Regular and Upcoming Events within our Community Centre and across Dorset
Upcoming Sessions:
Funding Surgeries
Dates/Times: One per month, various time slots
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Cost: Free to DCA Members, £30 otherwise.
Upcoming Dates (click date below to book your chosen time slot):
Artisan Makers Market
Next Date: Saturday 26th October
Time: 10am to 3pm
Where: Wimborne Community Centre, BH21 1EA
Entry Cost: Free
Dates: Saturday 26th September / Saturday 31st October / Saturday 28th November
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.
Friendly cafe, well behaved dogs welcome!
Click here to see more regarding our Artisan Makers Markets and more from our Community Centre on facebook.
Self-Care and Wellbeing Course
Date: Starts Wednesday 30th September
Time: 10am to 12pm
Where: The Centre, Ferndown, Barns Road, Ferndown, BH22 8XH
Cost: Free
These sessions 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.
Dorset Coaching Network
Date: Monday 12th October 2026
Time: Doors are at 9am for networking, with a 9:30am official start, finishing at 4.30pm
Where: Wimborne Community Centre, 41-44 King St, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1EA
Cost: Specially reduced community ticket of £45 (normally £95)
Our aim is to create a stronger coaching community across Dorset by bringing together individuals and organisations interested in how coaching can support better leadership, stronger teams, and more effective conversations.
Throughout the day, we’ll explore Introduction to Coaching and Coaching in Business, with Gerard O’Donovan and Ash Gordon sharing practical tools, insights, and real-life experiences that can be applied to leadership, workplace development, and everyday interactions.
Whether you’re an experienced coach or completely new to coaching, we’d love to have you involved. The event is designed to bring together like-minded people, encourage the sharing of ideas, and lay the foundations for a local network that can continue to grow and support one another.
You’re also welcome to bring a colleague, friend, or someone from your network free of charge.
Managing the Money for Trustees
Date: Wednesday 22nd July
Time:9.30am – 11.30am
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Cost: Price: £60 (£48 for DCA Members)
This workshop looks at the legal responsibilities trustees have to manage the assets of the organisation and the skills they need. It looks at what can go wrong and what to do about it.
End of project reporting; How to sell the difference you’ve made
Communities Against Cancer – Online Event
This will look at raising cancer awareness, how to apply for the funding and the work of Health Champions. We will have speakers from Action Hampshire, as well as our own funding expert Caro Hart. Communities Against Cancer is a cancer awareness project funded by Wessex Cancer Alliance (WAC). Click here to read more and also download the Funding Guide.
Suitable for: Any organisation working with people who experience barriers to getting health information or accessing healthcare.
Communities Against Cancer – Online Event
This will look at raising cancer awareness, how to apply for the funding and the work of Health Champions. We will have speakers from Action Hampshire, as well as our own funding expert Caro Hart. Communities Against Cancer is a cancer awareness project funded by Wessex Cancer Alliance (WAC). Click here to read more and also download the Funding Guide.
Suitable for: Any organisation working with people who experience barriers to getting health information or accessing healthcare.
Communities Against Cancer – In Person Event
Wimborne Community Centre, 41-44 King Street, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1EB.
Cost: Free
This will look at how Health Champions and local projects are making a real difference. Guest speakers and featured projects will be announced nearer the time.
Communities Against Cancer is a cancer awareness project funded by Wessex Cancer Alliance (WAC). Click here to read more and also download the Funding Guide.
Suitable for: Any organisation working with people who experience barriers to getting health information or accessing healthcare.
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
Next date is Tuesday 8th Sept 2026: 10am-11am.
Funding 2: Identifying the Ask, Analysing the Need Next date Thursday 8th October, 10am -11am
Funding 3: Writing a Grant Bid Next date is Thursday 22nd October 2026, 2pm-3pm
Funding 4: Being Funding Ready Next date is Wednesday 25th November 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:
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:
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:
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:
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
(Term Time Only)
Santander Bank
9:30-16:30
(Every Week)
Simply call in at the Reception of our Community Centre for info.
Slimming World
7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 16:00, 17:30, 19:00
Wimborne Creatives Art Group
9:30-12:30
(Term time only)
Wimborne Writing Group
9:00-12:30 (Monthly)
Wimborne Kurling Club
9:30-12:30
U3A Art Group
13:15-15:15
(Term Time Only)
Dorset Blind Association
9:30-12:30
(Monthly)
Axis Run Fit
19:30 – 20:30
Thursday Little Buds Post Natal Group
10:00 – 12:00
(Term time only)
BCHA – Access Wellbeing
10:00 – 16:00
Friday Singing Mamas
9:30 – 11:30
10:00-15:00 (Monthly)
Monthly
Dates: Saturday 26th September / Saturday 31st October / Saturday 28th November
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!