Dorset Mind aim to deliver life-changing support to the people of Dorset, providing mental health services and resources for adults and children across the county.
Directory: Physical and Mental Health
#WillDoes
We are a charity fundraising and supporting young people’s mental well-being through activities. We cover Dorset and the surrounding area.
To promote any charitable purpose (including the promotion of education, physical health, mental health and social inclusion) and contribute financially to charitable projects for the benefit of young people in Dorset and the surrounding areas.
Introducing young people to sports and other activities to help them connect and engage socially, rather than retreat to more insular gaming and social media pastimes and to develop coping mechanisms to help manage anxiety and emotions, increase self-awareness, developing trust and relationships.
BFN Infant Feeding Support Group
Friendly peer led infant feeding support group offering free infant feeding support, specifically around breastfeeding, pumping and mixed feeding. Refreshments available and activities provided for older siblings, Swanage have an outdoor area and some lovely helpers who can do activities with older children while you sit and feed your baby or chat. A fun social group for mums to meet and support each other.
Weekly group runs at Swanage Children’s Centre on Fridays from 9.45-11.15. Please come along for friendly mother-to-mother peer support, chat, coffee, tea and biscuits and fruit snacks (Often more 🎂).
Wareham group runs at Wareham Youth Centre Wednesday 10-11.30
Overseen by The Breastfeeding Network (BfN), peer supporters have had training from Real Baby Milk (RBM), the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) or Families and Babies (FAB). Peer supporters can signpost to specialist support when required.
Outside of group meetings, support can be accessed via the usual routes (midwife or health visitor for early days) or the National Breastfeeding Network helpline 0300 100 0212
Chat Health NHS Dorset
ChatHealth is a confidential text messaging service that enables children and young people (aged 11-19) in Dorset to send questions via text message to their school nursing team. They will then receive a reply that includes signposting to additional services.
Includes a range of things including: Relationships, Weight, Anxiety, Depression, Drugs, Smoking, Stress, Alcohol, Self harm, Sexual health.
Childline
Information advice and support for children. Talk to a counsellor confidentially.
Includes a range of things including: Relationships, feelings, bullying, abuse, Anxiety, Depression etc.
Childline is here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through.
You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, our trained counsellors are here to support you.
Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. You can talk to us:
- by calling 0800 1111
- sending a message
- through 1-2-1 counsellor chat
Whatever feels best for you.
Domestic Abuse Support
Supports victims and survivors of domestic abuse. They provide specialist trauma-informed support and advocacy to those aged 5-18. They work those who have experienced domestic abuse within the family home. This might be directly, as a witness or within their own intimate relationships. The service will also support CYP’s living in refuge accommodation.
Dorset Blind Association
Social clubs, mobile equipment service, home visits and telephone befrienders.
Swanage Social Club meeting every 4th Tuesday (not August).
The Rectory Classroom St Mary’s Church 2:30pm-4:30pm.
Contact Velleta Cracknell 07761 459997 or 01202 712860
velleta@dorsetblind.org.uk
Dorset Council Cost of Living Support
Money worries take up lots of headspace, leaving you with much less mental energy and time to make good decisions about your money. Remembering to look after yourself can also be hard. Talking to someone can help point you in the right direction and provide the strength to tackle problems. Reach out early for whatever help you need if you are struggling in any way. If small problems have already become bigger ones, get support now.
We can offer free, confidential and impartial support on:
- Money worries
- Accessing affordable food
- Housing and employment rights
- Looking after your Physical & Mental Health
Dorset Home Library Service
The Home Library Service offers a free regular delivery of books and talking books, chosen individually for each person. It is available to those who cannot easily get to the library due to health or mobility issues, including carers.
We provide a regular supply of reading materials, as well as a much looked forward to visit by a trusted volunteer.
Covering all of Dorset (our volunteers deliver books and talking books from Swanage, Corfe Castle, Wareham and Wool Libraries across the whole of the Purbeck area).
Deliveries are made every 3 weeks on a regular day and time; people can contact the Home Library Service on 01305 236666, or speak to a member of staff at any library to apply for the service.
