COMMUNITY groups in Weymouth and Portland are invited to bid for a slice of almost £90,000.

The Weymouth and Portland Partnership has opened its community grants scheme for this financial year to improve the quality of life in the borough.

The main pot contains £38,900 and organisations can apply for funding for small projects of up to £1,000.

The funding has come from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Weymouth College, Weymouth and Portland Housing, NHS Dorset, Dorset Police, Dorset County Council and Dorset Strategic Partnership.

In addition, the partnership has £31,205 from its Health and Wellbeing theme group.

This funding will target reducing childhood obesity and supporting people with mental health to get back to work or to continue work.

The deadline for applications is Thursday, July 9 and the funding panel will meet to decide the recipients on July 21. To discuss an application, contact partnership manager Louise Stewart on 01305 838364 or download guidance from the website www.weymouthandportlandpartnership.org The partnership’s Safer Stronger Communities theme group also has cash to give out, specifically to help with the Partners and Communities Together (Pact) process.

Pact groups can apply for a share of £4,100 to help with administration, such as hire of halls, or for a slice of a further £5,000 to carry out the Pact priorities in the community.

Dorset Police has £10,000 to facilitate small projects and activities at neighbourhood level that address crime and fear of crime issues.

Information is available from Sgt Caroline Naughton on 01305 226620 of Caroline.Naughton@Dorset.PNN.Police.uk The opening of the community grants scheme comes as the partnership reports an exciting and successful year.

In the first annual report, chairman Duncan Fergusson says: “Implementation of the plan has been encouraging and real benefits are being delivered to the community. Even against the backdrop of the economic downturn, I anticipate that 2009-10 will be a successful year for the partnership.”

The partnership represents local organisations, including those in the housing, health and education sectors. The report shows how it has gone from supporting 50 groups in 2007 to more than 100 in 2008.

The website includes information on projects linked to the partnership, information on getting funding, and an event diary.