Funding a Day to Remember: DYCC's Trip to London

In May, 25 young people from Dorchester Youth & Community Centre's Networks group, aged between 9 and 18, travelled to London. For many of them, it was their first visit to the capital, and for some, their first time in any city at all.

We were proud to fund the trip, and this is exactly why we do it.

The day took in some of London's most iconic sights, including the Houses of Parliament, 10 Downing Street, Horse Guards Parade and Buckingham Palace, with a picnic stop in St James's Park along the way. The group then visited the Science Museum, before making the most of a London bus ride and a trip on the Underground to complete the full London experience.

Beyond the sightseeing, the trip gave the young people a chance to build confidence, communication, teamwork and independence, while experiencing life beyond their local community.

The journey home didn't go entirely to plan, with major train cancellations leaving the group stranded at Bournemouth station until the early hours. True to form, the young people handled the disruption with real resilience and patience, and a few quick thinking parents stepped in to get everyone home safely.

A huge thank you to the team at Dorchester Youth & Community Centre for organising such a memorable day, and to all 25 young people who represented DYCC so well throughout.