DORSET County Council has invested more than £1million into community organisations across the area over the past two years.

Assisted by the Dorset Community Foundation, which manages the Dorset County Council Fund, a running total of 232 projects have been helped to build their capacity, including youth clubs, jobs clubs, village halls and advice services.

When the fund’s panel met in early September, 62 per cent of the funding requested was approved and over £124,000 was awarded during the seventh round of applications, which went to 26 organisations in the county.

Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset County Council, pictured left, said: “Dorset County Council is really pleased to be able to support the valuable work that the voluntary sector undertakes across Dorset.

“The diversity of activity that we have supported indicates the important role that the voluntary sector plays in our society.

“I am also pleased to confirm that the cabinet, at their meeting on September 3, agreed to continue the Dorset County Council Fund for another year.

“We will announce details of the 2015 funding rounds shortly.”

Swanage Pier Trust is just one of the groups that has benefitted from grants awarded in September, after receiving £7,500 to appoint a new volunteer co-ordinator.

The trust works on restoring Swanage Pier, to keep it open for visitors and residents, and applied for the money to help kick-start a new volunteer campaign.

A grant of £2,350 was also made to Dorset Writers’ Network, who work with people with disabilities or mental and emotional health issues, ranging in age from 16 to 80.

Money from the grant will help provide professionally-facilitated writing workshops, to enable the group’s members to produce an e-book entitled A Day in the Life of Dorset.

For more information on the Dorset County Council Fund and other funds managed by the foundation, you can visit Dorsetcommunityfoundation.org.uk.