Active 4 Health Lifestyle Hub receives referrals from health professionals, and works with various leisure and service providers across the Dorset Council area to offer a range of physical activities. Costs vary between sites.
If you need advice on getting started, they are happy to chat. You will need a referral from your health professional to use this service.
The Exercise Referral Scheme is a great way for people with long-term conditions to improve their health and increase levels of physical activity.
Your GP will be able to refer you to the scheme if you're inactive, have a longstanding health condition and/or have a BMI over 30.
CP Sport is the national disability sports organisation supporting people with cerebral palsy to be able to access and enjoy being physically active throughout their lives.
WheelPower are dedicated to providing opportunities for disabled people to enjoy sport and live healthy active lives.
Active Dorset provides local services to get involved with disability sport.
AFC Bournemouth runs impairment specific football sessions including power chair football.
Access to leisure and learning - discount scheme to access sports and exercise in Poole.
EverybodyMoves empowers lives through disability sport and inclusive physical activity.
UP – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement - The transition between child and adult healthcare for young people with Cerebral Palsy can be challenging in several ways. We look at these challenges and suggest ways of approaching them.
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is support to cover the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other disability.
This can be on its own or in addition to any student finance you get.
The type of support and how much you get depends on your individual needs - not your household income.
Motability Scheme Lease a car, WAV, scooter or wheelchair.
Use your qualifying mobility allowance to lease a brand-new vehicle. We'll cover your insurance, servicing and breakdown. You choose who drives, and we take care of the rest. We're the service that keeps you moving.
AskJules provides a "Lifestyle Management" service to young disabled university students. We assist our clients to recruit and employ Personal Assistants (PAs) to provide their personal care, health care and student support.
What Access to Work is - GOV.UK
Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.
The support you get will depend on your needs. Through Access to Work, you can apply for:
Driving Mobility is a UK-wide network of independent disabled driving organisations that provide a range of mobility assessment services and advice.
The Motability charity can provide grants towards the cost of driving lessons, vehicle adaptations and the cost of wheelchair accessible vehicles.
At Vocational Services we offer specialist vocational rehabilitation and work to help people with long term health conditions who are in paid employment and need support to retain or maintain their job.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:
You can get PIP even if you're working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.
SWAD is a training organisation, specialising in the area of disability and sex.
Evenbreak - The only global disability job board run by and for people with lived experience of disability.
Overview - GOV.UK You could get a grant from your council if you're disabled and need to make changes to your home.
The Dorset self-management service - help with managing normal daily activities with a long-term condition.
Kidz to Adultz Exhibitions - Everyone is welcome to attend our exhibition, including children, parents and professionals. Assistance dogs are also welcome.
Come along, try out the equipment and products, join in the fun and participate in the activities taking place throughout the day.
Incy Wincy Swimstore has a range of incontinence swimwear for men, women and children.
Active Hands - Limited Hand Mobility Aids products for people with reduced hand function.
SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service.
It's a free, impartial, and confidential service offering information to young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and to their parents and carers.
REMAP's mission is to improve the quality of life for people who experience short or long-term disability through infirmity, illness, or ageing. We do this by making and adapting equipment to meet the unique needs of individuals at no cost to them.
Autism Unlimited exists to support and empower autistic children, adults and their families. We provide educational and life skills training.
The MaxCard is the UK's leading discount card for foster families and families of children with additional needs. Families can use their Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission.
Newlife - the charity for disabled children. Every day, Newlife is changing the lives of disabled and terminally ill children across the UK.
Fledglings - adaptive clothing including swimwear and shoes, bedding, disability and sensory aids and more.
Contact is for families with disabled children. We support families, bring families together and help families take action for others.
The Dorset Children's Foundation is an independent local charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities living within our community.
Diverse Abilities is Dorset's disability charity supporting children and adults with profound physical and learning disabilities across the county since 1955.
The Treehouse located in Hurn (opposite Bournemouth Airport), is a specialist venue created with children and adults with physical and learning disabilities in mind, run by Diverse Abilities.
