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
Directory: Recreational Activities
Art For Fun
Join us at Andy Knill Art Studio, 21 Commerical Rd, Swanage, between Chococo and The Little Garden Gift Shop.
We are here Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays between 10am and 5pm.
Suitable for all ages and abilities – Parent/carers must stay with children.
Belverdere Singers
We are a non-auditioning mixed choir with 4 voice parts. We have a professional Music Director and Accompanist and learn a wide range of music to perform at 2 concerts per year.
We are a registered charity and each concert supports a nominated charity via a retiring collection. All ages and abilities are welcome. We rehearse at Emanuel Baptist Church, Victoria Avenue, Swanage.
We perform concerts at St. Mary’s Church, Kings Road, Swanage.
Rehearsals are at Emanuel Baptist Church on Tuesdays 7:30pm-9:30pm, roughly following school term time dates, so we meet September to December, January to Easter and post Easter to June, with breaks.
Anyone can come to try us out for 2 weeks before joining. Subscriptions are paid in 3 termly parts and equate to roughly £5 a week.
Dorset Council Family Information Service
Dorset Family Information Service (FIS) is a free, impartial information service for parents and carers of children and young people aged up to 19, or up to 25 years for those with special educational needs or disability (SEND).
Find activities and things to do for families. Support and services, Health and Wellbeing.
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.
Purbeck U3A
There are groups that meet on every day of the week, please see website: purbecku3a.org.uk
There is no age limit to join, the only proviso is that members should not be in full time work. Therefore most members are over 60.
To join PU3A, there is a subscription of £16 per annum (rising to £20 on 1 September 2023). For this, members can join any of the 50 groups offered by PU3A – these range from activity groups such as cycling, walking, badminton, table tennis to language groups (French, Italian, Spanish, Latin) several book groups, art and music appreciation and also Tai Chi.
Whatever your interest there will be a group for you. Also, once a month on a Thursday morning, at Harmans Cross village hall, there is a series of talks by eminent speakers on a range of subjects. About 100 members attend these. It is an opportunity to meet other members and to hear about group activities.
Information about joining is on the website.
Studland History Group
We have talks on the local area looking at it’s history. To preserve local history. Studland Village Hall.
On the third Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm. Annual membership £17 or visitors £3.50.
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 Disabled Club
We have our social meetings/outings for local elderly/disabled residents with transport provided.
We meet every Monday at All Saints Church Hall, Ulwell, 2pm till 4pm £2 per meeting.
Contact: Sue Payne, Secretary
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.
T-Pot Drop in
Every Wednesday 10am-12.30am at the Rectory Classroom, Church Hill Swanage.
Everyone welcome especially those lonely or bereaved.