German film star who fell in love with Dorset leaves legacy to make life better for communities
A GERMAN film actress, model, photographer and DJ who fell in love with the county she settled in has left a legacy to Dorset Community Foundation to support its work. Renate Morley, of Milner Road, Bournemouth, died on Christmas Eve 2021, aged 85 after a long illness. Friends said she lived a long, colourful life,
BCP Food and Energy Support Fund reopens to tackle cost of living crisis
THE first round of funding for 2025/26 from Dorset Community Foundation’s BCP Food and Energy Support Fund is open until May 7. The fund, backed by BCP Council to help groups and charities supporting households impacted by the rising cost of living, is open for applications for grants of up to £12,000. The fund aims
New trustee brings health and social care experience – and a tale of extraordinary determination
NEW Dorset Community Foundation trustee Michelle Howard said she hopes her long experience of law and the health and social care sector will benefit the charity. Michelle, who grew up in Branksome, is joining the community foundation on returning to the county where she spent her youth after working in Wiltshire in law and health
Neighbourhood Fund awards £149,000 to 39 grass roots groups making a difference
GRANTS totalling £149,000 from Dorset Community Foundation will help 39 smaller charities and voluntary groups running projects tackling social problems including poverty, disability and isolation. Its Neighbourhood Fund targets smaller groups and charities working in communities to help make life better for people with grants of up to £5,000. Among the recipients of its latest
Lost school’s legacy will live on through partnership with Dorset Community Foundation
THE educational legacy of an independent school in Poole forced to close six years ago has been preserved through a new Dorset Community Foundation fund. Money donated by the Buckholme Towers Trust will help young people from struggling families follow their career dreams through vocational college courses. Buckholme Towers School was opened by Dorothy Murray
Young and Talented Fund will give gifted young people a sporting chance of success
A DORSET Community Foundation fund that has helped dozens of gifted young sports people overcome financial barriers and fulfill their promise is open again for applications. The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund for Young and Talented, which is also supported by Wimborne engineering company Superior Seals, awards grants of up to £1,000 towards costs that might prevent
Latest version of Hidden Dorset report goes online to highlight county’s need
DORSET Community Foundation has launched its newest version of its Hidden Dorset report, which highlights need and disadvantage in the county, as a website. Chief Executive Grant Robson said Hidden Dorset was first published as a printed document in 2015 and again in 2018 to inform, encourage collaborative action and conversations and to inspire philanthropy
SWEF Enterprise Fund grants help grow fashion designer’s brand
TWO SWEF Enterprise Fund grants from Dorset Community Foundation are helping young clothes designer Max Onn find his way in the world of fashion. The 23-year-old from Bournemouth, who used YouTube videos to teach himself how to design and make clothes, is fast establishing a reputation for the edgy, distressed look of his shirts, jackets
SWEF Enterprise grant helps photographer develop business
A SWEF Enterprise Fund grant from Dorset Community Foundation helped photographer Morgan Reeves focus on growing his business. The fund helps young people aged 18 to 30 to overcome financial challenges and other disadvantages to develop their business and a £1,500 grant was enough to transform Morgan’s. The 29-year-old from Poole had planned to save
Project to strengthen grass roots groups in ethnically diverse areas gathers pace
A PROJECT supported by the National Lottery Community Fund to help voluntary groups and charities from ethnically diverse communities in Dorset to become more resilient and self-sufficient is gathering pace. It is being run by a partnership led by Community Action Network (CAN) with Dorset Race Equality Council, Dorset Community Foundation and BCP Council using
Wessex Water Community Fund awards £70,000 to groups making life better
MORE than 20 voluntary groups and charities across Dorset have been awarded a total of £70,000 to improve the lives of people in their communities thanks to the continuing partnership between Dorset Community Foundation and Wessex Water. The Wessex Water Community Fund is supported by the Wessex Water Foundation, which is part of the water
BCP Food and Energy Support Fund awards £275,000 to help families through winter
The current Mayor of Bournemouth Cllr John Adams opened up a recently held summer barbeque event organised by It’s All About Culture at Churchill Gardens, Boscombe. The event was funded by Red Nose Day Community Cash Fund (part of Comic Relief) managed by the Foundation. Tracy Melling, the Chief Executive at the Dorset Community Foundation