Capital Leverage Fund

The aim of the Capital Leverage Fund is to support community and cultural organisations to deliver capital projects which provide new and improved facilities for our communities and residents.

The fund also helps organisations secure additional investment from funders outside of their organisation.

Projects need to meet at least one of the Dorset Council priorities and the Cultural Strategy priorities. Dorset Council’s four Cultural priorities are:

• Community
• Cultural County
• Environment
• Economy

Projects we fund:

We can fund capital projects including:

• village hall or community building enhancements, renovations, maintenance, or new build projects, including car parks, play areas, MUGAS, pitches, and landscaping
• capital projects that address disadvantage or equal access for communities
• capital projects that may contribute to an improved environmental impact or address climate change themes
• new public art
• landscaping for improving accessibility and improving inclusivity
• project management costs
• feasibility studies or first stage conceptual development (e.g. Heritage Lottery Fund form passed)

Who can apply:

‘Not for profit’ community organisations in the Dorset Council area, with an annual turnover of less than £1million can apply.

This includes:

• accredited museums
• arts organisations
• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO’s)
• community buildings that are owned by Dorset Council and leased to a Voluntary Community Organisation (not within any repairing agreement with Dorset Council), subject to permission from us and can demonstrate 10 year security of tenure
• community centres and village halls
• Community Interest Companies (CIC). We will only fund CIC’s with a minimum of 3 directors, two of whom must be unrelated. We need to see a clear ‘Asset Lock’ Statement and Memorandums and - Articles of Association.
• community sports facilities
• Company Ltd by Guarantee (not for profit)
• constituted organisations
• heritage organisations
• non-profit making organisations operated with no undue restriction on membership e.g. charities partnerships of organisations with a written partnership agreement (town councils can be part of a partnership project)
• Registered Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) town and parish councils
• Voluntary and Community Sector organisations
• youth centres and community-run pre-schools If your organisation has an annual turnover of over £1million, contact us to discuss your application first. You can still apply but will be a lower priority.