Dorset Community Foundation has launched phase two of its Dorset Coronavirus Community Fund after securing £900,000.

The second funding round will support groups and charities helping Dorset people suffering hardship and disadvantage as a result of the economic and social impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

In the first phase of funding, the foundation supported almost 200 projects to the value of just over £500,000. This included Bridport ASD and Social Anxiety Society, Bridport Citizens Advice and Dorset Mind.

Grant Robinson, foundation director, said: “We are very pleased that thanks to the generous donations to our Dorset Coronavirus Appeal, we have secured £900,000, an amazing amount. I am delighted we can now move to the second phase of our response as the needs within our villages, towns and their inhabitants change and develop.

“Ultimately as a funder, it’s vital that we seek the best ways to support and sustain small charities and community groups because without these front-line voluntary organisations, our communities face an even tougher recovery from the impacts of Covid-19.

“As a community foundation, we are a core local part of the solution and working with our donors we can ensure that emergency and resilience funding - as well as longer term funding - gets to the right place where it will have most impact. This is what we do.

“We need to keep raising more support as the demand is unprecedented and will grow. We are by no means finished and we continue to be more relevant than ever before in our 20 years of operation, all for the benefit of communities within Dorset.”

The second phase of the Dorset Coronavirus Community Fund offers three types of grants - £2,000 fast track grants, £5,000 longer term grants and £10,000 partnership grants. The deadline for applications is 12noon on August 28.

To apply, support the appeal or for more information, visit dorsetcommunityfoundation.org