A charitable foundation supporting those most in need has launched phase two of its Dorset Coronavirus Community Fund.

Dorset Community Foundation says the second funding round will support groups and charities helping Dorset people suffering hardship and disadvantage as a result of the economic and social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the first phase of  funding, over the last four months, the foundation supported almost 200 projects to the value of just over £500,000.

Grant Robson, Foundation Director, pictured left, said: “We are very pleased that, thanks to the generous donations to our Dorset Coronavirus Appeal, we have secured £900,000, an amazing amount.

“I am delighted we can now move to the second phase of our response as the needs within our villages, towns and their inhabitants change and develop.

“Ultimately, as a funder, it’s vital we seek the best ways to support and sustain small charities and community groups because without these front-line voluntary organisations, our communities face an even tougher recovery from the impacts of Covid-19.

“As a community foundation we are a core local part of the solution.

“Working with our donors we can ensure that emergency and resilience funding – as well as longer term funding – gets to the right place, where it will have most impact.

“This is what we do.

“As one of the only local funders still awarding grants at this time, we need to keep raising more support as the demand is unprecedented and will grow.

“We are by no means finished and we continue to be more relevant than ever before in our 20 years of operation, all for the benefit of communities within Dorset.”

One of the supported projects is #Masks4All, which is making a difference by providing colourful re-usable face masks to key workers, staff in care homes, GP surgeries and hospitals as well as   schools, charities, community volunteer groups, social work teams, family workers and lifeboat crew.

Phase two of the Dorset Coronavirus Community Fund offers three types of grants:

• £2,000 fast track grants
• £5,000 longer-term grants
• £10,000 partnership grants.

The deadline for applications is noon on August 28.

To apply for funding, support the Coronavirus Community Appeal or find out more about the wider work of Dorset Community Foundation, visit www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org.