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Dorset Family Information Service through Dorset County Council is a directory of services for families and children, you can access them by telephoning the Helpline on 01305 224800, open Monday to Thursday 8.40am until 5.20pm and Friday 8.40am until 4pm. Answer machine in operation outside these hours, or use thier online search engine through the above link.

Primary Times: Whats On in Dorset listing of activities throughout the county.

Dorset Short Breaks Transformation Project with funding from the Aiming High for Disabled Children for accesable day-care and play opportunities such as:

·         A Contract Care Scheme to provide carers who will look after children in their own home for a regular payment.

·         Improvements to how direct payments are provided to young people and families with more choices as to how they can purchase the services they need.

·         More youth clubs, Saturday clubs and holiday activities across the whole county.

·         More day time opportunities for pre-school children

·         More activities in special schools

·         Increased opportunities for young people to undertake artistic activities.

·         Better ways that families can find out about activities in their area and ways to make funding for these activities easier to access.

·         A way of listening to the views of young people who are disabled and their families so that these views shape how services in the future are provide

If yoIf you would like further information about the Aiming High Short Break Transformation Programme or to receive copies of the Programme newsletter, email the project team at shortbreaksproject@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Treats Toy Library The Resource, Equipment and Toy Store (TREATS) offers more than 3,000 toys and resources for hire. The store is in Bere Regis for members to select their resources from our shelves. There is also a unique delivery service across Dorset for those unable to travel to TREATS.

TREATS can be accessed by everyone who has children or who works with children.

TREATS resources and toys enable you to offer an extended range of play and development opportunities for your child without the expense of buying new toys. It is an ideal solution to those who have children visiting from time to time, allowing you to borrow toys which keep pace with the child's development and interests, and nostorage problems!

Hire charges are mostly 50p per item per week, although some larger items are £2 (maximum).

TREATS stocks a wide variety of items in various categories:

• Musical instruments

• Baby toys and equipment (high chairs, travel cots and stair gates)

• Multi-lingual resources

• Play equipment, (including soft play)

• Role-play toys and construction apparatus

• Sit/ride toys, trikes, scooters

• Sensory toys

• Story sacks, big books and rhymes

• Themed resource boxes for the foundation stage curriculum, including topics such as mini-beasts, seaside, bears, people who help us and feelings

• Information leaflets and boxes for specific circumstances and conditions

Details of all equipment including suggested age groups and colour pictures of each item can be viewed from the related downloads. We have more than 20 TREATS access points (TAPs) throughout the county where we can deliver pre-ordered toys for members. The service is run on a fortnightly rota for no additional charge. To find the next delivery date look at the latest schedule Delivery Dates 2010 [43kb] [PDF] (opens in a new window)   TAPs are in Beaminster, Blandford, Bincombe Valley, Bovington, Bridport, Broadmayne, Christchurch, Corfe Mullen, Dorchester, Ferndown (two), Gillingham, Lyme Regis, Portland, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Sturminster Newton, Swanage, Verwood, Wareham, West Moors, Westham, Weymouth and Wimborne. Email: treatstoylibrary@dorsetcc.gov.uk Tel: 01929 472937

Brightwater Greenwood www.brightwater.org.uk A cooperatively run social enterprise based in West Dorset, proud to offer a range of green woodwork and Forest School courses, as well as hedge laying and woodland management services, based on 15 years of experience and training.

·         Green wood crafts, tutoring and courses

·         Special educational needs courses

·         Forest School practitioners

·         Children’s woodland parties

·         Practical woodland management

·         Conservation hedge laying in regional styles

Contact Mace Brightwater - telephone: 01308 425455 - mobile: 07891779273 - email: greenwood@brightwater.org.uk

Coping with CHAOS - (Children’s Helpers And Other Support) www.copingwithchaos.org/  are a small registered charity supporting families caring for a child/children or young person with a disability or special educational need.  They provide services for families living in East & West Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole.The Families Centre, Bond Avenue, West Moors, Ferndown, BH22 0LL 01202 855105 email; info@copingwithchaos.org

Enigma Youth Club -www.enigmayouth.com/ for young people on the autistic spectrum and their friends. Sundays from 4pm Dorchester Youth Club, Lubbecke Way, Dorchester.