Dorset Mental Health Forum
Their mission is to increase understanding of Physical & Mental Health, to support people’s Recovery and to build capacity within services and communities to bring about change.
they deliver the mission through four Strategic Aims:
- Increasing understanding of Physical & Mental Health through Recovery Education and Co-production.
- Supporting and enabling people to live the lives they wish to live.
- Developing capacity and building connected communities across Dorset.
- Influencing and transforming local services with the collective voice of lived experience.
- Over the years, we have been able to bring lived experience expertise and people’s voices to the heart of statutory service design and delivery, influencing and driving culture change throughout local Physical & Mental Health services in Dorset.
Dorset NHS Pain Management
Dorset pain management service provide specialist support for people living with persistent pain, helping them to lead as fulfilling and independent lives as possible.
Their community pain service deals with all forms of chronic pain, including musculoskeletal (muscles, bones and joints), neurological (nervous system), internal organs and unexplained pain.
Dorset Pain Management Service
To help you with your pain, Dorset pain management have actually set up their four pillars model, and that’s to help you get a greater sense of control about how to live with and manage your pain. So they help people understand their body, their brain, their spinal cord.
How to become more fit in themselves, how to work with their diet and their sleep. Also how to make better life choices in terms of taking up hobbies that might have fallen by the wayside, the skills you might have, and finally help to deal with the anxiety and depression that just goes hand in hand with living with pain.
Dorset Recovery Education Centre
The Recovery Education Centre (REC) is delivered in partnership between Dorset HealthCare and the Dorset Physical & Mental Health Forum, a local peer led charity.
Offering a wide range of educational courses across Dorset which focus on recovery, wellbeing and mental health. Courses are free to attend and are open to anyone over the age of 18 years living in Dorset.
Dorset School Nursing Team
School nursing teams work with children, families, schools and other agencies to support the health and wellbeing of school-age children across Dorset. Every school in Dorset has a named school nurse, who maintains regular contact with their school to promote healthy lifestyles and offer practical advice, information and support.
The team has links with other health professionals including community paediatricians, health visitors, GPs and speech and language therapists.
Text service Parentline is available on 07312 263131
Dorset Youth
Dorset Youth (DY) values, supports and champions the local voluntary sector as they work to strengthen our local communities. The focus is on individuals and organisations working with children, young people and families, and their offer is personable, practical and purposeful. Links to all sorts of things for families and children in Dorset
Durlston Country Park
Durlston Country Park: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday between 10am-1pm meeting at the learning centre.
Shed Sessions: Monday 2pm-4pm, Tuesdays 2pm-4pm, Wednesdays 2:30pm-4:30pm and Fridays 2pm-4pm.
Email us to let us know you would like to join a work party beforehand. Thursday volunteers will need to book on to a dry-stone walling course email for details.
Tuesdays: Pleasure Grounds Project: Enhance the heritage, accessibility, and habitats throughout the Victorian landscape of the park.
Wednesdays: Reserve Conservation: Help care for our stunning National Nature Reserve. Habitat management, scrub cutting, path clearing, hedge-laying, fencing, and more!
Thursdays: Dry-stone Walling: Volunteers help maintain over six miles of dry-stone wall across the Country Park.
We welcome new walling volunteers to get started with a training session held once per month.
Please email durlston@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk for details.
Everyone needs a shed! Durlston Country Park
Everybody Needs a Shed’ was launched as part of the lottery-funded ‘Durlston Pleasure Grounds’ project. It is an accessible community work base which enables people of all ages and abilities to socialise, learn new skills, and volunteer in support of Durlston Country Park.
We welcome people with disabilities, dementia, and other long-term health problems to try a variety of wood-working, gardening, crafts, and DIY projects. No commitment or experience needed – you can even just pop in for a chat.
- Mondays 2pm-4pm – for Cuppa & Chat – enjoy a cuppa and make some new friends in the lovely woodland surroundings. Just drop in and say hello!
- Tuesday 2pm-4pm – join a ranger to help out with practical tasks to support the park – you could be painting, fixing signs, creating crafts or taking part in other DIY projects.
