We value and support each of our learners, no matter whether you’re on a short evening course or working towards a qualification.

Community Fridges in Dorset

Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

• Townsend Community Fridge – Jewell Road, Bournemouth
• Boscombe Community, Hawkwood Road, Bournemouth
• Canford Heath Community Fridge, Mitchell Road, Canford Health
• Rossmore Community Fridge, Herbert Avenue, Poole

Dorset

• Ringwood Community Fridge, Cloughs Road, Ringwood
• Dorchester Community Fridge (Caster Fridge), Trinity Street, Dorchester
• Blandford Community Fridge, Mildown Road, Blandford
• Bridport Community Fridge, East Street, Bridport
• Swanage Community Pantry, High Street, Swanage
• Open Fridge, Christy’s Lane, Shaftesbury

Find more on the BCP Food Map OR Dorset Food Map

Financial & Housing Support

Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

• Citizens Advice – BCP
• Rent/Housing support – BCP
• Disabled Facilities Grant – BCP
• Benefits & Grants – BCP
• Household Support Fund – BCP
• Support with Energy and Utility Bills – BCP
• Support managing your money – BCP

Dorset

• Benefits Support – Dorset
• Household Support Fund – Dorset
• Citizens Advice – Dorset
• Grants 

Support for Children

• Childcare Funding – BCP
• NHS Healthy Start – If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
• Apply for Free School Meals – BCP 
• Apply for School Transport – BCP
• Support for children aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities – BCP 
• Apply for Free School Meals – Dorset 
• Childcare Funding – Dorset

Warm Spaces & Places

Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

• Chat Café Local Dorset
• Bournemouth Blind Society Drop In Cafe, 5 Victoria Park Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH9 2RB – Open Tuesdays 10:30 am – 12:30 pm | Phone: 01202 546644
• Memory Lane Café Pokesdown, Prama, Annex, St James Church, Pokesdown, Poole, Dorset BH7 6DW – Open every first Saturday of the month at 10:30 am – 12:00 pm | Phone: 01202 474067
• Rossmore Leisure Centre
• Littledown Leisure Centre
• Pelhams Leisure Centre 
• Warm Wednesdays & Fridays at St Thomas’ Church, Ensbury Park
• Townsend Community Centre –  Monday craft mornings 10am to 12pm OR Friday coffee mornings 10am to 11.30am

Dorset

• Blandford Leisure Centre, Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 7DB
• Warm Welcome Coffee Mornings, Dorchester Baptist Church, Bridport Road North, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1RR – Wednesday mornings
• Pavilion in the Park – Dorchester, St John’s Way, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2FG. Café is open Tuesday – Sunday 9am – 5pm
• The Old School House Community Café, Lyme Regis Development Trust, The Hub, Church Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3DB
• Warm Room, Stour Connect, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 1JF | Open:  Friday morning, Monday morning, Thursday morning, Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning.
• Memory Café Swanage, Swanage Baptist Church, 160 Victoria Avenue, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1AZ –  Open: Thursdays, every first and third week of the month, 2pm to 3:30pm
• Memory Café Wareham, Carey Hall, Mistover Road, Wareham, Dorset BH20 4BA – Open: Mondays, every first and third week of the month, 10:30am to 12:00pm
• Warm Space at St Aldhelm’s Church, St Aldhelm’s Church, Spa Road, Weymouth DT3 5EW – Open: Friday afternoon, Monday afternoon
• Warm Space at Catholic Parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea, The Presbytery, 1 Stavordale Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 0AB | Phone: 01305 786033
• Warm Welcome at St Joseph’s Church, Stavordale Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 0AB – Open: Wednesday afternoon.

