Wessex Water Community Fund
Wessex Water Community Fund supports community groups in Dorset and Ringwood with new and ongoing activities that tackle local needs, reduce isolation and improve lives for those most in need.
Funder: Dorset Community Foundation
Due Dates: September 21, 2026 (Opened) | October 19, 2026, midday (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to £4,000 per grant; £70,000 available this round; grants must be spent within 12 months
Summary: Supports community-led activities in Dorset and Ringwood that address local needs, strengthen communities and improve lives.
Key Information: Applicants must be based and working in Dorset or Ringwood, with at least 12 months’ operating history.
Description
The Wessex Water Community Fund supports community-based activities that meet local needs and improve the lives of people most in need of support. Dorset Community Foundation delivers the fund locally, alongside Quartet, Somerset and Wiltshire Community Foundations across the South West. It supports new activities and the continuation of existing work, including reasonable organisational running costs and project costs.
Activities should be informed by the people they serve and offer considerable reach and wide community benefit. Priorities include addressing multiple deprivation or rural isolation, helping communities work together on local challenges, and helping people manage or avoid debt and build financial capability. This can include increasing awareness and take-up of utility affordability support, including Wessex Water schemes. The fund targets organisations where a small grant can make a significant difference.
