MORE than £900,000 has been awarded to community organisations since a fund was set up by Dorset County Council three years ago.

In the latest round of grants made in March, 32 charities and groups were collectively awarded over £190,000 in grants to benefit resides in Dorset, from the Dorset County Council Fund, which is administered by Dorset Community Foundation.

Following its set up in 2011, the fund has aimed to invest in and build the capacity of community organisations and since then, over 200 organisations has received a total of £937,425.

Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset County Council, said: “Community organisations of all sizes across the country play an increasingly important role in making Dorset a great place to live.

“The Dorset County Council Fund supports these organisations by investing in projects that help them to expand, develop their volunteers or staff, buy equipment, or to get expert advice and support which in turn helps the organisations thrive.

“I’m really pleased that the council recognises and values the role that community organisations play, and under difficult financial circumstances, is able to provide a grants programme that makes a real difference.”

Groups that have benefitted from grants awarded in March include Life Education Wessex, who provide health and drug education programmes to children aged three to 13, which are delivered in a mobile classroom. They were given £4,830 to refurbish the classroom, which had become outdated.

A grant of £7,479 was made to Streetwise, which home and outdoor safety education advice to 13,000 school children every year, so that they could fit out a caravan which could be used to educate kids in rural parts of the county. Dorset Community Foundation opened the fund for its seventh round on April 1, which will see the deadline for applications close on June 30, 2014.

Anyone who would like more information on how to apply should contact Debbie Harris on 01202 292255 or go online to dorsetcommunityfoundation.org