- Wednesdays 2.30pm-4.30pm – join our team of Lead Sheddies to take part in various activities including arts, woodwork, gardening, and more.
- Fridays 2pm-4pm – our gardening group meet to look after our vegetables, plants, and flowers, which we sell for donations on the plant stall as fundraising for the project.
FAB Dorset Breastfeeding Support Charity
Breastfeeding support for pregnant and breastfeeding families including support with expressing milk and hire of breast pumps.
Social and support coffee mornings as well as virtual support for families as well as virtual support for families who may not be able to make it to a group.
Video support is offered every weekday morning. All support is free.
Wareham in person drop in on Tuesday mornings 9:30am-11:30am FAB Charity Shop, 12, West Street, Wareham, BH20 4JX. For other Dorset locations see their website.
Food for Thought Purbeck
A mobile larder based at the Children’s Centre on Chapel Lane on Wednesdays between 9.30 am and 10.30 am throughout the year.
Anyone can become a member of FareShare, with only proof of ID and address required as there is no means testing, nor a need to be in receipt of benefits. Residents can just turn up on a Wednesday morning with their ID to join the scheme.
Once membership has been processed, customers pay £2.50 as a single person, £3.50 for a two person household or £5 for a family, and food worth at least three times as much will be selected for them.
Help and Care – Dorset Self Management Service
We offer a non-clinical social prescribing service. Clients can access sessions offered by our teams throughout Dorset who will help address issues that are affecting day to day life.
Helping a person to have more good days and feeling able to address the things that get in the way. People may have a long- term health condition, caring responsibilities, work uncertainty or money worries for example. The service helps people to self- manage the action they might decide to take and help build resilience.
On a more practical level, the service can also identify activities and support groups that may be of interest and where appropriate they can introduce them or even accompany someone to a group for the first time. We can offer telephone, video or face to face appointments or a mixture of all.
Following receipt of a referral, an initial conversation providing more details about the service and how it might help will also include agreed method of future contact. Dorset Wide Service 9am-5pm Monday to Friday 18+ Must be registered with a GP in Dorset.
Livewell Dorset
Their mission is to help people living in Dorset lead healthier, happier lives. Coaching, support and advice is free and part of your council’s commitment to improving public health.
NSPCC
Support and tips to help you keep children safe. From advice on drugs and alcohol to staying safe online and what to do if you’re worried about a child.
Advice and support for parents and families too.
Public Health Dorset
Improving health and wellbeing across Dorset – lots of information and links to help around Dorset.
SEND Dorset Local Offer
Find out about help available for children and young people (from birth to 25) who have SEND. This is called the Local Offer.
Stepping Into Nature
Have you ever had that feeling of just wanting to get out in the fresh air, have a change of scenery or do something different?
Our beautiful Dorset landscape is full of opportunities to enjoy nature in fun, social and creative ways. For some of us though, finding opportunities to enjoy nature that suits our needs are harder to come by.
Ability, confidence, and age can all influence what we can and can’t do. The Stepping into Nature project is about listening to our community in Dorset and working in partnership to enable everyone to enjoy nature.
Steps2Wellbeing Southampton & Dorset
Steps2Wellbeing is a free, NHS talking therapies service for adults over 18 years old in Dorset and Southampton City.
The service is part of Dorset HealthCare, an NHS trust which specialises in mental health support and treatment.
Accepts referrals and self-referrals – details on the website
Swanage & Langton Matravers Folk Dance Club
Langton Matravers Village Hall. We meet every Tuesday evening from 7.30 pm-9.45 pm, usually for 13-week terms, with a summer break from Late July to mid-September.
No need to book just turn up. We offer physical and mental exercise for men and women – £2 per person per night, or £1 if you sign up and pay a small annual membership subscription of £5.
Swanage Cricket Club
We provide cricketing opportunities for all whether you are an experienced player or new to the game. Swanage and Purbeck area.
There are different training sessions and matches for different groups.
Just get in contact to find out more – there are various memberships depending on your level of interest.
