About Us

The Leonardo Trust is an independent charity set up in 2001 to help people in Dorset who are voluntary carers for sick or disabled relatives or friends.

What We Fund

Anything from Respite Breaks and Short Holidays for carers and the people they care for to Educational Courses and classes or home repairs and improvements.

Apply To Us

Apply to us for Grants, Counselling, Short Breaks, Home Alertline, If Only I’d Known That booklets and lots more!

Donate

We are entirely funded by donations and appreciate anything you are able to give. With your help, we can continue to provide vital support, advice and information to unpaid carers and their families.

Grants for Individuals

Our individual grants support any recognised unpaid carer living in Dorset. We can provide funding for respite breaks, home services and improvements, tuition fees, domestic appliances, social and leisure activities, coach trips and days out, public events and any aspect of a carer’s life deemed suitable by the Trustees.

If Only I’d Known That Booklet

This booklet has been written by a carer, and adapted by The Leonardo Trust and Prama Life for Dorset based carers. This booklet gives helpful tips to make your caring role a little easier.

Alertlines 4 Carers

Working in partnership with Careline365 we are offering SIX months FREE funding of a monitored home alarm or GPS location device. A Master Lock Keysafe can also be supplied at no cost. Further funding may be available from The Leonardo Trust.

Time Out Together

If you are running a carers group or attend an existing group for carers, then you could have an afternoon tea funded. Collection is from Poole. To request these individually wrapped boxes, please contact us.

Counselling 4 Carers

Counselling is a chance for a carer to focus on themselves and to think about their own needs. The Leonardo Trust can fund a course of counselling to support a carers well-being.

Short Breaks 4 Carers

A break with or without the person you care for can be just what you need to switch off. We have a holiday home sited at Freshwater Holiday Park, based in Bridport.

Grants for Groups

Our group grants support any carers groups in need of funding. This could be an existing group who require funding or a new group looking to start up a new project. For example, carers evenings, carers support groups or afternoon teas/dinners.

Welfare Benefits Application Service

We provide a benefits assessment and application service for unpaid carers and those they care for. Our friendly team will visit you in your own home and submit the application for you. We also have a free Wills Service and can advise on Lasting Power of Attorney.

We Understand

Carers are recognised in law in the same way as those they care for.

The Care Act 2014 defines a Carer as:

“A Carer is someone who helps another person, usually a relative or friend, in their day-to-day life. This is not the same as someone who provides care professionally, or through a voluntary organisation.”