Charity, Poole | Posted on March 6th, 2026 | return to news

Poole retail centre raises funds to help young people

Mosaic Family Support and MYTIME Young Carers are to receive funds raised by The Dolphin.

Two charities which support children in Dorset are to benefit from funds raised by The Dolphin in Poole.

Mosaic Family Support, a children’s bereavement charity, and MYTIME Young Carers, a support charity for young carers in Dorset, are The Dolphin’s selected Charity Partners from 2025 to the end of 2026. At the end of the first year of the partnership, both charities have received a donation of more than £8,000 to support the vital services they deliver to young people across the county.

Several fundraising activities took place at The Dolphin last year to raise the 2025 donation total, including collection buckets during live music performances and events held at GATHER.

The Dolphin’s donation will help fund a series of Mosaic Family Support’s bereavement cafés at East Dorset schools, creating safe and supportive spaces for young people to come together and share their experiences of grief. The cafés create gentle, welcoming environments for students who may be coping with the death of a parent, sibling, friend, or another loved one. By connecting students with peers and trusted staff who understand loss, the cafés reduce the sense of isolation, anxiety and depression that many bereaved young people experience.

Jenny Diffey, Mosaic fundraising and volunteer coordinator, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive support from The Dolphin as its chosen Charity Partner. Bereavement has a profound impact on a young person’s wellbeing, influencing their ability to learn, their behaviour and their friendships. While grief is a natural part of life, the emotions that accompany it can often feel overwhelming or frightening for young people.

“It is challenging to reach and engage the wider community, particularly when talking about a sensitive subject such as bereavement, but this wonderful partnership with The Dolphin gives us a valuable opportunity to extend our reach, raise awareness and generate vital funds.

“Thank you to The Dolphin and people in the community whose generosity is helping young people feel less alone in their grief and more supported on their journey forward.”

MYTIME Young Carers runs programmes to protect young carers against poor mental health, social isolation and economic disadvantage. The Dolphin’s donation will see young carers in Dorset given the opportunity to enrol on the charity’s Employability Programme, which equips those aged 14–25 with the required skills to access and sustain meaningful employment. MYTIME’s Zoom Youth Group is also funded by donations to help young carers forge strong connections with those who face similar challenges of caring for a loved one.

Tim Sills, corporate partnerships executive at MYTIME Young Carers, said: “Thank you to The Dolphin and the wider community for helping us to support local young carers. The donation is already making a massive difference to the lives of this often-forgotten community of exceptional young people.

“Every £500 donation provides the opportunity for 10 young carers to take part in one of our incredible Making Memories days. Here, they’ll have fun and unwind together, relieving stress and anxiety, and building key support networks that will improve their mental health.”

The Dolphin raised a further £15,858 over a two-week period for The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in November 2025, supporting veterans, service personnel and their families. Forest Holme’s Light up a Life Tree also received more than £8,950, offering a poignant way to remember loved ones during the 2025 festive season.

Carmen Davies, community manager at The Dolphin, added: “We are thankful for the ongoing generosity of our community and for those who continue to donate what they can to help others. Our charity partnerships not only have a positive impact on vulnerable people, but they also celebrate the people behind charities that go above and beyond to deliver critical support.

“As we enter the second year of our chosen charity partnerships, we have a number of charity-focused events and community initiatives that we look forward to sharing in due course.”

Follow @thedolphinpoole on Instagram and Facebook for the latest event information, news and updates at the centre.