Swanage Croquet Club
Swanage Croquet Club was formed in 2005 and we play Golf Croquet seven days a week at the playing field in Bon Accord Road. Golf Croquet is a sport that can be enjoyed by all and played very simply or involve lots of tactics and subtle shots with games often lasting between 40-60 minutes. We welcome anyone interested in playing the game, regardless of age or ability, and we provide all equipment and guidance necessary to help you enjoy gentle exercise and mental stimulation in good company. We’ll even ‘buddy’ you up with a member to help you learn the game. So, if you’d like to try a taster session simply get in touch and let us know when you are available and we’ll get back to you.
Swanage Food Bank
Based at United Reformed Church, 112 High Street, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2NY
Open Mons, Weds, Fridays 12pm-2.00pm.
Referrals (inc. self-referrals) by phone (07759230313) to arrange Home Delivery or time of collection from premises.
Swanage Town and Herston Football Club
Swanage Football Club Days Park – Times and locations vary, best to email, or contact us through website/social media.
Walking football for women and men.
Adults Football for women and men.
Youth football from 6-16 for girls and boys.
Saturday morning sessions for 2-6 year olds.
The Loft Swanage Community Centre
Regular Wednesday home cooked lunch: 12:30 for food, open until 4pm. Free/small donations. No need to book. Dogs welcome
1st Floor, no lift or disabled toilet
17 Commercial Road, Swanage (opposite Chococo)
For hire by various groups
Better Health - every mind matters
We all need good Physical & Mental Health and wellbeing – NHS resources
Resource Type: Website
Dorset Health Care NHS
We provide specialist support for people living with persistent pain, helping them to lead as fulfilling and independent lives as possible.
Our community pain service deals with all forms of chronic pain, including musculoskeletal (muscles, bones and joints), neurological (nervous system), internal organs and unexplained pain.
Resource Type: Website
Dorset Mental Health Forum
Our Mission is to increase understanding of Physical & Mental Health, to support people’s Recovery and to build capacity within services and communities to bring about change.
We deliver our mission through four Strategic Aims:
- Increasing understanding of Physical & Mental Health through Recovery Education and Co-production.
- Supporting and enabling people to live the lives they wish to live.
- Developing capacity and building connected communities across Dorset.
- Influencing and transforming local services with the collective voice of lived experience.
- Over the years, we have been able to bring lived experience expertise and people’s voices to the heart of statutory service design and delivery, influencing and driving culture change throughout local Physical & Mental Health services in Dorset.
We are proud and honoured to be making a positive difference to thousands of people’s lives across all of our projects and activities every year.
Resource Type: Website
Dorset Pain Management Service
To help you with your pain, we’ve actually set up our four pillars model, and that’s to help you get a greater sense of control about how to live with and manage your pain. So we help people understand their body, their brain, their spinal cord.
We help them think of how to become more fit in themselves, how to work with their diet and their sleep. Also how to make better life choices in terms of taking up hobbies that might have fallen by the wayside, the skills you might have, and finally help to deal with the anxiety and depression that just goes hand in hand with living with pain.
So if you think we can help you in some way, please get in touch; we would be delighted to help you.
Resource Type: Website
Dorset Recovery Education Centre
The Recovery Education Centre (REC) is delivered in partnership between Dorset HealthCare and the Dorset Physical & Mental Health Forum, a local peer led charity.
We offer a wide range of educational courses across Dorset which focus on recovery and wellbeing.
Resource Type: Website
Live Well Dorset
Our mission is to help people living in Dorset lead healthier, happier lives. Our coaching, support and advice is absolutely free and part of your council’s commitment to improving public health. Weight Management, move more, stop smoking and drink less.
Resource Type: Website
Public Health Dorset
Improving health and wellbeing across Dorset – lots of information and links to help around Dorset.
Resource Type: Website
Steps to Wellbeing
Steps2Wellbeing is a free, NHS talking therapies service for adults over 18 years old in Dorset .
The service is part of Dorset HealthCare, an NHS trust which specialises in Physical & Mental Health support and treatment; Steps2Wellbeing is for adults aged 18 and over who are registered with a GP in Dorset
Resource Type: Website