Menu
Autism Unlimited supports and empowers autistic children, adults, and their families, helping them develop skills, achieve independence, and lead fulfilling lives through education and personalised support.
The organisation provides specialist education, adult services, and training, including its Portfield School and Futures programme for young adults.
Funds raised will support Portfield Plus, a new therapeutic, outdoor-focused school designed to expand its specialist provision and reach more people in the community.
Brendoncare is a local charity that supports older people by providing care, friendship, and a strong sense of community. Its “Total Care” approach combines care homes, assisted living, and community hubs to help people stay connected and active in later life.
The charity also offers befriending services, online meet-ups, and digital support to reduce isolation and help older people stay connected and safe online.
Everything it does is focused on dignity, compassion, and meaningful relationships, ensuring older people feel valued and included.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance provides life-saving, pre-hospital critical care to those in urgent need across Dorset and Somerset. As the local air ambulance charity for the area, the charity is a vital part of the community that relies on the support of the public to be there for critically ill and injured people when every second counts. By air and by road, the service was tasked nearly 3,000 times last year alone. With no direct Government or National Lottery funding, the charity relies on the generosity of the community to raise its operational costs of over £10 million a year. It is the generosity of the community that keeps the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance ready to save lives.
The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation provides financial support to Dorset residents facing hardship due to cancer, helping to ease the financial burden of treatment.
Founded in 2013 by three nurses who experienced cancer firsthand, the charity focuses solely on supporting local people while keeping running costs low.
It operates with a small team and relies on donations to ensure funds go directly to those in need.
Dorset Mind is a local mental health charity that has supported people across Dorset for over 75 years, offering services for adults and young people with mild to moderate mental health challenges. These include one-to-one support, wellbeing programmes, early intervention, and crisis support, helping individuals build resilience and improve wellbeing.
Operating independently, the charity relies on fundraising and community support to reach thousands each year while tackling stigma around mental health. Funds raised help sustain and expand these vital, accessible services.
Dreams Come True is the only national wish granting charity that solely supports children with a disability, serious illness or a life-limiting condition who live in the highest areas of social deprivation in our country today. Whether its a UK family getaway for a young cancer patient, a specially adapted trike for a child with cerebral palsy, or a room makeover for a seriously ill child, each dream brings moments of magic and has a lasting impact for years to come.
Friends of PICU supports the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Southampton Children’s Hospital by funding vital medical equipment, specialist transport, staff training, family accommodation, and practical support for families. Every child treated in PICU benefits from the charity’s work, helping critically ill children and their families during one of the most difficult times of their lives.
Helpful Hounds is a mental health charity that improves the lives of young people with a range of conditions via the training of assistance dogs in and around the community. They also have dogs that work full time in schools with SEND students as well as a team of community dogs that visit care homes, schools and homeless charities.
For 30 years, they have supported vulnerable local families with children under five through practical, emotional, and non-judgmental support. Their mission is to give every child the best start in life by building family confidence and strengthening community connections. Covering much of Dorset, they rely on fundraising to train volunteers, run groups, and continue providing this vital support. Please help them raise the funds needed to keep making a difference, because children's lives can't wait.
Set up in 2008 in memory of Lieutenant John Thornton RM who was tragically killed in Afghanistan while serving with 40 Commando Royal Marines. His Foundation's mission is to inspire and support young people to "climb as high as they can dream" by offering scholarships and bursaries for their training and personal development. Operating with no paid staff or premises, they ensure that maximum funds go directly to supporting young futures. Since inception, awards have been made to over 2,500 young people and 200 school/group projects have been supported.
The Kirsty Louise Streek Foundation is a grant giving charity. The primary aim is to specifically raise money to grant to organisations supporting Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer and Sarcoma. They also provide grants for individuals with cancer who need support with better quality wigs, wig styling, hair care and beauty treatment, to ensure Cancer patients have the confidence to enjoy their lives.
