Links
Useful Organisations
On this page you'll find a selection of useful organisations, charities and informative websites to help you with any of your queries.
Local Links
Becoming a carer can affect a person’s finances, social life, education and employment, and general health and well-being. We support all carers in Dorset Council area. We help them to access services and information to make their caring role easier. Our services include:
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Support, information and advice
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Information on local support groups and carer cafes
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Our regular newsletters, keeping carers up-to-date with news, what’s on and services available
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Access to the Dorset Carers’ Card – saving you money
Dorset Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) offer free, confidential, accurate and impartial advice and support to families living in Dorset and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND).
We are a local charity which gives friendship, advice and practical support to families who live in West Dorset. We help parents, with a child under 5, discover, or rediscover, the joy and fun of parenting.
The Leonardo Trust is an independent charity set up in 2001 to help people in Dorset who are voluntary carers for sick or disabled relatives or friends.
Dorset’s Local Offer has been developed for children & young people with SEN and disabilities and their families to be the one place you need to visit for all information.
The interactive news and information network for children who are disabled and their families across Dorset.
National Organisations
Cerebra is a unique charity set up to help improve the lives of children with brain related conditions through researching, educating and directly supporting children and their carers.
We understand that life with a disabled child brings unique challenges, and we exist to help families feel valued, supported, confident and informed. We support families with the best possible guidance and information.
We want disabled children and young people and those with special educational needs to have full and happy childhoods, to fulfil their potential, and be active within the community. And we want parents of disabled children to be parents first - living ordinary lives.
The UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people
IPSEA is a national charity providing free legally based advice to families who have children with special educational needs. All our advice is given by trained volunteers.
Mencap work in partnership with people with a learning disability, and all their services support people to live life as they choose.
Funded by Department for Education (DfE), we provide expertise and support to local authorities and their partners to embed preparing for adulthood from the earliest years. We work to ensure that young people with SEND achieve paid employment, independent living, housing options, good health, friendships, relationships and community inclusion.
We support siblings of all ages who are growing up with or who have grown up with a brother or sister with any disability, long term chronic illness, or life limiting condition.
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF) is a charity specialising in severe learning disabilities and behaviour described as challenging. Established by a family carer, we work with families and professionals supporting children and adults across the UK.
We are the leading UK charity for people with autism (including Asperger syndrome) and their families. We provide information, support and pioneering services, and campaign for a better world for people with autism.