Services across the council aim to meet the needs of young people and their families - services like housing, leisure centres, benefits, arts, tourism and community safety.

Children and Young People Framework 2006-2009

To make clear our commitment, we have produced a Children and Young People Framework. This sets out a series of actions that we will take between 2006 and 2009 to help improve the quality of life for children, young people and their families. This framework document can be found on the right.

A report on the progress made by the district council during 2006-07 with the list of actions set out in the framework can be read on the right. Please contact the district council through the email address at the bottom of this page if you could like to know more about any of the projects in this progress report.

Youth forums

The council also supports the development of youth forums across the district. The forums are a way for young people to have a voice in the community and help influence decisions that are made about local services. For information on Dorchester Youth Extra, the youth forum for Dorchester, follow the link on the left side of this page. For more information about these forums please use the contact details below.

West Dorset Youth Council and Youth Bank

The district council also supports the West Dorset Youth Council, which has representatives from each of the five existing youth forums. The West Dorset Youth Council campaigns on behalf of young people living in the district, seeks to improve community relations and make West Dorset a more enjoyable place for young people to live and work.

To help achieve their aims, members of the West Dorset Youth Council have received a licence to operate a Youth Bank. This is a grant-making body managed by young people in order to support projects that will benefit young people in their community. For more information on the Youth Bank follow the link on the left of this page.

Youth advice centres

There are also four youth advice centres or drop-in centres in West Dorset which are supported by the district council. These can provide friendly advice and information on a range of issues that affect young people's safety and well being. Follow the link on the left for more information.

• Dorchester Youth Extra (DYE)

  DYE is the youth forum for the Dorchester area, including the surrounding villages. DYE aims to help improve facilities for young people in the area and has close links with both West Dorset District Council, Dorchester Town Council and the Dorchester Area Community Partnership.

• West Dorset YouthBank

  Young people from the West Dorset Youth Council, which covers Bridport, Beaminster, Dorchester and Lyme Regis, joined together to form the county's first youth bank.

• Youth drop-in centres in West Dorset

  There are four youth drop-in centres that offer advice, information and support in West Dorset.

• Name: Leisure & Tourism (West Dorset)
  Email: Leisure@westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 252250
  Fax: 01305 257039
  Full details for Leisure & Tourism (West Dorset)