The funding, under the banner of #iwill, is delivered by DCF on behalf of The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The fund supports local charities and community groups looking to engage young people in activities such as campaigning, fundraising and volunteering. The funding was unlocked for Dorset by DCF securing match funding from a local charitable trust – The 4814 Trust

One of the funded 11 projects is Future Roots, a farming-based charity, which has been funded to support a group of young people, referred from local schools, to become young leaders and take on more responsibilities and inspire them to take control of their own lives.

Diverse City, a local charity committed to diversity and equality in the arts also received a grant of £4,985 for the ‘Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists: Till We Win’ project. The project features creative workshops, facilitated by industry professionals, which will help young people to find their voice, develop skills to use it to create change via high profile platforms and performances.

Chris Bedwell, Chairman of The 4814 Trust commented: ‘I’m very pleased to be working with Dorset Community Foundation to support local young people to make a positive change in our local communities. The vital funding will support the next generation of volunteers, campaigners and activists who want to make a difference.’

Grant Robson, Director at the Foundation added: ‘We are thrilled that by working in partnership with a local grant giving trust the Foundation has been able to double the funding available for youth projects across Dorset. I would like to see more funders working together to jointly tackle issues within our Dorset communities and I welcome talking to anyone who is interested exploring opportunities to collaborate.’