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Dorset Carer Service

Supporting unpaid carers across Dorset with information, guidance and wellbeing support.

Overview

An independent service, funded by Dorset Council and delivered by Help & Care in association with MYTIME Young Carers, supporting people who care for others across the Dorset Council area*.

Caring for someone can be rewarding, but it can also feel lonely or confusing. Our Carer Link Workers offer a listening ear, clear guidance, and help you access the right support.

Whatever your age or circumstances, we’re here to ensure you feel heard, supported, and valued in your caring role.

Register a Carer BCP Carer Support

*If the person you care for is living within the Dorset Council area, please continue to register as above. If the person you care for is living within Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole (BCP council area), please note that you will need to register with your local Carer Support Service – BCP Carers Service (bcpcarersupport.org)

What is an unpaid carer?

A carer is someone who provides unpaid support to another person, usually a family member, partner, friend, or neighbour, who could not always manage without that help due to frailty, illness, disability, mental health needs, or addiction.

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How Dorset Carer Service Can Help:

How we can help:

  • Take time to understand you – not just your situation
     
  • We explain what you are entitled to as an unpaid carer, including other services for you and those you care for.

  • We focus on your health & wellbeing needs, with direct access to our Health & Wellbeing Coaching Service. 

What to expect: 

  • If you are in the Dorset Council area, you’ll have access to a dedicated team of Help & Care advisors and a wide range of support options.
  • We’ll connect you to local and online resources – from community groups to wellbeing coaching and social prescribing – so you can build confidence, resilience, and connection.
  • Whatever your circumstances or stage of life, we’re here to ensure you feel heard, supported, and valued in your caring role.

Looking for HOPE?

Help & Care is the certified provider of the HOPE Programme in Dorset, offering friendly, practical courses that help adults build confidence, improve wellbeing, and take charge of their health. Carers are welcome to attend with their cared-for person to benefit from course content too!

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Introducing our Partnership

As of 22 November 2025, Help & Care delivers the Dorset Carer Service, commissioned by Dorset Council, providing ongoing information, advice, and practical support for unpaid carers living in the Dorset Council area. 

The service, previously delivered by Carer Support Dorset, continues to ensure carers across Dorset can access guidance, signposting, and wellbeing support. This change in provider marks an ongoing partnership between Dorset Council and Help & Care, maintaining continuity for carers while building on Help & Care’s 40 years of experience supporting local communities. 

Most of the existing team and management will remain in post, so carers can expect familiar contacts and a smooth transition. 

All young carer referrals with consent will be passed to MYTIME Young Carers to deliver.

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Impact Stories

Our impact
Services

Helping Helen* Navigate Menopause Support and GP Feedback Options

Helen* contacted us using a ‘Big Health Chat’ card we handed out at a group we…

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Services

Rediscovering Life After Illness – Sarah’s Story

Sarah, a young woman in remission from a rare form of cancer, came to coaching after…

Read the full story
Services

Margaret’s Story: How Coaching gave her a new confidence

Margaret came for coaching sessions to help regain her confidence and purpose.

Read the full story
Services

Rony’s Story: A HUGE thank you to my coach!

Thank you so very much for coaching me. You managed to get me “out of my…

Read the full story

For support, enquiries, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

0300 111 3303 [email protected]

Prefer to chat directly?

Our team is available Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm. We’d love to hear from you!

What we offer

Support that’s personal, local, and seamless –
so you never have to tell your story twice.

Drop-in Wellbeing Support

Access Wellbeing Hubs

Practical help, compassionate listening, and a clear path forward.

Life’s pressures can pile up fast – finances, family, housing, studies, grief, or simply the weight of worry itself. Our trained Wellbeing Coordinators are here to guide you toward the right help at the right time, so you can breathe easier and feel more in control. 

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Group programme sessions

HOPE

Help & Care is the certified provider of the HOPE Programme in Dorset, offering friendly, practical courses that help adults build confidence, improve wellbeing, and take charge of their health.

HOPE is a free six-week self-management course designed for people aged 18 or over who are registered with a GP in Dorset and ready to explore new ways of looking after their health. It’s ideal for anyone living with long-term conditions or facing the pressures of caring.

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Make services work for you

Involving People

Involving People puts lived experience front and centre.

We work with communities – not just for them – through expert, community-led research. By partnering across sectors, we co-design services, drive change, and ensure real voices shape real decisions.

Collaborate with us
News

An inspirational day at the Integrated Partnership Research Assembly

On Wednesday 19th November, Kathryn, Zan and Lucy from the Involving People team attended the Hampshire and…

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News

Introducing our NEW Dorset Carer Service!

An independent service, funded by Dorset Council and delivered by Help & Care in association with…

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News

Supporting People Waiting for Memory Assessments in Dorset

As part of the ongoing Dorset dementia review, Help & Care have been working closely with…

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Newsletter

Healthwatch – East Berkshire Newsletter OCT 25

Welcome to the October’s edition of Healthwatch East Berkshire Newsletter! We are excited to bring you…

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