The Leonardo Trust
The Leonardo Trust is an independent charity that helps carers in Dorset. They can provide funding for things such as respite breaks, educational courses, PPE, home repairs and improvements.
Website: www.leonardotrust.org
Tel: 01202 698325
Email: info@leonardotrust.org
Dorset Carers Hub
Dedicated to making sure no carer feels alone. The Dorset Carers Hub is an organisation run by volunteers and is based in Dorchester but supports carers all over Dorset.
Website: www.dorsetcarershub.com/
Tel: 07989306322
PramaLife
The PramaLife ‘FOCUS befriending and mentoring scheme’ is available to carers. They can join you up with someone to regularly talk to or with a mentor who is an experienced carer themselves.
Website: www.pramalife.org
Tel: 01202 207329
Prama Groups Handbook 2022
Prama LIFE Activities July 2025 Schedule
PramaLife has developed 55 Clubs, groups and activities across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and East Dorset, including:
- Memory Lane: groups for people with dementia or memory loss (no need for a diagnosis of dementia) – everyone is welcome to attend and we always have quizzes, games, reminiscence and refreshments in a warm and friendly environment.
- Sporting Memories: groups for people who are interested in sport – all sessions include a quiz, a sporting news sheet, refreshments and an activity such as Indoor Curling or Bowling.
- Museum Memories: making use of the experience and collections of the Poole Museum.
- Coffee Mornings, Pop-in Groups, Soup Lunches, Cream Teas – all for people to come together and socialise over a cup of tea with friendly faces and chat!
- Knit and Natter groups – for people to produce woollen items and share tea and experiences whilst they do!
- Art and Craft groups – to get creative in a social environment!
- Care for Craft group – an opportunity for carers to bring the person they care for to a session with a craft activity at the centre of it. This also provides the opportunity for the carer to either join in the craft activity with their cared-for person, or step out into another area to talk with other carers in a similar position, get information from professionals or access information etc.
- Carers Support Groups – for informal carers to attend and gain the support of their peers over a cup of tea. These groups also have guest professionals and access to information.
- Ferndown Connectors – supports people to ‘get back out into the community’ by providing a volunteer who will come with them if they have lost confidence by being bereaved, made redundant, having a long-term health condition, or any other reason.
- Gardening groups – for those who are green fingered or just enjoy the outdoors.
- Telephone Friendship groups – Supported by a volunteer host, joining people together in groups over the phone. Can be topic-based or can just be for a friendly conversation over a coffee in your own home.
- Telephone Coffee Mornings For Carers – Hosted by a volunteer joining informal carers together over the phone.
- 121 Telephone Befriending – Volunteers supporting people who may be lonely, isolated or housebound by keeping in touch with a regular phone call.
- FOCUS Carers Mentoring and Befriending Scheme – Volunteers supporting informal carers as a telephone befriender providing a friendly voice on a regular basis, or, as a mentor who is able to empathise and provide the experience of being a carer themselves.
- Wimborne Area NeighbourCar – Drivers using their own cars to get people to activities.
- East Dorset Good Neighbours – Undertaking one-off tasks such as shopping, collecting a prescription, walking a dog etc.
Contact sue.warr@prama.uk Pathways Manager, for more information.
Prama are also offering a Friday Friends social group. More information can be found on the below poster:
Friday-Friends-2