Other Helpful Links 

•  The National Debt Helpline – can give support with debt and arrears and offer next step advice, support and offer solutions for dealing with your debt.
• Faith Works – can help find solutions around food, debt, homelessness and social isolation
• If you are in arrears or struggling to pay your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant to help pay off your debts. Contact your energy supplier for more information.
• Glass-pool – can help provide one-off grants to individuals, couples and families for everyday items to help them cope when things get difficult, they can support you in getting necessary furniture or appliances for your home.
• Step Change – offering help with debt as well as emergency help with money and food and hardship grants.
• BCP Together is a webpage and app that is a directory of organisations that can help with anything to do with employability/work and wellbeing including money stress. This is for BCP Council residents only.

For more information on other support available read our blog

Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

• Bournemouth Drug and Alcohol Team (DAAT) | Phone: 01202 209463
• We Are With You – Bournemouth | Phone: 01202 558855
• EDAS Adult Service Poole | Phone: 01202 733322
• EDP Drug and Alcohol Advisory Service – Reach | Phone: 01202 482908/ 07515 585986 / 07515 585988
• Alcoholics Anonymous Support Groups in BCP | Phone:  01202 296000
• Narcotics Anonymous Support Groups in BCP | Phone: 0300 999 1212

Rest of Dorset

• EDP Drug and Alcohol Advisory Service Blandford | Phone: 01258 450862
• EDP Drug and Alcohol Advisory Service Bridport | Phone: 01308 427195
• Alcoholics Anonymous Support Groups in Dorset | Phone: 01202 296000
• Narcotics Anonymous Support Groups in Dorset | Phone: 0300 999 1212
• EDP Drug and Alcohol Advisory Service Swanage | Phone: 01929 422 777
• EDP Weymouth Alcohol & Drug Advisory Service | Phone: 01305 779706

National Helplines

• Narcotics Anonymous | Phone: 0300 999 1212
• Alcoholics Anonymous | Phone: 0800 9177 650
• Cocaine Anonymous |Phone 0800 612 0225
• Marijuana Anonymous | Phone: 0300 124 0373
• AI-Anon Family Groups | Phone: 0800 0086 811
• Sex and Love Addictions Anonymous | Phone: o7951 815 087
• Gamblers Anonymous | Phone: 020 784 3040
• FRANK | Phone: 0300 123 6600 with Live Chat, Text and Email support also on their website
• Drinkline | Phone: 0300 123 1110

BCP & Dorset 

• CRISP Carers Support Centre –  BCP | Phone: 01202 128787
• Help & Care Social Group – BCP | Phone: 01202 429478
• Christchurch Rethink: Support for Carers | Phone: 07866 251 265
• Help and Care Helpline | Phone: 0300 111 3303 OR Text: 01202 416047
• Help & Care Support Activity | Phone: 01202 771336
• Carers Walking Group | Phone: 07866 252046
• Face 2 Face | Phone: 01202 855105
• Parkinson’s Support for Families & Carers | Phone: 0344 225 3684
• Weymouth Rethink: Carers Support Group | Phone: 07436 790489
• Portland Rethink: Carers Support Group | Phone: 0737 790489

Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

• Citizens Advice BCP | Phone: 0808 2787 939
• Citizens Advice Outreach Hub Bournemouth (Drop-ins only) | Civic Centre, Town Hall, BH2 6DX – Monday – Thursday 10am-12pm
• Citizens Advice Outreach Hub Christchurch (Drop-ins only) | Christchurch Central Library, BH23 1AW – Fridays 9:30am – 12:30pm

Rest of Dorset

• Citizens Advice East Dorset & Purbeck | Phone: 0800 144 8848
• Citizens Advice Bridport, Lyme Regis & Beaminster | Phone: 0800 144 8848
• Citizens Advice Central Dorset | Phone 0800 144 8848

Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

• Dorset Humanists – Bournemouth
• Bournemouth Social Circle
• Bournemouth Symphony Youth Chorus | Phone: 01202 423429
• Age UK Project Purple: walking, yoga, computing and social activities
• Christchurch Age Concern Friendship Groups | Phone: 01202 488311
• Christchurch Daytime Ladies Group | TEXT ONLY: 07758278382
• Age UK Meet and Eat Clubs | Phone: 01202 530530
• Age UK Lets Connect Socials | Phone: 01202 530530
• Zing Community – Poole | Phone: 01202 887106
• Poole Leisure Painters | Phone: 01202 693526 OR 01202 741713
• Bournemouth Writers Circle

