Organisational Support Revenue Fund Round 5

1. Grant fund re-opens midnight Tuesday 20 January 2026
2. Grant fund closes midnight Thursday 12 March 2026
3. Grant Panel meets week commencing 23 March 2026
4. Award decisions 1 April 2026

Social, voluntary and community sector organisations (SVCS) can apply for between £5,000 to £10,000 for a maximum of 12 months. This is a one-off single year grant payment which ends March 2027. 

As we expect demand for funding to be high, we may award applicants less than they had originally applied for.

We have a budget of approximately £150,000 for this round. 

Grants can be made to support SVCS organisations. We will only provide funding for 12 months. Grant is only payable for the 2026 to 2027 financial year. 

We will fund organisations that fit the following criteria:

• organisations that support the ongoing needs of vulnerable people in the community to ensure that their health & well-being is maintained
• applicants must meet at least one of Dorset council’s priorities 2024 to 2029
• organisations in support of activities that relieve pressure on local statutory services, particularly emergency, health and social care provision, or add value to their response
• organisations and local networks that are supporting disadvantaged, under served and marginalised communities within the Dorset Council area
• organisations supporting activity promoting the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda as specified in the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion strategy
• organisations supporting young people e.g., Youth Clubs 
• organisations who wish to cover their ‘core revenue costs’ including contribution towards rent, rates, utilities, salary costs, insurance, workforce training and volunteer expenses
• applicants that can show security of tenure for a minimum of 5 years
• applicants must demonstrate a sound and sustainable business model
• organisations that can demonstrate a track record of delivering successful community led work with clear and lasting impact
• applicants must have already been working in the Dorset Council area for at least 18 months
• Community Interest Companies (CICs) must be able to show that they have sound and measurable Community objectives and an Asset Transfer statement within their governance/articles
• panel may request further checks on CIC’s that apply
• organisations that regularly use community facilities (including churches) to run regular community activities
   

The following groups, organisations and activities cannot be funded:

• applications for activities and projects taking place outside of the Dorset Council area
• applications from Cultural (arts, theatre, heritage, accredited museums) organisations
• applications from play organisations
• applications from sports clubs or uniform groups e.g., scouts
• applications from organisations that remain in receipt of a grant that is unspent from round one, two or four of the organisational support revenue funds
• unincorporated groups or emerging groups who have been in existence for less than 12 months
• applications for capital projects 
• one-off distinct projects, ongoing equipment costs, SIDS, feasibility studies or research projects
• proof of concept work
• loss of income from fundraising activities, trading, charitable donations
• organisations that are providing commissioned services on behalf of Dorset Council
• ongoing repairs, routine maintenance, improvements and refurbishments to buildings, community facilities and spaces or village halls
• retrospective payments for services that have already commenced or been paid for
• bursary schemes and hardship funds to individuals or groups
• 1:1 unsupervised activity with children or vulnerable adults
• IT equipment for personal use (including laptops, phones, or iPads)
• vehicle costs including hire, servicing, and maintenance
• loan repayments or hire purchase interest
• any activities that actively promote religion or belief systems
• political activities
• nurseries, pre schools (including PTA and Friend of) schools, colleges, and universities
• hospices, housing associations, hospitals and residential care homes
• statutory bodies such as city and county councils or health institutions individuals
• activities delivered within an educational setting or in curriculum time
• planning applications and consultancy fees
• any organisation with an annual income more than £300,000
• any revenue costs associated with supporting core business in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole area
• overseas organisations
• commercial organisations or institutions
• churches, places of worship and/or faith organisations
• new and emerging groups who are less than 12 months old
• purchase of leases and professional fees such as solicitors or accountancy fees
• core running or operational costs of town or parish councils
• not fund national charities who don’t operate in the Dorset Council area, or have a local branch in the council area
• running costs of churches, places of worship and faith-based organisations
• organisations that are in receipt of either LAG (Local Alliance Group) or cost of living core funding
• organisations that have limited reserves to cover their normal operational, running costs for less than 12 months
• purchase of land fees/costs
• housing associations
• applicants who are currently in receipt of round 4 OSRF monies that have not yet completed an End of Project Monitoring Form

Organisations who fit the following criteria are invited to apply:

• registered charities including Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO’s)
• constituted community groups (must have been formed for at least 12 months)
• community benefit societies
• social enterprises (companies limited by guarantee with a not-for-profit clause)
• Community Interest Company's CIC’s (must be limited by guarantee and have community benefit objectives). We may request further information from CICs
• CIC’s will also need to provide an ‘Asset Lock’ Statement & copy of their Memorandum or Articles of Association

All organisations applying for funding must have:

