There are a range of charities and community organisations that can offer additional support alongside your Personal Adviser and the help available from us.
Your Personal Adviser can help you access any of these organisations and discuss which services may be most helpful for you. Our Care Leaver Team remains available to support you up to age 25 and beyond through the Lifelong Offer.
Friends of Dorset Care Leavers is a local charity dedicated to supporting Dorset care leavers by reducing isolation, promoting wellbeing and helping young people build positive relationships and support networks.
Support available:
Become is the national charity for children in care and care leavers.
Support available:
Care advice line: 0800 023 2033
The Care Leavers Association is a national care-experienced led charity supporting care leavers of all ages.
Support available:
Telephone: 0161 826 0214
Email: [email protected]
The Rees Foundation provides lifelong support to adults who have experienced foster care or residential care.
Support available:
Telephone: 0330 094 5645
Email: [email protected]
Care Leavers National Movement is a national network led by care-experienced young people working to improve services and create opportunities for young people to influence change.
Support available:
National Network for the Education of Care Leavers is a charity focused on improving educational opportunities for care-experienced young people.
Support available:
Help and Kindness is a Dorset-wide directory and support service helping people find local help and community resources.
Support available:
Telephone: 01305 595 958
The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) is an independent children's rights charity that supports children, young people, and care leavers to have their voices heard and their rights upheld. NYAS provides a range of services specifically designed to support care-experienced young people as they transition into adulthood.
Support available:
Telephone: 0808 808 1001
The Care Experience Directory is a UK-wide online resource that connects care-experienced children, young people and adults with trusted services, support, opportunities and community networks in one accessible place. It was created by a care-experienced person to make it easier to find reliable information and support without having to navigate multiple websites or referral routes.
Supports available:
The Mix is a free and confidential support for under-25s, including one-to-one counselling, peer support groups, crisis support, mental health information and online community support.
Supports available:
Text 85258 for urgent mental health support.
Metal Health UK is a national charity that provides information, advice, resources and programmes to support people with their mental health and wellbeing. Care-experienced young people and care leavers can access mental health information, practical guidance, support with the link between money and mental health, and programmes designed to build resilience, confidence and emotional wellbeing. The charity also provides access to local support through its network of member charities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Support available:
Shout 85258 is a free, confidential 24/7 text messaging service providing immediate mental health support to anyone in crisis or struggling to cope. Care-experienced young people and adults can text SHOUT to 85258 at any time to receive support from a trained mental health volunteer.
Support available:
Text: SHOUT to 85258 (free from UK mobile networks).
Dorchester Poverty Action is a local charity providing emergency financial assistance to people living in the Dorchester area who are experiencing hardship. Care leavers may be eligible for support through a referral from their Personal Advisor or another professional working with them.
Support available:
Telephone: 07340 011 901
Email: [email protected]
The Will Houghton Foundation supports care-experienced young people by funding education and development programmes that help them achieve their potential. Through partnerships with organisations such as Become and university support schemes, the Foundation helps care leavers access higher education, training, financial support and opportunities to succeed.
Support available:
Email: [email protected]
Sir Samuel Mico's Charities provides grants to young people under 25 in the Weymouth and Portland area to support education, training and apprenticeships. Funding may be available towards course fees, living costs, books, equipment and tools, helping care leavers develop skills, qualifications and career opportunities.
Support available:
Telephone: 01305 548007
Email: [email protected]
Buttle UK provides grants to children and young people, including care-experienced young adults facing financial hardship or crisis. Funding may be available for essential household items, furniture, technology, education and training costs, and other items that support wellbeing, stability and independence. Applications are made through a supporting professional such as a Personal Advisor or Social Worker.
Support available:
Telephone: 020 7828 7311
Email: [email protected]
Barnardo's provides practical, emotional, and advocacy support for care-experienced young people. Services may include help with accommodation, independent living skills, education, employment, mental health and wellbeing, and building positive support networks. Barnardo's aims to ensure that care leavers have the tools, confidence, and opportunities needed to thrive as independent adults.
Support available:
Email: [email protected]
Turn2us is a national charity that helps people facing financial hardship access welfare benefits, charitable grants, and financial support. While Turn2us does not generally provide grants directly, it offers tools and advice to help care leavers identify and access financial assistance they may be entitled to.
Supports available
Capstone Care Leavers Trust is a national charity that provides grants, advice, and guidance to care-experienced young people aged 17 to 25 across England and Wales. The Trust aims to reduce social exclusion, promote independence, and improve life chances for care leavers.
Support available:
Email: [email protected]
The Spark Foundation is a national charity supporting young people in care and care leavers in England and Wales under 26 years of age. Its aim is to help care-experienced young people access the same opportunities as their peers by providing grants for practical items, education, employment, and independent living needs.
Support available:
Email: [email protected]
Citizens Advice is a free, independent, and confidential advice service that helps people understand their rights, resolve problems, and access support. For care leavers, Citizens Advice can provide practical guidance on finances, benefits, housing, employment, debt, immigration, consumer issues, and legal rights.
Support available:
Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848
Shelter is the UK's leading housing and homelessness charity. It provides free, expert, and independent advice to people experiencing housing difficulties, including care leavers who are at risk of homelessness, facing eviction, struggling with housing problems, or need support understanding their housing right.
Support available:
Shelter helpline: 0808 800 4444
Migrant Help is a national charity that provides independent advice, guidance, and practical support to people seeking asylum, refugees, survivors of trafficking, and other vulnerable migrants in the UK. It can be particularly helpful for care leavers who have immigration, asylum, or refugee-related needs.
Support available:
Free 24/7 Asylum helpline: 0808 801 0503
Webchat and self-service portal available through the Migrant Help website.
The British Red Cross provides practical, emotional, and humanitarian support to vulnerable people across the UK. For care-experienced young people, particularly refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people (UASC), and those with limited support networks, the charity can offer advice, casework, emergency assistance, and referrals to specialist services.
Support Available:
