Information about schools including school admissions and placements, home schooling, free school meals, school transport and policies, SEND in schools and childcare funding.
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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.
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#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.
Baby and Toddler Groups
MOST GROUPS RUN TERM TIMES ONLY
Monday
Growing together under 1’s – Focus Centre 10:30 – 11:30, booking required.
Young Talkers – Focus Centre 13:30 – 15:00, booking required
All Saints Toddler Group – All Saints Church 9:15 – 11:00
Nature Tots – Discovery Centre, Knoll Beach, Studland 10:00 – 11:30 but not every week.
Tuesday
Newborn Hearing Clinic – Focus Centre 9:00 – 14:00
First Steps Toddler Group – Methodist Church 10:00 – 11:30
Wednesday
Health Visiting Baby weigh and drop-in – Focus Centre 10:00 – 11:30am
Seahorses Homestart Wessex – Herston Village Hall 9:30 – 11:00
Thursday
EBC Tots – Emmanuel Baptist Church 10:00 – 11:30
Friday
BFN Infant Feeding Support Group – Focus Centre 9:45 – 11:15
Rhyme Time – Swanage Library 11:00 – 11:30
Putlake Toddlers – Salt Pig, The Farm Putlake 10:30 – 12:30, £3 adults, £6 children
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 Focus 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.
Child Speech and Language Therapy
Our children and young people’s speech and language therapy service works with children, young people, their families and other professionals. We support those with speech, language and communication needs. We also provide care for children and young people with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.
The help we provide you and your child is based on their individual needs. We work with you and the preschool or school setting, so that advice and interventions can be practiced regularly.
Focus Centre, Swanage on Wednesdays – only available by booking.
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.
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.
Dorset Health Visiting Service
The health visiting service works with children and their families to promote health and wellbeing from the antenatal period up until five years of age.
Health visitors can provide advice and support on a range of health matters including:
- transition to parenthood and early weeks maternal mental health (perinatal depression)
- breastfeeding
- healthy weight, healthy nutrition and physical activity
- managing minor illness and reducing accidents
- health, wellbeing and development of the child, including support to be ready for school.
Drop in at the Focus Centre every Wednesday 10-11.30am for general clinic and baby weighing or Tuesdays 9:00 – 14:00 1st and 3rd of each month for newborn hearing check
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
Explorers Wraparound Childcare
Your children’s happiness and care is of utmost importance to us and at Explorers Childcare Group we go above and beyond to create a safe and nurturing environment for your children to develop.
As part of embedding our ethos that Explorers Nursery is an extension of your family, it is very important that you feel as welcome and integrated into the nursery as the children. We hold an open door policy at all times and all you are welcome to drop in and tour the facilities and talk to our staff who are supporting our children.
Complete Childcare is offered from 0-12 years.
We are open 50 weeks of the year.
Opening Times:
7:30am to 5.00pm Mon-Thurs
8.00am-5.00pm Friday
We are closed on bank holidays, the Christmas period and one week in early August.
Focus Centre, Swanage everyday
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.
Growing Together Baby Group 0-1 years
Explore a range of activities to develop baby’s sensory awareness and cognitive development. Tips to support learning.
Booking essential due to limited spaces – 01202 868224. Optional donation of £1 per session to help cover resource costs.
Focus Centre Swanage, Monday 10:30 – 11:30, but not every week so must book in advance.
Also available in Bovington, Wareham and Upton.
Healthier Together – Young People’s Health
Support for Parents Children and Youth surrounding lots of topics.
Mosaic Supporting Bereaved Children
Mosaic is a Dorset based charity supporting children and young people who have been bereaved of someone special, such as a parent, sibling, friend or a member of their extended family. This includes all causes of death such as long-term illness, sudden death, suicide, murder or road traffic accident.
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.
Parent Talk
Down-to-earth parenting advice you can trust. Find answers to parenting questions in advice articles. Or talk to a parenting coach about anything that’s worrying you. It’s all free, and no topic is too big, small, or embarrassing.
Planet Purbeck
Coming together to care for our countryside, coast and communities. Planet Purbeck are a young organisation, ‘the new kids on the block’ if you like, connecting with the community and developing wonderful friendships as they go.
They’re from all walks of life, with teens through to those in their 80’s getting involved. Coming together like this is creating incredible energy and a nice, tingly feeling of joint purpose.
Seahorses Homestart Wessex Toddler Group
Weekly Term time playgroup for preschool children and their carers. Lots of fun and games, healthy snack. Everyone welcome no need to book.
Wednesday 9.30am-11am term time only.
Herston Village Hall Jubilee Road, Swanage.
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.
Swanage Youth Club
A youth club for young people year 6 to 10 in Swanage aiming to help the young people develop their potential and find their purpose. Gaming, football, crafts, cooking and tuck.
Please contact for a registration form – we currently operate a waiting list.
Young Talkers
A targeted speech and language support programme run across local Family Hubs. The sessions are typically designed as an 8-week course for young children to boost their early communication, language, and social interaction skills.
Because it is a targeted service, availability can vary, and spaces often require a booking or a professional referral from your child’s health visitor or speech and language therapist.
Mondays at the Focus Centre, but booking in advance essential.