The Dorset Children's Foundation

Registered charity 1150538 · since 2013thedcf.org·Dorset·Updated 31 October 2026

At a glance

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The foundation funds children with disabilities who live in Dorset or have strong links to the area, so your work fits best if it serves children there and the need is for equipment, medical costs, therapies or inclusive sports and play.
It does not fund children without those Dorset links, requests where other accessible funding is available, therapy or intervention not currently available on the NHS unless a UK medical professional provides a letter of referral, or money paid directly to families, so check these before you apply.
Its annual giving and grant range are not stated in the information available, so ask the foundation what size of request it considers before you set an amount.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so you can apply at any time by post, by telephone or through its online form.
Parents and carers, medical professionals, voluntary groups and other charities may all apply, and for equipment the foundation first tries to match a child's needs with its reconditioned stock.

Overview

The Dorset Children's Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1150538).

The Dorset Children's Foundation exists to support disabled children and their families by funding essential equipment, medical costs and therapies, and by providing a comprehensive programme of inclusive activities. It now supports 681 children with disabilities living in Dorset. Its areas of work include disability equipment, medical expenses, therapies, inclusive sports and play, mental health and advocacy.

What they fund

Priority Areas

The foundation supports children with disabilities and their families, particularly where equipment, therapies or medical expenses are not provided by statutory services. It sources and funds specialist equipment, helps with medical costs and therapies, and offers accessible sports and play opportunities, counselling, family support and disability education. It invites applications from parents and carers, medical professionals, voluntary groups and other charitable organisations. Its child-support criteria include whether a child lives in the Dorset area or has strong links there, whether the request fits its constitution and whether other accessible funding is available. For equipment, it first tries to match a child’s needs with its reconditioned stock; in some circumstances trustees may agree a purchase grant. It also organises and directly funds activities through Accessible for All.

Themes

Disability equipment
Medical expenses
Therapies
Inclusive sports and play
Mental health
Advocacy

Geographic Focus

Dorset.

What they don't fund

Children who do not live in the Dorset area and do not have strong links with the area
Requests where other means of accessible funding are available to support the child and their family
Requests requiring medical intervention or therapy not currently available on the NHS without a letter of referral from a UK medical professional
Money paid directly to families

How to apply

Parents/carers, medical professionals, voluntary groups and other charitable organisations are invited to apply by post, telephone or the online form.

Who can apply:

We invite applications from parents/ carers, medical professionals , voluntary groups and other charitable organisations.

What to send:

A letter of referral from a UK medical professional is required in cases requiring medical intervention or therapy not currently available on the NHS.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

Dorset

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to The Dorset Children's Foundation.

Dorset Community FoundationMixed deadlinesGave £1.7M The Alice Ellen Cooper-Dean Charitable FoundationRollingGave £956k The John Thornton Young Achievers FoundationInvitation onlyGave £67,576 The Eight FoundationRollingGave £167k Children With Special Needs FoundationRollingGave £168k The Dorset Health TrustRollingGave £211k Steve Bernard FoundationRollingGave £58,000 Macmillan Caring LocallyNo public process Father’s House, ShaftesburyNo public processGave £45,178 The Trevor Hemmings FoundationRollingGave £519k

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 March 2021	£343,874	£254,093	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2021
year to 31 March 2022	£268,643	£296,248	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2022
year to 31 March 2023	£355,381	£318,879	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2023
year to 31 March 2024	£348,930	£401,544	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2024
year to 31 March 2025	£426,585	£466,523	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2025

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.