Leisure Development Fund
The Leisure Development Fund gives financial support for groups to provide and develop projects that benefit the people of West Dorset.
Grants are available for projects costing £1,000 or more with awards normally based upon 20% of the estimated cost, up to a maximum of £5,000. There will be two application deadlines in 2018 - 1 April 2018 and 1 August 2018. To be eligible for a grant your project must be completed by 31 March 2019. The fund will not be available from April 2019 onwards. We aim to process all grant applications within 8 weeks of the closing date.
When assessing applications to the Fund, the council will take account of the priorities in its adopted
Sports Strategy 2012-2017 (pdf, 2Mb) (opens in a new window)and
Arts and Museums Support Plan 2012-2017 (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window)
.
Which projects are eligible?
- sport as defined by Sport England
- a defined arts project as set out in West Dorset District Council's
Arts and Museums support plan (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window)
- "Accredited" museum related projects
- play areas in West Dorset villages
- village hall projects in West Dorset
Typical projects that the scheme can support:
- putting on an event, such as an arts festival
- equipment for arts centres
- improvements in museums
- new buildings, such as sports changing rooms
- expanding or improving sports facilities
- floodlighting
- play areas
- improvements and repairs to village halls
- equipment for village halls that will benefit multiple groups
View the
awards made from the Leisure Development Fund in 2015-2016 (pdf, 114kb) (opens in a new window).
Who can apply?
In order for your organisation to be eligible you must:
- be a voluntary or not-for-profit organisation with a constitution and bank account, a registered charity a town or parish council or school (for community use)
- have facilities or events which are available to non-members on reasonable terms
- operate a satisfactory pricing policy and promote access for members and non-members
- not have sufficient funds in reserve to undertake the project without district council financial assistance
- have reasonable security of tenure for at least 20 years if the project relates to premises
- demonstrate that the project is seeking to attract new participants/members or to develop new audiences
- demonstrate that the project serves the population of West Dorset and/or people on holiday in West Dorset
- be a village hall management committee to submit an application for funding towards a village hall
What is not funded:
- individuals
- personal sports equipment
- the purchase of land for future development unless it follows immediately
- running costs, consumable items, redecorating costs, and general maintenance
- projects without clearly defined beginning or end dates
- projects with a cost of less than £1,000
- activities that are part of the curricular activity in schools
- loan repayments or road vehicles
- play equipment or community halls in any of the 6 West Dorset towns
- heritage projects that are not related to an Accredited museum
- sports or play area projects that have been awarded a grant within the last two years
- projects that have already started or where expenditure has already been committed
- projects that will not be completed by 31 March 2019
How to apply:
Please complete one of the following application forms and send it to the Head of Leisure and Commissioning at West Dorset District Council.
-
Arts activities, equipment, and events application form (pdf, 526kb) (opens in a new window)
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Community Groups application form (pdf, 436kb) (opens in a new window)
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Heritage projects application form (pdf, 502kb) (opens in a new window)
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Sports projects and events application form (pdf, 472kb) (opens in a new window)
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Village Halls application form (pdf, 374kb) (opens in a new window)
Chairman's Centenary Fund
The Chairman of West Dorset District Council, Cllr Peter Shorland, has created a small grant fund to support community projects that commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the end of the First World War. A total budget of £10,000 has been set aside to create this fund and community groups and town/parish councils are invited to apply for grants of between £250 and £500. An
application form (pdf, 179kb) (opens in a new window)can be downloaded from this webpage.
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Name: Economy, Leisure & Tourism (West Dorset)
Email: leisureWDWP@dorset.gov.uk
Tel: 01305 252250
Full details for Economy, Leisure & Tourism (West Dorset)