• a management committee, trustees, or board of directors with at least 3 unrelated members
• a written constitution, governing document or set of rules that sets out the purpose and management of the organisation.
• a bank account in the name of the organisation with at least two unrelated cheque signatories
• Public Liability Insurance (minimum £10 million indemnity)
• Employers Liability Insurance (minimum £10 million indemnity)
• 2 years of approved accounts (latest must be in last 12 months)
• recent bank statements covering the last 3 months (with the organisation's name, account number and sort code clearly displayed)
• Safeguarding Policy
• Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy
• Business Plan – fully costed up to 2028.
• General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) Policy or statement
• Environmental Policy or statement
• Volunteer Policy (if appropriate)
• Copy of organisations lease or freehold

The fund opens at midnight 20 January 2026 and closes at midnight on Thursday 12 March 2026.

Before you start

Only online applications will be accepted. 

Late applications will not be accepted.

Speak to someone about your application

If you'd like to speak to us about your application, email us at communities@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. If you need support with developing your policies, business plan or governance please contact Volunteering Dorset via info@volunteeringdorset.org.uk or telephone 01305 269214.

We will shortlist, review, and make recommendations for funding via our Grant Panel. The assessment dates and final award decision dates are publicised here. Where demand for grants is high, we reserve the right to change these dates.

During the process:

• there will be one single round with a grant awarded for 12 months commencing April 2026 and finishing March 2027
• Dorset Council’s Grant Panel will comprise of at least three Specialist Dorset Council Officers (one acts as the panel Chair), the portfolio holder for communities and at least one sector representative who brings with them their expertise and knowledge of Dorset’s Social Voluntary and Community sector
• applications will be screened by each member of the grants panel to ensure fairness.
• where a conflict of interest occurs the relevant Officer/representative will not take part in the assessment. Any conflict of interest will be recorded
• an assessment summary of all eligible and shortlisted applications, with Officer recommendations are put forward by the Council’s Grants Officer/Manager, to be considered by the grant panel. The recommendation by the Grants Officer/Manager is for guidance only
• councillors will be able to read, comment and offer feedback on specific projects in their ward through a ‘councillor feedback ‘form linked to the online application form
• the Panel will assess each application against the fund criteria to agree and prioritise awards. Decisions are made by a majority vote. Where there is no majority the council’s Portfolio holder for Communities will have the deciding vote. The panel decision is final
• if an applicant withdraws their application after the panel decision has been made, the Chair, in consultation with the other panel members, can agree to award the grant to another applicant
• any decision to amend the award if the project or organisation has changed, or new information comes to light that affects the application will be considered by the Grants Officer/Manager and Panel Chair, in consultation with other panel members as appropriate
• applicants may be asked for additional information to help the grants panel form a decision
• applicants can only submit a single application in this round
• applicant can apply for a maximum of 12 months of revenue funding
• any grant awarded will start April 2026

If your application is unsuccessful, we will not contact you to discuss it. However, if you do require feedback, please contact us.  Decisions made by our grants panel are final. There is no appeals process.

Please be aware of the following terms and conditions:

• funds will be awarded for 12 months up front starting in April 2026
• if any changes are made to your application or how you deliver your services you must consult with Dorset Council, failure to do so may result in part or all the grant awarded having to be returned
• for applications being delivered by a consortia or partnership, it is the lead partner who is responsible for overseeing delivery and monitoring of the grant
• applicants will be required to submit an end of grant report or survey and provide any evaluation/feedback 
• applicants will be asked to sign a standard grant agreement with full details of their grants award including terms and conditions
• applications must be submitted on the council’s online form. Hard copies will not be accepted
• applicants will need to demonstrate and evidence that their service is needed and that the intended beneficiaries of their service offer have been involved and consulted with
• decisions made by Dorset Council’s Grants Panel are final. There is no appeals process
• Dorset Council will not accept/consider any applications received after the closing date
• Dorset council will not consider applications where the majority of supporting documents are not provided on the closing date
• we reserve the right to make changes to the guidance and/or programme after its launch. We will communicate any changes as quickly as we can

Dorset Council will share basic data information regarding your application with other local grant managers/funding streams. This will enable us to make informed funding decisions, avoid duplication of funding and ensure value for money is achieved through our grant making processes. Dorset Council will also ensure that applicants data is stored appropriately. See details of our Data Privacy and GDPR policy.

If you wish to discuss your application before you apply, then please contact a member of our team on communities@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk . Alternatively, contact any of the following officers:

Grant Officer: Ian Wells

Community Engagement Project Officers: Emily Brown and Fiona Thomas

Business Partner, Communities and Partnerships: Laura Cornette