Regular and Upcoming Events within our Community Centre and across Dorset
Upcoming Sessions:
Self-Care and Wellbeing Course (12 sessions)
Date: Monday’s until the end of March
Time: 1.30pm-3.30pm
Where: The Centre Ferndown, Barns Road, Ferndown, BH22 8XH
Cost: Free
Taking place at the Centre in Ferndown, this 12 session course will help with wellbeing, mindfulness and becoming healthy and happy for the new year.
We are working with The Centre Ferndown to run these sessions. It will include:
- Guided Meditation
- Mindfulness Activities
- Healthy Eating
- 5 Pathways to Wellbeing
- Nature Connection
Contact Lydia to book here.
Masterclass: How to Research & Choose Likely Funders
Date: Tuesday 17th March 2026
Time: 1pm- 3pm
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Cost: £55 including resources and templates (DCA member rate: £49.50)
This interactive two-hour session will help you to take your funding applications to the next level. It will look at how to find out about possible funding, find out about the funder and how to make sure it’s appropriate for you.
What will you gain?
- Practical skills in research
- The ability to take a systematic approach and avoid “scatter-gun” applications
- The knowledge to pick funders that fit best with your project which gives you a stronger start
After the programme, there will be time for networking and further discussion on challenges you are facing. Caro Hart, DCA’s Community Training Consultant is an experienced fundraiser herself and will be happy to answer any questions.
Community Spaces Networking – Village Halls Week 2026
Date: Wednesday 18th March 2026
Time: 10am
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Cost: Free to DCA members and Community Spaces Members,
£5 for non-members
This year’s Village Halls week will highlight the importance of village halls to the health and wellbeing of rural communities across England, Wales and Scotland.
Our session will include:
- Community health begins with having somewhere to go
- How can you get funding for wellbeing activities
- Does NHS Dorset’s 5-year plan to devolve health care and preventative health services to neighbourhoods provide an opportunity for Village Halls?
Speakers will be announced shortly.
We will also be celebrating a year of events, training and other services as DCA’s community spaces project comes to an end – and asking what’s next?
Fuel Poverty/Energy Advice Training for Front Line Workers
Dates/Times: Tuesday 24th March – 1.30pm
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Fuel poverty is when households struggle to afford essential fuel costs. It affects people across our communities and can have devastating impacts on people’s lives and health. Dorset Community Action and Citizens Advice East Dorset & Purbeck are joining together to help tackle the problem with the Energy Outreach Project.
Your volunteers and staff will learn how to recognise people struggling with fuel poverty and how offer the right support. Attendees will receive a pack of information after the presentation that will enable your volunteers to offer information and signpost people to the help they need.
Self-Care and Wellbeing Course (12 sessions)
Date: Starts Wednesday 15th April
Time: 10am to 12pm
Where: Parkstone United Reformed Church, Commercial Road, Poole, BH14 0JW
Cost: Free
Partnering with Poole Community Exchange, this 12 session course will help with wellbeing, mindfulness and becoming healthy and happy for the new year.
Sessions will include:
- Guided Meditation
- Mindfulness Activities
- Healthy Eating
- 5 Pathways to Wellbeing
- Nature Connection
Contact Lydia to book here.
Safeguarding leads training for Community Spaces
Date: Thursday 7th May 2026
Time: 9.30am – 11.30am
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Cost: Price: £60 (£54 for DCA Members)
This session is for people who are the leads on safeguarding for their community space or Village Hall. It will help you to build confidence and gain a deeper understanding of the steps you need to take. You and your trustee board will know that everyone is safe.
Whether you are an experienced lead in another context or whether you are new in the role, this session will break things down in a way that helps you see what the role is about.
The session will include:
- A recap on what abuse is and who may be vulnerable to abuse,
- Taking further action and following your policy document (you should familiarise yourself with this prior to the course)
- Spotting and reporting safeguarding concerns
- Managing safeguarding incidents and supporting colleagues
- Keeping safeguarding procedures effective and up-to-date.
Training Offer Collaboration between Volunteer Centre Dorset and DCA
Four online courses to help with Funding, various dates for each and further information to be found within the drop downs for each course offer below.