Amelia's Rainbow supports children in Dorset and the surrounding area who are suffering from any terminal, life-limiting, serious and chronic illnesses. We aim to create an environment full of fun, laughter, achievement and memories.
Family Fund is the UK's largest grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income.
Caudwell Children exists to make life fair for disabled and autistic children.
Whizz Kidz is the UK's leading charity for young wheelchair users. We create opportunities for young wheelchair users to get the equipment, skills and confidence to go further.
Barrie Wells Trust provides VIP experiences for seriously ill and disabled children through our Box4Kids initiative. We work with clubs, companies and individual businesses across the UK, inviting children from local hospitals to watch their favourite sports team or concert from the comfort of an executive box. If you have an executive box that you would like to donate to the Trust then please get in touch.
Cerebra - Over 500,000 children in the UK live with a brain condition. This can make normal activities such as learning, playing or simply experiencing the world a huge challenge. Through our research we offer solutions and advice to help these children and their families enjoy lives full of hope and discovery.
Go Kids Go - wheelchair skills for children with both manual and powered chairs.
Soundabout - We use music, sound, and silence to create opportunities where Learning Disabled people with complex support needs thrive.
Disabled Living is a registered charity offering services that provide vital information and support across the United Kingdom.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive disease which is usually diagnosed in boys between the ages of 3 and 6. The information on this page can help you to understand the symptoms, causes and stages of DMD.
Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects muscle control and movement. It affects about one in every 400 children in the UK.
Watch Me Do It video library - Our research has shown that watching video demonstrations recorded from a first-person viewpoint can help dyspraxic children learn everyday movement skills.
Tree Fu Tom - Help your child develop foundation motor skills with Tree Fu Tom's magic spell sequences developed to support children with movement disorders.
Retrain Pain free resources - 1 minute slideshows to educate about pain.
People First Dorset was set up in 2004 as a user led charity. This means we are led and run by people with learning disabilities, with support from staff as needed.
Health and care passports - information about what a Health and Care passport is for and how to complete one.
Steps2Wellbeing is a free, NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression service for adults over 18 years old in Dorset and Southampton City.
The Almond Tree Foundation provides wellbeing support for families living with disability or illness. We have created a global community of people with shared experiences and run free-to-access online events, including webinars and drop-in sessions, which offer a safe space for discussion and support. Our free recorded materials are open to anyone. Start with our Introductory video followed by our 2 webinar series, Looking Beyond Physical Diagnosis and Let's Get Practical.
Peeps prides themselves on the support they can offer those who have been touched by Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE). They also aim to raise awareness of HIE – some of the things they do include: Provide information (translations are available), Peer Support, Counselling and therapy, Funding for equipment, Events to connect families. They also have a very comprehensive useful links page.
Poole Hospital fundraises and accepts donations to support all areas of the hospital. If you would like to make a donation specifically for the provision of play and toys, please specify this when donating.
Sadly, we are unable to accept donations of second-hand toys.
For our most up to date play team amazon wish list please visit https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2IHU0ERSU1SOV?ref_=wl_share.
The recommendations in these hand-outs and resources are designed for parents and carers to support their child. In order to build trust, it is recommended that parents prepare their child for their hospital visit in an age and stage appropriate way. Parents should choose strategies most appropriate for their child and may need to try different approaches to see what works best for them. Useful links to other websites, including videos are also included.
The recommendations in these hand outs and resources are designed for parents and carers to support their child. In order to build trust, it is recommended parents prepare their child for their hospital visit in an age and stage appropriate way. Parents should choose strategies most appropriate for their child and may need to try different approaches to see what works best for them. Useful links to other websites, including videos are also included.
Caroline Fawcett, Registered Play specialist team lead
Caroline is a qualified and registered play specialist
Tracey Fordham, Registered Play specialist
Tracey is a qualified and registered play specialist
Jemimah Judge, Unregistered Play Specialist
Jemimah is a play specialist with a psychology degree