GrantRadar

Dorset Council

Local Alliance Group funding for projects 2026 to 2027

Dorset Council's Local Alliance Groups (LAGs) fund projects that support children, young people and families in the Dorset Council area. Single groups, schools and early years settings can apply for up to £5,000, and consortium applications from a group of settings for up to £20,000. Projects must meet at least one of the priorities set by their local LAG: Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester, Purbeck, West, East or North. Applications for 2026-27 close at 5pm on 19 February 2027, or earlier in any area whose money runs out.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £5,000
Deadline
124 days left
19 February
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Community groups and organisations, early years settings and schools/colleges delivering projects for children, young people and families in the Dorset Council area (not BCP)
  • Organisations applying on their own (up to £5,000) need a constitution or memorandum and articles, with a management committee or board of at least 3 unrelated people
  • They also need a bank account in their name with 2 unrelated signatories, safeguarding and equal opportunities policies, an environmental policy or statement, and public liability insurance of £5 million
  • Consortia (up to £20,000) also need annual accounts (or a financial forecast if new) and £10 million insurance
  • New or micro groups without a bank account may have the grant paid via a town or parish council, school or other body
  • Commercial organisations are excluded, and the council cannot pay grants to individuals
  • Applicants do not need to be LAG members, but joining is recommended

What it funds

Evidence-based and innovative interventions for children, young people and families that meet at least one priority of the applicant's Local Alliance Group. Examples of area priorities include:

  • Good health, learning, relationships and financial wellbeing (Weymouth)
  • Ambition, inclusion, a clean and green environment, affordable activities and safe public spaces (Portland)
  • Connecting young people and families to their community and readiness to learn (Dorchester)
  • Transport, mental health, youth environmental involvement, safe spaces, support for parents of children with SEN and employment readiness for 16 to 25 year olds (Purbeck)
  • Financial wellbeing, resilience and education, and connecting young people with communities (West)
  • School attendance and SEN support (East)
  • Poverty, mental health, attendance and NEET, community safety and youth voice (North)

Applicants must show need, value for money, outcomes, an inclusive approach and involvement of young people and/or families in shaping the project.

Funds must be spent and the project started within the same financial year.

What it will not fund

  • Loan repayments
  • Projects outside the Dorset Council area (for example Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole, or other surrounding areas)
  • Individuals or personal equipment
  • Commercial organisations
  • External bursary schemes or grants programmes administered by the applicant
  • Services already commissioned by Dorset Council and awarded to other organisations or agencies
  • Promotion of religious or political beliefs
  • Projects which in the council's opinion could harm its reputation
  • Projects or services the applicant is legally required to provide
  • Projects already funded from elsewhere (match funding is allowed)

How to apply

  1. Check your project meets at least one priority of your area's Local Alliance Group
  2. Gather the mandatory supporting documents for your applicant type (constitution, bank statements, policies, insurance and, for consortia, accounts)
  3. Complete the online Local Alliance Group funding application on the Dorset Council self-service portal (7 sections: organisation details, about you, project details, finance, supporting documents, additional help, declaration), uploading documents (max 3MB each)
  4. You receive a confirmation email with a PDF copy of your application; a panel of at least 4 members reviews it
  5. If funded, complete an evaluation at the end of the project (or 6 months in, for continuing projects)

Applications close at 5pm on 19 February 2027; some Local Alliance Groups may close earlier if their funding has been allocated.

The 2026 to 2027 panel date schedule was not yet finalised when checked.

Have ready

  • Constitution or memorandum and articles of association (within the last 12 months; not needed for schools/colleges)
  • Copies of the last 3 months' bank statements (not needed for schools/colleges)
  • Annual accounts, or a financial forecast for new organisations (consortium applications only)
  • Safeguarding and equal opportunities policies
  • Environmental policy or statement
  • Employers' (if applicable) and public liability insurance: £5 million for single organisations, £10 million for schools/colleges and consortia

Documents are mandatory and should be uploaded with the application; applications can be refused if they are not received before the panel.

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