Funding 1: Income Sustainability & Diversity Thursday 7th May, 10am -11am
Funding 2: Identifying the Ask, Analysing the Need Next date is Tuesday 9th June, 2pm-3pm
Funding 3: Writing a Grant Bid Next date is Tuesday 30th June, 1pm-2pm
Funding 4: Being Funding Ready first date 11th March 2026: 10am-12pm
Funding 1: Income Sustainability & Diversity
This online session will help community groups and small charities reduce reliance on grants by developing a broader, more resilient mix of income sources.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
• Understand why grant dependency is risky for long-term sustainability
• Identify sustainable income types suitable for your organisation
• Assess their current income mix and identify gaps
• Explore practical ways to diversify income (community fundraising, trading, partnerships, contracts, donations)
• Begin developing a realistic plan to strengthen financial resilience
Who should attend?
VCS leaders or trustees responsible for the financial stability and resilience of their group or organisation.
Dates and booking:
Thursday 7th May 2026: 10am-11am
Tuesday 8th September 2026: 10am-11am
Funding 2: Identifying the Ask, Analysisng the Need
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Clarify their project idea and define a clear, fundable “ask”
• Identify the difference between organisational need and community need
• Gather and present relevant evidence (quantitative & qualitative)
• Understand what funders mean by “need” and “impact”
• Strengthen their case for support through better analysis
Who should attend?
These training sessions are ideal for anyone involved in securing, managing, or supporting funding within community groups, charities, and voluntary organisations.
Dates and booking:
Tuesday 9th June 2026: 2pm-3pm
Thursday 8th October 2026: 10am-11am
Funding 3: Writing a Grant Bid
To equip participants with the skills to write clear, persuasive, and funder-focused grant applications.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Understand what funders are looking for in a strong application
• Use clear and concise language to answer funder questions
• Structure a simple but effective case for support
• Describe outcomes and impact convincingly
• Avoid common bid-writing mistakes
Who should attend?
These training sessions are ideal for anyone involved in securing, managing, or supporting funding within community groups, charities and voluntary organisations.
Dates and booking:
Tuesday 30th June 2026: 1pm-2pm
Thursday 22nd October 2026: 2pm-3pm
Funding 4: Being Funding Ready
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
• Understand what funders expect before they consider a bid
• Check whether their organisation meets minimum governance & compliance standards
• Strengthen key internal documents: policies, plans, budgets, safeguarding
• Demonstrate good financial management and organisational stability
• Ensure their funding idea aligns with their mission, capacity, and community needs
• Create a simple action plan to improve your funding readiness
Who should attend?
These training sessions are ideal for anyone involved in securing, managing, or supporting funding within community groups, charities and voluntary organisations.
Dates and booking:
Online
Wednesday 11th March 2026: 10am-12pm
Wednesday 25th November 2026: 10am-12pm
In person
Thursday 16th July 2026: 10am-12pm (Venue TBC)
Regular Community Sessions held in the Wimborne Community Centre:
Click here to see more from our Community Centre on facebook and keep up to date with the regular Monthly Artisan Markets!
Use the drop downs for the days of the week for regular Events within our Community Centre:
Pilates with Rona
9:00, 10:15, 17:00, 18:10, 19:15
(Weekly – Term Time Only)
Slimming World
7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 16:00, 17:30, 19:00
Weekly
Wimborne Creatives Art Group
9:30-12:30
Weekly (term time only)
Wimborne Writing Group
9:00-12:30 (Monthly)
Kurling Brendoncare
9:30-12:30 (Weekly)
U3A – UFO, UAT & SETI
13:30-14:30, 15:00-16:00
(Weekly – Term Time Only)
U3A Art Group
13:15-15:15
(Weekly – Term Time Only)
Salsa Explosion
19:00 – 20:00, 20:00 – 21:00
(Weekly)
Dorset Blind Association
9:30-12:30
(Monthly)
Koru Project
9:00-15:00
(Monthly)
Go the Distance Running Fitness
19:30 – 20:30
(Weekly)
BCHA – Access Wellbeing
10:00 – 16:00
(Weekly)
10:00-15:00 (Monthly)
Monthly
Date: Fresh dates coming soon for 2026
Time: 10am – 3pm
Cost: Free
Where: Wimborne Community Centre (click here for facebook)
Best parking is the King Street car park next to the Minster.
Click here to see more regarding our Artisan Makers Markets and more from our Community Centre on facebook.
Centre Opening Times Monday – Friday 8.30am – 17.00pm. Plus other adhoc times by agreement – evenings & weekends.
Contact Jayne at our Community Centre to find out more through 01202 847600 or roomhire@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk.
Click here to see more from our Community Centre on facebook!