Thank you to everyone who has booked to attend the Dorset Coast Forum Conference. We are pleased to announce that all tickets have now been allocated and the conference is fully booked.
This year’s conference will explore some of the latest projects, research and initiatives focused on coastal resilience, nature recovery, sustainable livelihoods, accessibility, heritage and community engagement.
The Weymouth Inclusive Beach Access Project aims to make Weymouth Beach one of the UK’s leading examples of inclusive beach access, ensuring more people can enjoy the beach and sea regardless of ability, health condition or mobility needs.
We’re keen to hear from residents, visitors and stakeholders, particularly people who find accessing the beach or sea challenging to share their views on proposed improvements through our online survey.
The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete and closes on 18 October 2026.
Do you know a young budding scientist, fossil hunter or a young person curious about the world around them?
Join Sam Scriven, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site Officer, for a fascinating online adventure celebrating 25 years of the Jurassic Coast.
This is a special event aimed at young people aged 25 or under to celebrate 25 years of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. It is brought to you in partnership with Dorset Coast Forum and the Future Coast Dorset Project. Please share with your young people networks.
Weymouth Town Council is looking for volunteer Accessibility Ambassadors to help assess accessibility beyond the beach and across Weymouth town.
As a way of building on the Weymouth Beach Access Project, Weymouth Town Council are launching the Beyond the Beach Accessibility Audit whereby they will be working with local businesses to find out what they are already offering in terms of accessible services and facilities and linking them up with the globally recognised
This initiative will work with local businesses to identify and promote the accessible facilities and services they already offer, linking them with the globally recognised Snowball Accessibility App. Participating businesses will be featured on the app and will receive a Snowball-approved window sticker and certificate to recognise their commitment to accessibility.
To make this possible, Weymouth Town Council is recruiting volunteer Accessibility Ambassadors to visit local businesses and guide them through a simple 10-minute accessibility checklist. Full guidance will be provided, and no prior experience is necessary.
If you would like to become an Accessibility Ambassador, please complete the short sign-up form using the following link:
A day at the beach should be something everyone can enjoy! People with disabilities and long-term health conditions in Dorset are set to benefit from improved access to beaches and the sea, as a new project gains momentum across the county.
A pilot scheme at Weymouth Beach has secured funding from Dorset Council’s Local Regeneration Fund and Community Infrastructure Levey, allowing partners to test what works before expanding improvements to other areas.
The project aims to remove barriers and make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to get onto the beach, move around comfortably, and even get into the water. It’s about creating a more inclusive space for residents and visitors alike and making sure nobody misses out on what makes Weymouth special.
This is a partnership project, including Weymouth Town Council, Weymouth Surf Life Saving Club, Dorset Council and the Dorset Coast Forum. It builds on feedback from disabled people and local communities, helping ensure changes are practical, safe and make a real difference.
Take a look at the video to hear more from Cllr Steve Robinson, Will Behenna, Founder of the Beach Access Project and Ben Heath, Weymouth Town Council.
DCF members, we are pleased to announce the date and venue for the Dorset Coast Forum Conference 2026.
📅 Date: Tuesday 10 November 2026
📍 Venue: Kingston Maurward House, Dorchester
As always, the conference will provide a valuable opportunity to hear from experts, share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and build new collaborations. DCF members, please save the date and add a placeholder to your calendar.
Booking details will be shared soon.
A Coast for all – Inclusive Beach Access
DCF has joined forces with Will Behenna, founder of the Beach Access project and partner organisations (Dorset Council, National Trust Purbeck and Dorset National Landscape) to support Will’s vision of making Dorset the UK’s leading destination for inclusive access to the coast and blue spaces.
This initiative is a growing network all committed to a shared ambition; ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, health condition or background, can enjoy safe and welcoming access to the beach, sea and coastal activities.
Jurassic Coast at 25 – Stories Written in Stone
Do you know a young budding scientist, fossil hunter or a young person curious about the world around them?
Join Sam Scriven, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site Officer, for a fascinating online adventure celebrating 25 years of the Jurassic Coast.
Discover incredible fossils found at Charmouth and Swanage. Travel back in time to ancient tropical seas. Meet the creatures that once ruled the ocean. Explore the stories hidden within Dorset’s cliffs, beaches and rocks. From prehistoric predators to spectacular fossil discoveries, this engaging talk will reveal how the Jurassic Coast tells the story of 185 million years of Earth’s history along England’s only natural World Heritage Site.
This is a special event aimed at young people aged 25 or under to celebrate 25 years of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. It is brought to you in partnership with Dorset Coast Forum and the Future Coast Dorset Project. Sign up to the event via the Eventbrite below!
A simple and engaging activity created by the Future Coast Dorset team, is encouraging children and young people to talk with parents, grandparents, or other older friends, neighbours and relatives about how the local coast has changed over time and what this might mean for the future. This is a chance to learn about their local geography and history! We’re then asking young people to share coastal stories with us created through these conversations. Closing date for entries is 20 September.
Do you know someone who would love to get involved?
The summer issue of Earth Heritage Magazine is out and includes an article from Sam Scriven celebrating 25 years of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site!
Sam showcases the journey and shares his personal reflections of the world heritage site over the 25 years from it’s creation in 2001 until today!
