About us
Working to support communities and voluntary organisations ...
Dorset Community Action (DCA) is an independent voluntary organisation and charitable company. It is governed by a Board of Trustees, and has a membership of over 250 voluntary organisations, community groups, social enterprises and local authorities from across Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole. All voluntary and community groups are encouraged to become members, which is free.
DCA is committed to encouraging and supporting the interests of local communities in consultation, transport, community facilities, regeneration, sustainable living and social issues. We also initiate and deliver new services, which respond to local needs.
DCA is also the Council for Voluntary Service for Dorset and supports the development of the voluntary sector through information, networking, representation, building capacity, and filling gaps.
We produce regular newsletters with a variety of information and advice. Community News is produced 3 times a year, and regular e-alerts from our specialist support team are packed with information on funding, good practice, legal issues for voluntary and community groups and the Village Halls Bulletin contains specific information for village and community halls. We also produce an annual Rural Trends Report on how the quality of life in rural Dorset is improving or growing worse. Besides these regular publications we produce fact sheets, research documents and other material. For a full list go to Publications.
We have nearly 40 staff working across Dorset on a number of projects and programmes. From time to time we have job vacancies. Our main office is in Dorchester at Community House. We also run the Community Learning and Resource Centre in Wimborne as an affordable and high quality venue for training, meetings and conferences.
DCA works in partnership with, and is funded by, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs via the Government Office of the South West, Dorset's local authorities and other statutory and grant-making bodies. We produce an Annual Report, Annual Accounts and a Business Plan.
We have produced a set of leaflets which outline the work we do. These are available to download here
Voluntary Sector Support and Advice
DCA always welcomes telephone, postal and e-mail enquiries.
