COMMUNITY groups across west Dorset have had a welcome financial boost.

Thirteen groups, including The Living Tree in Bridport and the 1st Charmouth Scout Group, have received grants of up to £1,500 from Wessex Water Community Fund, managed by Dorset Community Foundation.

Jon Yates, chief executive at the foundation, said: “We are very pleased to be working together with Wessex Water to help them support local communities.

“This is just one of the many corporate funds we manage for Dorset and these partnerships help companies such as Wessex Water deliver community benefit where they operate.”

The Wessex Water Community Fund supports and encourages organisations that bring people together by providing grants to groups that support community cohesion and organisations promoting the use of water to build stronger communities.

The group supplies funding of up to £1,500 and priority is given to groups working in areas of financial deprivation or rural isolation, raising awareness of drinking water for healthy living or promoting water saving initiatives.

Kirsty Scarlett, head of community engagement for Wessex Water, said: “We are very pleased to be working with the foundation who are an expert in impactful grant giving locally.

“The applications were very interesting and featured different ways of working with marginalised groups to achieve community cohesion.

“We are very pleased to have funded 13 community-focused projects from all across Dorset.”

The Wessex Water Fund opens for applications once a year and the next funding round is planned for January 2020.