Dorset

Youth service cuts are a potential cause of rising crime among young people in Dorset, a PCC says.

A police officer who lost £250,000 to gambling says betting firms are ignoring addiction problems.

Dorset Council is seeking the views of local businesses on the council’s vision and strategy for economic growth at a series of Business Breakfast events during November and December.

The events will take place across the council’s area and representatives from businesses of all sizes and all sectors are invited to inform and influence the council on future economic growth and investment opportunities.

There will be an opportunity to meet key council representatives and hear more about how the council’s plans to support businesses in the area.  Business support organisations will also be there to discuss local business needs and networking and a welcoming breakfast are on the agenda too.

The event dates and venues are:

18 November – The Exchange, Sturminster Newton

27 November  – Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy

2 December  – Dorford Centre, Dorchester

5 December – Springfield Country Hotel, Wareham

12 December – Queen Elizabeth’s School, Wimborne

13 December – Amsafe, Bridport

David Walsh, Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager said, “Sustainable economic growth is a key priority for the council and we recognise that this can only be achieved if we are working in partnership with, and with support of businesses and relevant organisations across the area.

The Business Breakfast events offer the opportunity for the council to gain views and responses to our draft Economic Growth Strategy. All the information gathered will then be taken into consideration prior to the final strategy being published in the new year.”

Book your place

The post Dorset Council calls on businesses for their views on Council’s Economic Growth Strategy appeared first on Dorset Council news.

Kevin Sherwood, 38, was arrested when police stopped a vehicle, shooting the driver in the arm.

Alison Montgomery has been appointed as Dorset Council’s Corporate Director for Care and Protection.

Alison is currently the Head of Strengthening Families at the City of Wolverhampton Council. She has more than 17 years’ experience of working with children and families, as well as 11 years’ experience of working for the police.

Alison has worked in local authorities in England and Scotland and has also spent time with Children and Family Court Support and Advisory Service (CAFCAS).

Married with a 17-year-old son, Alison currently lives in Derbyshire. She said:

“This is a really exciting opportunity for me. It’s great to be joining the new Dorset Council at a time when they’re transforming the way they work to provide the best possible support for families. I’m looking forward to moving to Dorset and making sure the needs of children and young people are at the heart of what the council does.”

Dorset Council’s Staffing Committee finalised the appointment today and Alison will join the council in spring 2020.

Executive Director for People – Children, Sarah Parker, said:

“I’m delighted that Alison will be joining the team here in Dorset. We’re working hard to improve the lives of children and families, so it’ll be great to have Alison share her knowledge and expertise with us.”

The post Dorset Council appoints new lead for children’s social care appeared first on Dorset Council news.

The rare teapot bears the mark of the sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty.

To claim up to 30 hours free childcare from January 2020, parents should apply now to get their eligibility code.

1. How do I apply?

Visit dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/30hours

You, and your partner if you have one, will need your:

• National Insurance Number

• Details of one or more of the following: your UK Passport, tax credits, P60 or a recent payslip

If you have any trouble with the online application, call the Childcare Funding helpline on 0300 123 4097

Apply now

2. What should I do once I receive my eligibility code?

If you’re not already using childcare, you can use our Family Information Directory to find a childcare provider who is signed up to offer free early education and childcare. If you already have a childcare provider, you will need to check that they offer 30 hours free childcare.

You will need to take your code and National Insurance number to your chosen provider to be checked and to reserve your place in good time.

Find a childcare provider

3. What will I need to pay for?

The 30 hours free childcare offer does not cover the cost of additional services, activities or consumables, such as lunch, nappies, trips or music classes and your childcare provider may charge extra for these. However, you shouldn’t be required to pay any fee as a condition of taking up a 30 hours place, and should be offered alternative options, such as choosing to provide your child’s own lunch.

Find out more

4. I only work part time hours, am I eligible?

You don’t need to be working full time hours in order to be eligible.

You, and any partner, must each expect to earn at least the equivalent of working 16 hours a week at your national minimum wage. You must be earning under £100,000 per year to claim.

If you are a working parent, it is likely you will be eligible and you should check whether you can claim.

Check full criteria

5. Do I have to use all 30 hours per week?

No, you can choose as much as you like, up to a maximum of 30 hours per week over 38 weeks. Some childcare providers may allow you to use your free hours over more weeks by using less hours each week. For instance, you could take 22 hours a week for 52 weeks. Speak to your childcare provider about how they offer 30 hours.

Find out more

6. Can I use more than one childcare provider?

You can split the entitlement between multiple providers, for example between a childminder and a session at pre-school. However, you cannot use with more than two providers in one day.

If you’re struggling to find childcare, Dorset’s Family Information Service can help. If you’ve been unable to find what you’re looking for on the Family Information Directory, contact us and we’ll do all we can to help.

Contact the Family Information Service

7. I’m not eligible, what other help can I get?

All 3 and 4 year-olds are eligible for 15 hours a week free childcare. Details of all funding options can be found on the Childcare Choices website. There is also a Childcare Calculator so you can find out which options work best for your family.

Visit Childcare Choices

8. I’m already claiming, do I need to do anything else?

Yes, you need to reconfirm that you are still eligible every three months. You must do this even if your child hasn’t started their 30 hours place.  If you’re claiming 30 hours, you’re likely to also be able to get Tax-Free Childcare. You can claim this for all children under 12 years old.

How to reconfirm eligibility

The post 8 things to know about 30 hours free childcare appeared first on Dorset Council news.

As part of their annual Christmas concert series, The Ridgeway Singers and Band will be performing at Weymouth Library on Wednesday 11 December.