Rest of Dorset

• ADCAP Social Group – Dorchester | Phone: 01258 489784
• Dorset Mental Health Forum | Phone: 01305 257172
• Dorset Walking & Social Group | TEXTONLY: 07724800587
• Just Good Friends Over 50’s Social Group
• Blandford Film Society | Phone: 01258 268139
• Blandford & Sturminster Newton Hockey Club | Phone: 01258 459266
• Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society | Phone: 01747 851260
• East Street Poets – Blandford | Phone: 01305 264056
• Art Workshop | Phone: 01929 475883
• Badminton & Table Tennis Club – Swanage | Phone:  07745 149 269 or 01929 477268
• Swanage Walking Group | Phone: 01202 684135
• Autonomy Support Group | Pone 07814 910069

• Access Dorset | Phone: 01202 430113
• Dorset ME Support | Phone: 01305 777670
• Dorset Advocacy | Phone: 0300 343 7000
• Diverse Abilities Plus & Disability Wessex Advice | Phone: 0300 330 5514
• Disability Action Group | Phone: 01258 268309
• Dorset Association for The Disabled – Weymouth | Phone: 01305 786920

BCP & Dorset

• Bournemouth Women’s Refuge – Outreach | Phone: 01202 581750
• Bournemouth Women’s Refuge – Helpline | Phone: 01202 547755
• Over The Rainbow Bournemouth | Phone:  0300 303 1948
• Relate | Phone: 01202 311231
• Poole Refuge – Advice Line | Phone: 01202 748488
• Poole Refuge – Drop-in | Phone: 01202 710777
• Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service – Dorset | Phone: 01202 308855
• Dorset Police Domestic Abuse Line | Phone: 01202 222451
• You First Dorset | Phone: 0800 0325204
• West Dorset Refuge | Phone: 01350 262444
• BCHA Domestic Violence Support (24 hour helplines) | Phone: Bournemouth and Dorset: 01202 547755 OR Poole: 01202 710777
• Nu Waves Youth Support – Weymouth
• You First Domestic Violence Outreach Service (all of Dorset)| Phone: 0800 032 5204
• Waterlily Project | Phone: 01202 246763

National Helplines

• Respect: Advice and Domestic Abuse Support for Men | Phone: 0808 8010327
• Forced Marriages Unit – Help & Support | Phone: 0207 008151 
• National Domestic Violence Helpline | Phone: 0808 200 0247
• Childline | Phone: 0800 1111
• Galop – Support for LGBT + people who have experienced abuse | Phone: 0800 999 5428
•  Women’s Aid Live Chat Support

BCP and Dorset

• Connections – 24 hour helpline for all of Dorset | Phone: 0300 123 5440
• Steps to Wellbeing BCP & Dorset | Self referral online / Live chat support
• The Retreat – a safe place to discuss your problems and access support | The Retreat, Bournemouth is open for face-to-face and virtual drop-ins from 4.30-11.30pm every day | The Retreat, Dorchester is open for face-to-face drop-ins from 4.30-11.30pm Sunday-Wednesday and virtual drop-ins from 4.30-11.30pm every day.
• Community Front Rooms (Wareham, Bridport, Shaftesbury, Weymouth) | Open Thursday-Sunday from 3.15-10.45pm for support via face-to-face or virtual drop-ins

National Helplines

• Shout Textline | Text SHOUT to 85258
• Samaritans | Phone: 116 123
• Sane | Phone: 0300 304 7000
• Mind | Phone: 0300 123 3393
• CALM | Phone: 0800 585858
• Bipolar UK – E-community
• No Panic | Phone: 0300 772 9844

