This Fund is now closed. The next round will open on 29th Sept 2025 and the deadline to apply will be midday on 20th October 2025.

 

Eligibility

Applicants must be based and working in Dorset or Ringwood. We will prioritise applicants whose annual income has been on average under £500,000 for the last three years.

We do not fund national charities but can fund local branches if they have independent governance and are financially independent.

You cannot apply if you have already received other Wessex Water funding within the last 12 months. If you are a debt advice agency in receipt of Wessex Water core funding, please contact us to discuss your application(e.g. Christians Against Poverty projects or in some cases, Citizens Advice).

We do not normally fund organisations which hold more than 12 months of annual expenditure in unrestricted reserves. If your organisation is holding significant reserves, please make clear why these reserves cannot be used to cover the cost of the activity.

Organisations eligible to apply:

• Registered Charities
• Constituted Community and Voluntary Organisations
• Community Interest Companies limited by guarantee
• Companies limited by guarantee that have a clear not-for-profit clause in their governing document and clear charitable or social objectives
• Parish councils may also apply if they can demonstrate community benefit

To be eligible the organisation must have:

• At least three unrelated people responsible for running the organisation (for registered charities these are your Trustees, for CICs/Social Enterprises these are your Directors)
• A written constitution 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 signatories required for payments
• An appropriate Safeguarding Policy and EDI policy

Exclusions:

• We cannot fund the promotion of religion or political causes – faith based organisations should advise whether funded activities are designed to, or include elements that are designed to influence people’s religious choices
• We cannot fund schools (PTA groups can apply if they meet eligibility requirements)
• We cannot fund activities the government and other public bodies currently have a statutory responsibility to provide
• We cannot fund animal welfare organisations
• We cannot offer retrospective funding for items already purchased or work completed
• General appeals including for capital building projects
• Arts or sports projects with no significant community or charitable element
• Events cannot be funded
• Medical research, equipment, or treatment
• Activities that raise funds for other organisations
• Onward grants to individuals

If you have any queries about the above, please call us.

Applicants whose project is primarily focused on environmental themes are advised to apply to the Wessex Water Foundation Environment Fund, opening in May 2025.

Priorities

The Wessex Water Community Fund aims to support community-based activities or projects that meet a local need and seek to improve the lives of local people who are most in need of support. These activities should be informed by the people or community it seeks to serve and have considerable reach and wide community benefit, with priority given to work that fulfils one of more of the following:

• takes place in areas of multiple deprivation or rural isolation where people lack access to local services
• helps build stronger communities – enabling people to work together and create solutions to local challenges
• helps people take steps to manage or avoid debt and build their financial capability. This can include activities that raises awareness and take up of utility affordability support such as the Wessex Water schemes

You can apply for a grant towards new activity or continuing something you are already doing.

This programme is targeted at groups and organisations where a small amount of money can make a significant difference, so we will consider your other sources of funding and level of reserves, and we’ll prioritise where a grant can make the biggest impact.

We particularly welcome applications from groups led by diverse and minoritised communities.

 What can I apply for?

Grants of up to £4,000 are available.

The activities funded must start within 6 months of the award and groups have up to 12 months to spend the grant. You can apply for a grant towards a new activity or continuing something you are already doing.

We will fund any reasonable costs for your organisation, activity or project including:

• core or running costs
• project and activity costs

Monitoring and reporting

 You should have tools in place to measure and record the intended outcomes of the grant. We do not expect complex or multiple methods – examples may include feedback forms/questionnaires, interviews or discussion groups, recording observations, attendance logs or other relevant data.

Completion of an online End of Grant report is a requirement of funding, including how funds were spent, the outcomes achieved (for beneficiaries and/or your organisation), learning during the grant period and individual case studies where relevant.

PLEASE NOTE: Funded groups are expected to acknowledge the Wessex Water Foundation by using their logo in any PR, publicity or promotional materials relating to the funded activities.