This is a short video Richard Gale from ITV made about our work.

Accessible For All

Our hugely popular Accessible for AlI initiative is focused on creating sporting opportunities and play activities for children with disabilities. Being the parent/carer of a disabled child can be a very lonely and isolating experience and parents increasingly lose confidence to integrate into mainline activities due to the feeling of being ‘different’.

“Every child deserves the right to play. The DCF enables families to get together in a safe and inclusive environment where our children can just be children without judgement or disapproval.” Emily Sutton

We recognise that children with disabilities often miss out on those valuable experiences that should be abundantly available to all children so we set up Accessible For All. We provide regular events such as soft play, drama and dance, music workshops, exclusive use of skate parks, swimming and water sports, and we even have our own award-winning FA-registered football group. The list is forever growing as we respond actively to the needs of the children we represent.

Saturday Club

We have a stay and play Saturday club for children and young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and are wheelchair users. Sensory stories, dancing, yoga, drama, games and music, plus cake, coffee and companionship for parent carers.

Pre-school Groups

We run Little Stars and help support Something Special, weekly “stay and play” groups for pre-school children with additional needs, where along with messy play, story time and games, professionals are invited to give talks and advice sessions are held.

Accessible for All.

Mental Health and Counselling

The mental health of our families is very important to us as being the parent/carer of a child with additional needs can be very isolating. This impacts on all members of the family and the child themselves, we therefore have a dedicated team of mental health advisors and are able to offer cost free one to one counselling sessions. We are also able to signpost and refer to appropriate local agencies. This service is available to both parents and primary carers.

Family Support and Advice

We are passionate about providing an holistic support network to our families and are committed to ensuring they receive the help and support they are entitled to, including financial benefits, care, education and wider support. We have parent advocates, including our Trustee Dan McEvoy who have expertise in dealing with local authority bodies and who are happy to provide a listening ear and represent our families rights and needs.

Our Trustee James Pantling-Skeet, Community Care Solicitor has prepared a very comprehensive guide to Disability Law, covering key topics such as EHCP’S to personal budgets. James also regularly produces exclusive DCF webinars.

Support Groups

We are delighted to offer our families a range of support groups and we help partially fund independent groups SENturians and Doors Open. They offer guidance, support, information and advice to parent/carers, host weekly meetings and offer events and activities during the holidays for families to attend together in a safe non-judgmental environment.

Parents/Carer Activities

We hold regular events and activities for our parent/carers so they can spend time with people who understand. We host coffee mornings, activities such as yoga, paddle boarding and a sewing group where family members can learn to make adapted clothing. Beginners always welcome.

Disability Equipment

At DCF we recognise that there are many costs associated with raising a disabled child. We understand that these are not always covered by statutory services so we help families find other ways to provide the funds needed.

Where a piece of equipment is needed, we will first try and work with families and statutory services to find a way for equipment to be provided – we are building a stock of popular items that can be accessed on a cost free, long-term loan basis. In some circumstances if funding is available the trustees may agree a grant for the purchase of equipment.

Disability Awareness and Education

At the DCF we are absolutely passionate about educating people about disability and showing the world how amazing our children are.
We firmly believe that disability awareness should be taught in all primary schools as today’s children will be the driving force toward a more inclusive society. We support Paddy’s Purpose, a fun interactive initiative designed by Gemma, mum of Paddy, to challenge how the world sees disability. Over the last few years they have delivered their powerful message to over 3000 school children.

https://www.facebook.com/paddyspurpose

We also support Awesome Archie On Tour. Archie and his mum Rebecca were present at one of Paddy’s Purpose workshops a few years ago and have been inspired to develop their own awareness workshops talking about living with Autism.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3650909864922453/.

Give Kids The World

The DCF are delighted that we have been accepted as an official Wish Giving Partner for Give Kids The World. This is a nonprofit ‘storybook’ resort in Florida, where children with life-threatening illnesses and their families are treated to a weeklong cost-free holiday.

Have a quick look at The Treehouse, our lovely Children’s shop in Boscombe, where all the profits go to providing fun activities for local children with disabilities.