils pay for websites that can help you identify possible sources of grant funding - For BCP, apply here
The two local councils pay for websites that can help you identify possible sources of grant funding. For Dorset Council areas, apply here
Other funding opportunities
These funds won't always match what you're looking for. Sport England have compiled a list of all the other ways you can generate funding, from crowdfunding to Gift Aid.
There are also some great websites and funding finders, to help you find your next grant.
Read the latest information here
Sported are a UK wide charity promoting fairness and equity for young people through grassroots sport and physical activity. Search their Funding Finder for the South west.
Get Grants Funding Finder is a free resource for grant fundraisers with information on hundreds of grant funders, including what they fund, how much they give, and how to apply.