Contact Sarah on 01305 757378 / sarah@enigmayouth.com

(Sarah also offers Outreach for advice re Carers Allowance & benefits on a voluntary basis).

Hip Bones – www.dorsetyouth.org.uk/gillingham/clubs.htm Club for young people with physical or learning needs. Alternate Saturdays at Gillingham Youth & Community Centre, The Cottage, Cemetery Road, Gillingham, SP8 4AZ01747 822267 / 822464

Dorchester YMCA www.dorchester-ymca.co.uk Dorchester YMCA has a programme of activites for adults and children with disablities and additional needs: Sawmills Lane Dorchester 01305 266467

YMCA Dorset Play Befrienders! A new scheme which is going to increase the range and availability of short break provision for children and young people aged 11-18 who are disabled within Dorset. Trained volunteers will be recruited as Befrienders to guide and support the young person to access social activities. A co-ordinator will match simial ages and common interests and to ensure they are living close to you. Contact Shelly Rossiter: B3 Arena Business Centre, 9 Nimrod Way, Ferndown, Dorset, BH21 7SH

01202 862581 email Shelly.rossiter@ymca-fg.org

Riding for the Disabled Association www.rda.org.uk Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is a community of voluntary groups providing a high-quality service – where each aspect works to the benefit of themselves and all the other parts. RDA values the input of people at all levels is positive about their achievements – whether as a rider/driver or as a helper. RDA emphasises the importance of training and achievement – both for riders/drivers and for volunteers. RDA values the input of riders and drivers in deciding its future. RDA is accessible to all – whether as a rider/driver or as a volunteer. RDA is professionally run, communicates openly at all levels and is financially transparent. See website for local groups Tel: 0845 658 1082

Cinema Exhibitor’s Association Card www.ceacard.co.uk  This is a national card that can be used to verify that the holder is entitled to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema. Terms and Condition of use apply. To apply for the card, you will need to meet one or more of the following criteria: a) Be in receipt of the disability living allowance or attendance allowance. b) Be a registered blind person. The card is valid for 1 year from the date of issue. Application forms are available from cinemas across the UK supporting this card. Alternatively, download an application form to print out and fill in. Tel: 0845 123 1292

Autism Friendly Screenings with Picture House Cinemas www.picturehouses.co.uk  & NAS: www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2122&a=18616 These screenings, arranged in partnership with The National Autistic Society (NAS), are designed for people on the autism spectrum, their families, friends and carers. During the film, low lights are left on inside the auditorium and the volume of the soundtrack is reduced. Cinemagoers are free to move around, make a noise or take a break during the film if they need to - these are activities not usually encouraged at regular screenings. The cinema is often not a place that is easily accessible for families affected by autism. These screenings aim to make families feel welcome, comfortable and relaxed in an environment that can otherwise seem traumatic, enjoying a film with other families who experience similar issues.

Innovate Dorset www.innovatedorset.co.uk/index_home.htm Innovate (dorset)'s desire is to provide good quality and affordable youth work, projects or activites for young people, adults and families. Encouraging individuals and groups to move forward. Developing confidence in their abilities. Helping clients to have a better understanding of the issues that may surround them and taking steps to encourage empowerment, so they may work towards removing barriers with the vision to attain achievable and desired goals. k.tatchell@innovatedorset.co.uk phone: 07709137246

Curious Arts www.curiousarts.co.uk Use Drama as a tool for exploring issues and topics can be both fun and inclusive. When communication is not easy, drama can step in and create a safe environment for expressing yourself, especially if you have an emotional or physical problem. Curious Arts run Drama workshops specifically for those who do not normally have access to creative ways of expressing themselves, but who would benefit from the space and empowerment which this offers. 0845 3721313