BCP & Dorset 

• BCP Revenue & Benefits | Phone: 01202 451592
• Christians Against Poverty – Bournemouth & Poole | Phone: 0800 3280006
• Faithworks Wessex | Phone: 01202 429037
• Christians Against Poverty – Swanage | Phone: 07443 600829
• Christians Against Poverty – East Dorset | Phone: 0800 3280006
• BCHA Financial Support | Phone:
• Christians Against Poverty – Gillingham | Phone: 0800 3280006
• Westwey Revenues and Benefits Partnership – Purbeck | Phone, For benefits: 01929 557240 OR for revenue: 01929 557257
• Westwey Revenues and Benefits Partnership – Weymouth & Portland | Phone, For benefits: 01305 838416 OR for revenue: 01305 211970

BCP & Dorset

• Boscombe Independent Advice Centre | Phone: 01202 397532 OR 01202 392031
• The Samaritans of Bournemouth and District | Phone: 01202 551 999
• Royal British Legion – Dorset | Phone: 0808 802 8080
• Salvation Army – The Place Next D00r | Phone: 01202 517989
• Christchurch and East Dorset District Councils Advice | Phone: 01202 209410
• Hamworthy Advice Project | Phone: 01202 668611

BCP & Dorset

• BCP Council Housing Support | Phone: 01202 451981
• Poole Housing Partnership | Phone: 01202 264400
• Synergy Housing – Weymouth | Phone: 01305 206800
• East Boro Housing – Wimborne | Phone: 012o2 883503
• Shelter – Dorset | Phone: 0344 515 1400 
• Magna Housing Association | Phone: 01305 216067

National Careers Service | Phone: 0800 100 900

Department of Work and Pensions:

• New Claims: 0800 055 6688
• Existing Claims: 0845 6088621
• Benefit Enquiries: 0800 882200
• DLA & AA Helpline: 08457 123456
• Pension Credit Claim Line: 0800 99 1234
• Find a Job

Explore our Employability courses which can help you get back into work here

BCP & Dorset

• Age UK – Bournemouth | Phone: 01202 523300
• Help & Care – Roots Gardening Service | Phone: 0300 111 3303
• Age Concern Christchurch | Phone: 01202 488311
• Age Concern Poole | Phone: 01202 666195
• Age UK Dorchester | Phone: 01305 269444
• Chancery House Bridport | Phone: 01308 424257
• Age Concern Blandford | Phone: 01258 458250
• Portland Carers Support Group | Phone: 01305 832726
• Memory Café – Sherborne | Phone: 07860 592407
• Singing for the Brain – Sherborne | Phone: 07861 592407
• South Dorset Alzheimer’s Carers Group – Weymouth| Phone: 01305 832726
• Weymouth Stroke Support Group | Phone: 07565 175165
• Housing Advice for Older People – Citizens Advice (Weymouth) | Phone: 01305 785240

National Helplines

• Independent Age | Phone: 0800 319 6789
• Alzheimer’s Society | Phone: 0300 222 1122

BCP & Dorset

• Bournemouth University Student Union Advice Centre | Phone: 01202 965779
• SHADOWS Christchurch | Phone: 07074 333023
• Sexual Health Dorset | Phone: 0300 303 1948
• BCP Youth Services
• Space Youth Project Dorset (LGBT + Support) | Phone: 01202 205279
• Aim Community | Phone: 01202 548208
• Homeless UK – Dorchester | Phone: 01305 257717
• Waves – Weymouth | Phone: 01305 768 768
• Blandford Youth Community Centre | Phone: -01258 455106
• Trends Blandford | Phone: 01258 455448
• Dorset Youth | Phone:

National Helplines

• Childline | Phone: 0800 1111
• Papyrus | Phone: 0800 068 4141 OR Text: 07860 039967
• Kooth (online chat – mental health support for children and young people)
• Young Minds UK
• Shout Textline | Text SHOUT to 85258
• No Panic Youth Line | Phone:  0330 606 1174