Dorset Children's Foundation

Dorset Children's Foundation is an independent charity dedicated to enriching the lives of disabled children and their families by filling critical gaps left by statutory services. Rooted in values of inclusion, equality, diversity, compassion, and hands-on care—embodied in their ethos of being 'big enough to make a difference but small enough to care'—they prioritize family-led, person-centred support that empowers through direct engagement and lived experience. Their impact approach believes transformative change arises from pragmatic, flexible interventions removing barriers to daily functioning, social participation, and emotional wellbeing, fostering self-esteem and family resilience via targeted, innovative aid.

They fund specialist disability equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, and mobility aids enabling independence for children with physical disabilities, complex health needs, and learning disabilities; non-NHS therapies including physiotherapy and occupational therapy addressing developmental delays; 'Accessible For All' inclusive sports, play activities, and group outings combating social isolation for disabled children; mental health counselling and peer support groups for parents and carers experiencing stress, anxiety, and exhaustion; life-enriching experiences such as family holidays and outings building confidence and family bonds; and disability awareness education like 'Paddy's Purpose' programs breaking down societal barriers through community training and advocacy. They support interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, physical disabilities, and complex needs, alongside holistic family support including sibling inclusion, preventative respite-like activities, and therapeutic outdoor pursuits promoting emotional regulation, peer connections, and holistic wellbeing in underserved families.

They exclude core costs, unrestricted funding, capacity-building, or activities unaligned with local disabled children's quality-of-life improvements, prioritizing financial-need families in Dorset communities facing statutory service gaps. Distinctive for trustee-parent involvement in delivery, seamless volunteer integration, innovative family-led solutions, and advocacy for systemic disability rights, they favor grassroots organizations with lived experience leadership delivering person-centred, community-driven inclusion over segregated or top-down models.