From the EDC Team
Over the last two years across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, we have seen organisations grow, visions turn into thriving family hubs, cancelled cultural festivals rebuild as resilient community celebrations, and grassroots leaders take up influential seats at local decision-making tables.
We are proud to share the Annual Report 2025 for the project. Now closing its second year of a three-year initiative funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, the project is delivered in partnership by CAN as lead partner, Dorset Community Foundation (DCF), Dorset Race Equality Council (Dorset REC), and BCP Council.
Together, our goal is simple yet ambitious: to ensure local EDC groups are well governed, resilient, connected and self-sustaining for the long term. The data from this past year reflects a shift from early community engagement to deep, structured organisational growth. By removing complex systemic barriers, such as the often challenging process of opening community bank accounts, local groups are unlocking new pathways to funding and delivery.
• 66 EDC groups supported since the launch in 2024, with 36 new groups receiving tailored support this year.
• £89,215.22 awarded to grassroots groups through the DCF Strength and Sustainability Grants programme to fund core infrastructure and project delivery.
• 22 bank accounts were opened with CAN guidance, removing a significant barrier that had previously prevented many smaller groups from accessing grant funding.
• 57 groups are now delivering new activities as a direct result of project support, ranging from cultural workshops to vital health and wellbeing initiatives.
Behind every statistic in our report is a human story of dedication. We want to highlight three incredible organisations that demonstrate what is possible when community passion is matched with targeted capacity-building support.
TenToes Youth and Family Hub: Turning Vision into Reality
When TenToes first joined the project, they had a clear and inspiring vision to create safe, inclusive spaces for ethnically diverse families in Dorset. What they lacked was the formal infrastructure needed to bring that vision to life.
Working alongside CAN, they established a constitution, developed a business plan and successfully opened a community bank account. Today, they are running a thriving weekly Friday Family Hub at the Dorset Children’s Foundation in Boscombe, already supporting more than 50 community members.
“We didn’t expect the level of support and encouragement. It helped us realise that we are very capable of running our organisation and supporting our community.”
Beautiful World Festival: Rebuilding and Reimagining
Formerly known as the World of Love Festival, this vital multicultural celebration faced severe post-pandemic challenges and a devastating weather-related cancellation in 2025 that shook the team’s confidence.
Through sustained strategic planning and governance mentoring, the organisation regained stability and confidence. The team expanded its reach through smaller community events, including the highly successful Lunar Festival in Bournemouth, which attracted around 900 attendees. They are now moving confidently towards a renewed main festival in June 2026 with a stronger and more sustainable operating model.
Sankofa Community: Lived Experience Leading the Way
Sankofa was founded by an individual with significant lived experience who wanted to create a welcoming drop-in space for single parents navigating life and cultural adjustments in the UK.
After becoming funding-ready and securing a £3,000 EDC Capacity Building Grant, Sankofa has evolved from a promising idea into a structured and trusted community organisation. It now runs weekly Saturday drop-in sessions and workshops in Boscombe, attended by around 20 adults and 15 children.
Shifting the Balance of Power
One of the most exciting achievements of Year 2 has been the growth of leadership representation across the programme. We launched the EDC Experts Directory, celebrating and recognising the professional skills and lived experiences of seven local community experts who now deliver workshops and learning opportunities for their peers.
In addition, six representatives from local grassroots organisations now sit on Dorset Community Foundation grant assessment panels, helping ensure that funding decisions are informed by the communities those resources are intended to support.
Looking Ahead
As we enter the final year of our current funding cycle, our focus is firmly on sustainability. We are working hard to ensure these groups have the tools, confidence and infrastructure needed to thrive independently long after individual interventions end. At the same time, we are co-designing and preparing our application for Phase 2 of the project. With 96.6% of surveyed groups expressing a desire for the EDC Project to continue beyond April 2027, the message from our communities is clear.
We will place an even greater emphasis on strengthening and developing the EDC Partnership Board as a key mechanism for ensuring that our work remains community-led and genuinely co-produced. By deepening community involvement in decision-making, we aim to further shift power, amplify local voices and ensure future priorities are shaped by those with lived experience.
Developing leadership across ethnically diverse communities will also be a cornerstone of our work moving forward. We are committed to nurturing both existing and emerging leaders, creating opportunities for them to influence systems, build organisational resilience and drive positive change within their communities. By investing in leadership, we are investing in the long-term sustainability, confidence and strength of the sector itself.
This work is built on relationships. We extend our deepest gratitude to The National Lottery Community Fund for their trust, to our valued delivery partners, and most importantly, to the extraordinary leaders and volunteers within BCP’s ethnically diverse communities. Your vision, commitment and passion are the heartbeat of this project.
👉 Want to read the full breakdown of our journey this year?
