The second round of beneficiaries of the Talbot Village Trust COVID-19 Support Fund have been announced today, Thursday 7 April 2020. In this round, approximately £350,000 of grants have been issued to 43 Dorset charities, community groups and others.

These recipients include charities such as Wessex Cancer Trust, Purbeck Youth & Community Foundation, Julia's House and Dorset Search Dogs.

Talbot Village Trust launched the £1 million Fund on 6th April. Since then, applications have been received from dozens of charities and community groups in need of financial support to continue to operate through the COVID-19 crisis period. In total, 90 charities, community groups and others have been awarded grants since the Fund was launched. To date, almost 90% of applications have been successful.

Talbot Village Trust Trustees, High Sherriff, George Streatfeild, and MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, reviewed the second round of applications with Trustees and helped to award this round of grants.

The next round of applications opened on Monday 4th May and closes on Monday 11th May. Applicants can apply for up to £50,000 of financial support. Priority will be given to organisations directly helping people, families and communities during the COVID-19 crisis.

Talbot Village Trust Trustees and key local stakeholders will meet virtually to review applications and award funds. Each application will be considered on its own merits and organisations and charities can apply more than once if needed. No prior funding is required.

The third virtual meeting to review this round of applications for the COVID-19 Support Fund will be attended by MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Michael Tomlinson and Andy Martin, Associate Editor of Bournemouth Echo.

MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Michael Tomlinson commented: “Talbot Village Trust is a hugely respected and much needed organisation and I am delighted to be able to help review the bids that have been received. Now, more than ever, we need to support our community organisations and charities and the support provided by Talbot Village Trust is tremendously welcome. I am honoured to have been asked to take part.”

Andy Martin, Associate Editor of Bournemouth Echo, said: “Talbot Village Trust has really dug deep for local communities, supporting charities and others through this crisis at a time when they need it most. They are a huge asset to the BCP area, and I am humbled to be working with them on this round of funding.”

Sir Christopher Lees, Chair of Talbot Village Trust, added: “Again we have been blown away by the level of demand we have seen from charities and other groups doing their best to support their communities through this crisis. We will continue to award grants on our usual bi-annual cycle and would urge any charities that might miss out on this support to consider applying to the Trust for funding in future.”

The Fund will provide revenue, core funding or capital and equipment requirements to enable the continued delivery of essential services by these local charities and community groups. The third deadline for applications is midnight on Monday 11th May 2020. Applicants will be notified if they have been successful from Monday 18th May. Any subsequent application timetables will be announced in due course.

Applications can be made using the form available to download on the Talbot Village Trust website. Questions can be sent to Covid19.fund@talbotvillagetrust.org.

Please go to https://www.talbotvillagetrust.org/covid-19-support-fund/ for more information on the application process.