Charity | Posted on August 3rd, 2026 | return to news

Summer fun for young East Dorset diabetics

During August 40 children with Type 1 diabetes will be able to join the fun of a summer camp with lots of outdoor activities.

Forty local children with Type 1 diabetes will be able to enjoy a summer camp this August.
Funding for the DCODE Project summer camp has come from University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity and the Hayes Travel Foundation.

For children living with diabetes, attending camp brings the additional challenges of managing their condition without parental support.

DCODE (Diabetic Children of Dorset East) is a parent-led support and information group, bringing together families with children who have Type 1 diabetes in the East Dorset area.

Each child is equipped with a glucose monitor that tracks blood sugar levels in real time and is supervised by an experienced team of highly skilled medical professionals.

Alongside fun outdoor activities, children learn and actively practise essential diabetes management skills like adjusting insulin doses, testing for ketones and confidently using insulin pumps. Of children who have attended previous camps, 80 per cent said it made them feel better about living with diabetes. Many described the camp as one of the few times they felt truly ‘normal’.

Kirsty Horsley, lead children’s diabetes dietician, said: “The DCODE summer camp is so special because it gives children living with Type 1 diabetes a chance to share experiences and challenges with others who truly understand, while having fun and learning more about managing their condition. Watching their confidence and friendships grow during their time at the camp is wonderful, and the support of The Hayes Travel Foundation means we can give that experience to another 40 children this summer.”