Talbot Village Trust

The Trust funds a wide range of activities across its area of benefit. Core costs, salaries, project delivery, capital works, equipment, training, events and transport are all supported. Cause areas include children and youth, older people, disability, mental health, physical health, poverty and hardship, homelessness, education and skills, employment, arts and culture, environment, faith, community development and carers. The Trust places strategic emphasis on promoting mental wellbeing, addressing climate change and nature recovery, and tackling different forms of educational exclusion. All funded work must take place within Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, East Dorset and Purbeck.

Registered charities, schools, faith groups and other locally based community organisations operating in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, East Dorset or Purbeck can apply. The Trust prioritises grassroots groups with strong local roots. Beneficiaries include children and young people, older people, disabled people, those experiencing mental health challenges, homelessness or poverty, and carers. Applications from individuals are not accepted, except in exceptional circumstances by invitation. Faith-based organisations may apply for projects that benefit the wider community.

The Trust does not fund animal welfare organisations unless they provide assistance or therapy animals. One-off events with limited longer-term benefit are excluded, as are applications from individuals (except by invitation). Retrospective funding, loan repayment, research and purely environmental work not linked to local community sustainability are not supported. Religious activities are excluded, though repairs to faith buildings with wider community benefit may be considered. Also excluded are independent or fee-paying schools unless assisting disadvantaged backgrounds, local authority schools for statutory activities, swimming pools unless for therapeutic reasons, and projects that replace statutory provision or duplicate existing services.

The Trust offers grants through its open Small Grants Programme, which can cover core costs, salaries, project delivery, capital works, equipment, training, events and transport. Match funding is not required. The Trust welcomes unsolicited applications from eligible organisations and values partnership with locally rooted groups. Grants are intended to create long-term community benefit.