Dozens of venues and organisations across west Dorset are calling on the public’s support as hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of funding could be scrapped.

Dorset Council is reviewing how it financially supports the voluntary community sector (VCS) beyond March 2021 and is asking residents for their views in a survey.

A total of £1.9 million was invested into VCS this year and grants were given to organisations in various sectors, including advice, museums, heritage, community, leisure, arts, culture and environment.

A list of recipients of the council’s VCS grants was included in the agenda of a cabinet meeting in November last year and showed that Lyme Regis Museum receives just over £28,400, Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre just under £18,700, Marine Theatre just under £7,000 and the Beaminster and Bridport Local Area Partnerships are given £6,000 each. Bridport CAB also receives funding.

Bridport Museum receives £54,000 from Dorset Council each year and director Emily Hicks is urging people to complete the survey to support the museum and keep its doors open.

She said: “Any cut to funding could majorly impact on our ability to keep the museum doors open and to care for our unique collections.

“We are visited by around 30,000 visitors per year, an estimated economic impact of £1 million for the local economy and we are supported by around 80 volunteers who give around 4,000 hours of in-kind support annually, to a value of approximately £600,000.

“We run one of only two local history centres in Dorset, providing access to unique records charting the heritage of the local area and we have a formidable track record of drawing in external funding, but this doesn’t cover the everyday costs.”

Lyme Regis Museum will also be affected if Dorset Council agree to stop the ‘crucial’ funding in March 2021.

Director David Tucker said: “Lyme Regis Museum is very grateful for the generous funding it receives from Dorset Council. Our charity understands that the council has difficult decisions to make about funding.

“The grant we receive from Dorset Council is crucial if we are to continue our important work.

“Our museum makes a very serious contribution to Lyme’s economy, we employ local people, buy local services and indirectly contribute to Lyme’s holiday accommodation, pubs and cafes. In 2018, almost 33,000 people visited our museum.

“A serious reduction in our grant will significantly reduce our ability to contribute to the Jurassic Coast, education, the local economy and provide less volunteering opportunities and activities for local people.”

The Marine Theatre is also at threat and director Gabby Rabbits is urging funders to consider the effect the cuts would have on communities.

Director Gabby Rabbitts said: “A cut from Dorset Council will threaten the Marine, and we have exhausted cost saving and areas that can be improved. We urge funders to consider the effect of cuts on communities.”

Dorset Council says that the current funding arrangements are ‘unequal’ with some areas of Dorset receiving more than others, and the review will ‘ensure grants are fairly distributed across the county’.

Cllr Tony Alford, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for customer, community and regulatory services, said: “We want to hear from people across the Dorset Council area. Not only from those involved with voluntary bodies working in the community, but also those who benefit from their activity and also those who have no direct connection.

“We have already written to the current grant recipients explaining what we are doing. Their funding has been extended for another year, giving us time to review and put in place a supportive grant system from April 2021.”

The public have until March 11 to complete the survey, which can be found by visiting dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Dorset Wildlife Trust and Volunteer Centre Dorset were unable to comment by the time of going to print and other organisations affected by the decision were also contacted.