The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £174,000 (approximate, based on 2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 2-5 weeks from application to payment
• Grant Range: Up to £500 per item (household goods limit noted)
• Geographic Focus: Dorset only (England)
• Total Distributed to Date: £863,026

Contact Details

Website: www.dccf.co.uk

Phone: 07593890879

Email: hello@dccf.co.uk

Working Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm

Address: Discovery Court Business Centre, 551-553 Wallisdown Road, Poole, BH12 5AG

Overview

The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) was established in 2013 by three nurses—Eve Thomas, Leslie-May Harrison, and a third co-founder—who had personal experience with cancer and witnessed firsthand the financial struggles faced by cancer patients. The charity provides financial assistance primarily to individual cancer patients in Dorset who are experiencing financial hardship due to their diagnosis. With total income of £223,877 in 2024, DCCF operates with 8 trustees and 40 volunteers, maintaining extremely low running costs to maximize funds reaching beneficiaries. Since founding, the charity has distributed £863,026 in awards to 944 individuals and organizations. DCCF is unique as the only cancer support charity solely focused on Dorset residents. The charity is supported by patrons including former football manager Harry Redknapp, businessman Jeff Mostyn, and racing driver Sam Bird. As co-founder Eve Thomas notes, “We saw people struggling to afford buses to hospital appointments... and generally make ends meet.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Patient Grants: Rolling basis via online application

• Non-repayable grants for cancer patients experiencing financial hardship
• Grant amounts not publicly specified, but £500 cap noted for household goods/boilers
• Application decisions made within 72 hours
• Payment deposited 2-5 weeks after application submission

Organizational/Hospital Funding: Trustee discretion

• Supports Dorset-based cancer organizations, hospitals, and facilities
• Previous funding examples include treatment rooms, therapeutic gardens, and specialized patient facilities
• No public application process for organizational grants

Priority Areas

For Individual Patients:

• Transport and parking costs during treatment
• Overnight accommodation during treatment
• Some treatment costs (including potentially life-extending drugs)
• Minor household modifications
• Respite support
• Domestic help and care costs
• Food bills and financial bills while unable to work
• Specialist items and equipment
• Childcare costs

For Organizations:

• Hospital facilities and treatment rooms
• Therapeutic gardens
• Specialized patient spaces (e.g., teenage patient rooms)
• Dorset-based cancer care groups and organizations

What They Don't Fund

• Boilers or household goods over £500
• Applications from residents outside Dorset
• Financial needs not directly caused by cancer (requires justification that hardship is cancer-related)

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Governance and Leadership

Chair of Trustees: Chris Thomas

Co-Founders:

• Eve Thomas
• Leslie-May Harrison

Patrons:

• Harry Redknapp (former football manager)
• Jeff Mostyn (businessman)
• Sam Bird (racing driver)

Key Staff:

• Jo Saunders (Marketing & Communications)
• Penelope Saunders (Charity Administrator)

Trustees: 8 trustees with diverse backgrounds who serve without remuneration or expenses

According to co-founder Eve Thomas: “We saw people struggling to afford buses to hospital appointments... and generally make ends meet.” The charity emphasizes that “Trustees do not take a penny from the charity and do not claim expenses” and maintains “running costs as low as possible to ensure as much money as possible goes to those who need it most.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Individual Patients (Public Application Process):

• Complete online application form at www.dccf.co.uk
• Click “APPLY FOR AN AWARD” button on homepage
• Application must include:
• Proof of Dorset residency
• Details of cancer diagnosis and current treatment
• Justification for financial need (financial hardship must be directly caused by cancer)
• Information about previous awards from DCCF or other organizations
• If a professional (e.g., social worker, nurse) is completing the form on behalf of a patient, use only the patient's basic contact information

For Organizations:

• No public application process
• Funding decisions made at trustee discretion
• Contact the charity directly to discuss potential organizational support

Decision Timeline

• Applications submitted via online form
• Board of Trustees reviews all requests every two weeks
• Decision made within 72 hours of submission
• Successful applicants notified directly
• Funds deposited into applicant's bank account 2-5 weeks after application submission
• Total timeline: Approximately 2-5 weeks from application to payment

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The charity has helped 944 individuals and organizations since founding.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy is not publicly documented. The application form asks about previous awards from DCCF or other organizations, suggesting they consider prior support history when making decisions. For specific guidance on reapplication, contact the charity directly.

Application Success Factors

Based on DCCF's publicly available guidance:

1. Clear Cancer Connection: The charity requires “justification for financial need” and emphasizes that “financial hardship must be directly caused by cancer.” Applications should clearly demonstrate how cancer diagnosis/treatment has created the specific financial need.

1. Dorset Residency: Must be a resident of Dorset County. This is a strict eligibility requirement.

1. Currently Undergoing Treatment: Applications are invited from individuals “currently undergoing treatment for any form of cancer.”

1. Complete Application: “Complete all sections of the application form.” Incomplete applications may delay processing or be unsuccessful.

1. Realistic Funding Request: With a noted £500 cap on household goods/boilers, applications should be realistic about amounts requested relative to the charity's capacity.

1. Transparency About Other Support: The application considers “previous awards from DCCF or other organizations,” suggesting honesty about other funding sources is valued.

1. Professional Referrals Welcome: The charity accepts applications completed by professionals on behalf of patients, indicating they value input from healthcare or social care professionals who can vouch for need.

Recent success story: Melanie Gray, aged 57 from Poole, was diagnosed with cancer in her left tonsil in March 2023 and received funding from DCCF for “life-prolonging” drug treatment. Another case involved a trustee's daughter who required many months of treatment in London, with DCCF helping to meet travel and accommodation costs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Strictly Local: Only Dorset residents qualify—no exceptions for this geographic requirement
• Fast Turnaround: One of the faster decision timelines in the sector (72 hours decision, 2-5 weeks to payment)
• Patient-Centered: 95%+ of funding goes to individual patients rather than organizations; organizational grants are rare and discretionary
• No Financial Proof Required: Operates on trust basis without requiring detailed financial evidence from applicants
• Professional Support Valued: Applications can be completed by healthcare/social care professionals on behalf of patients
• Direct Financial Relief Focus: Ideal for immediate financial needs during treatment rather than long-term support
• Small, Personal Charity: With only 8 trustees and minimal staff, expect a personal approach rather than corporate processes

References

1. Dorset Cancer Care Foundation official website - www.dccf.co.uk
2. “About Us” page - https://www.dccf.co.uk/about-us/
3. “How we help” page - https://www.dccf.co.uk/how-we-help/
4. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 1151603 - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1151603
5. BCP Council Adult Social Care Directory - Dorset Cancer Care Foundation - https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/adult-social-care-and-health/our-adult-social-care-directory/dorset-cancer-care-foundation
6. Help and Kindness - The Dorset Cancer Care Foundation - https://www.helpandkindness.co.uk/organisations/242/the-dorset-cancer-care-foundation
7. Success story: Melanie Gray case study referenced in search results from DCCF website