Meredith's Mission is a Dorset-based charity supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer. Founded following founder Kate Hibberd's experience of her daughter Meredith's cancer treatment, the charity provides practical and emotional support throughout treatment and after treatment ends. Support includes family events, wellbeing therapies, parent and carer support, vouchers for essential items, creative activities and oppurtunities for familes to connect with other who understand the challenges they face. Funds raised through this event will help Meredith's Mission continue providing support to local families across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, ensuring that no family faces childhood cancer alone.
The East Dorset & New Forest Branch of the MND Association is run by volunteers who support people and families affected by Motor Neurone Disease across BH postcodes. Through fundraising, they provide practical, emotional, and financial support, including home visits, support groups, wellbeing services, essential equipment, and grants for memorable days out and short breaks, offering a vital lifeline to those living with MND.
Mosaic is a Dorset-wide charity supporting children and young people aged 5–18 who are struggling with grief after losing a loved one. It offers counselling, bereavement cafés in schools, and activity days to help young people process their emotions and build resilience.
Funds raised will support counselling sessions and school-based bereavement cafés, providing vital support to reduce isolation and help young people cope and thrive.
MYTIME Young Carers are dedicated to supporting young carers across the UK - children and young people who selflessly care for a loved one, often with little recognition or support. These incredible young people juggle school, friendships, and their own wellbeing which can leave them feeling isolated and overwhelmed. At MYTIME, we work to level the playing field, ensuring young carers have the same opportunities as their peers. Through their programmes, they empower their beneficiaries with skills, confidence, and a sense of community, reminding them that they are valued, supported, and never alone.
PANS PANDAS UK is the only UK charity supporting children and young people affected by PANS and PANDAS, advocating for access to proper NHS diagnosis and treatment for all families.
These conditions can cause sudden, severe changes in behaviour, and without prompt care, families may face isolation and misdiagnosis. The charity provides advocacy, support, and hope for affected families.
Funds raised help it continue campaigning for better healthcare and supporting families and education systems.
Salisbury Hospice Charity provides supports Salisbury Hospice by raising the vital funds needed to ensure the hospice can continue serving the local community. Salisbury Hospice provides specialist, compassionate care for people living with life-limiting illnesses. Their dedicated team focuses on delivering the highest standards of comfort, dignity and emotional support. Care is provided not only to patients but also to their families, offering guidance and reassurance during challenging times.
Smile 4 Wessex provides charitable support to the Wessex Neurological Centre in Southampton. Their fundraising appeal enhances the range and quality of patient care and sponsor pioneering research.
Established in 1980, the organisation provides supported living, residential, and day services for adults with learning disabilities, including those with additional physical and mental health needs. Guided by values of choice, respect, and trust, it helps individuals build independence and confidence.
Supporting over 100 people across multiple sites, it also offers varied day programmes and work experience opportunities. With a projected funding gap for 2026–27, donations are vital to sustain and grow these essential services.
The CRUMBS Project, based in Bournemouth, empowers adults with physical, learning, and social needs by providing hospitality, catering, and life‑skills training. The charity offers Institute of Hospitality – endorsed courses & Craft Guild of Chefs accredited courses in Food Production & Service, Foundation, Housekeeping, Administration, and Digital Skills to up to 30 adults each year, including individuals with disabilities, neurodivergences, mental health conditions, stabilised addictions, or acquired brain injuries. Through flexible training methods—delivered both in-person and online—CRUMBS helps trainees develop the skills needed for roles within the Dorset hospitality industry. All fundraising directly supports these training programmes, and over 90% of trainees progress into employment, gaining increased confidence, self-esteem, and independence
Veterans With Dogs helps former Armed Forces personnel rebuild their lives after service by providing specially trained assistance dogs to veterans living with PTSD and other mental health challenges. These dogs offer companionship, emotional support, and greater independence. Funds raised through the Dorset Plane Pull will help train and care for more assistance dogs, support more veterans, and raise awareness of the charity’s vital work.
Since 1981, Wessex Cancer Support has provided vital emotional support to people affected by cancer across Dorset, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight, ensuring no one faces it alone.
The charity offers free, personalised services, including counselling, therapies, and support groups, available both locally and online.
As an independent organisation, it relies on public donations to keep these essential services free for those in need.