This exciting event is the largest to date and forms part of Dorset Council’s ‘Libraries as Cultural Hubs’ programme. The performance from the Ridgeway Singers and Band will include locally collected folk songs and carols as part of their annual Christmas concert series.

Simon Bailey, Head of Customer Services, Libraries and Archives, said:

“Weymouth Library and Learning Centre is a brand new venue for the band this year. Our flexible, new layout enables these popular annual concerts to perform at a venue in the heart of Weymouth and easily accessible by public transport. I hope this marks the start of many future concerts at Weymouth Library for the Ridgeway Band.”

The Ridgeway concerts are a sell-out success every year and tickets, priced at £8 each can be purchased through Eventbrite or directly from the library.

The post Ridgeway Singers coming to Weymouth Library and Learning Centre appeared first on Dorset Council news.

Nick Butter took 455 flights, ran through 15 war zones and was mugged twice during the epic feat.

The hydraulic lifting machine broke down while the man was putting up festive lights in Weymouth.

The council said the bridge would reopen after the replacement of a half-tonne bearing next month.

Pippa was invited to a special lingerie show after deciding to have gender reassignment surgery at the age of 72.

A new local volunteer is offering free one to one courses of a digital flavour based at his own café.

Digital sessions are being held on Monday and Tuesday afternoons at The Tangerine Café in Beaminster, a comfortable and relaxing community space which Chris Sims owns with his poet wife Sue.  Book your first session or simply turn up at the café and if you find your first session useful book more – all for free.

Around 21% of people are not confident using the internet – that’s around 150,000 people across Dorset. And 70,000 of these have never been online.

Chris said:  “I can offer help to people of all abilities. There is no escaping digital so if you are nervous about joining the digital age and you have a problem my aim is to help you get the best use of digital that you can.  I also gain a lot of enjoyment from sorting out more complicated issues working through solutions forensically!

“So many government and public services require you to have the skills to access essential services on the internet, such as NHS repeat prescriptions, booking appointments, Universal Credit, passports, UK Citizenship, or Government pensions. With the closure of bank branches, it is becoming essential to be able to use online banking safely and securely and I can help with that.”

“Digital can also bring joy for example by bringing friends and family together, Skype makes it easy to stay in touch with loved ones as if they were there beside you.”

Chris is one of a band of more than 75 Dorset Digital Champions who help and support people in the local community to use the internet and gain basic online skills such as:

• learning to use a device (laptop, smartphone, tablet etc)
• setting up email and contacts
• sharing photos and managing photo storage
• online safety
• using search engines such as Google or Bing
• printing
• updates and backing up
• using apps
• finding cheaper utilities
• online banking and Paypal
• connecting to wifi

With a lifetime of business and IT skills at his fingertips gained during his career as a finance director Chris has a wealth of lifetime experience he is ready to share.

Call us on 01305 221048 and we will book you in for a session with Chris or match you with a volunteer Digital Champion in your own area.

The post New digital taster sessions at The Tangerine Cafe appeared first on Dorset Council news.

Police officers feared they were going to die when Daniel Hannam fired a shotgun out of a window.

The 2020 Local Government Chronicle Awards (LGC) shortlist has been unveiled and we are delighted to announce we have been nominated in four of the categories.

The teams have managed to beat hundreds of submissions to reach the finals. The shortlisted projects include:

• Business Transformation – joint submission with BCP for the creation of two new unitary councils
• Driving efficiency through technology – Education Health and Care Plan tracker
• Environmental Services – Low Carbon Dorset
• Housing Initiative – Healthy Homes Dorset pilot project and the Warm Homes Fund Innovation strand

The Awards have grown to be the biggest celebration of excellence in local government and recognises the hard work of teams and individuals. This year, a record 700 entries were received, so well done to the nominated teams.

The next step is to complete presentations and interviews to a specific judging panel that is made up of senior and influential figures within local government.

The winners of the Awards will then be announced at a prestigious ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 18 March.

The full list of finalists can be seen here.

The post We’ve been shortlisted for LGC Awards! appeared first on Dorset Council news.

Jackie and Mike have provided supported lodgings for  young people in their home for 25 years.

Supported Lodgings is a service that provides a young person with a room of their own in a private home to help prepare them for living on their own.

They explain how they became supported lodging carers:

“We got into providing a supported lodging by accident. We put our details on an accommodation list at the local college and we had a call asking if we would take a homeless young person to live with us and it has evolved since then.

The Hardings provide a safe and supportive environment to help and support young people to gain skills for independent adult life.

“Our kids have been very accepting, and we’ve only had a couple of placements that didn’t get on. Mostly young people lodging with us integrate with the family, have friends over and everyone mucks in together.”

Every young person who has stayed with them has different experiences and needs. Families who provide lodgings are not on their own with support from social workers and other professionals to help the young person become independent.

“We work with them to learn every day skills like budgeting, cleaning and cooking.”

Chloe is 19 and is lodging with Jackie and Mike. She has spent a lot of time within the foster care. She says:

“It’s the best placement I’ve ever been in… it’s home. It’s lovely knowing that you’re not moving on. I can do my college course without worrying.

Chloe is taking a performing arts course at college and she’s working in a care home part-time to earn money to pay for driving lessons and a holiday.

If you have a spare room and think you can help a young person become independent then visit our website to find out more 

The post 25 years of helping young people appeared first on Dorset Council news.

Preview followed by live coverage of Saturday's Premier League game between Newcastle United and Bournemouth.

A review recommended creating a single office "hub" and cutting posts to save up to £37m.

BBC Sport understands former Women's Super League club Yeovil Town are set to re-appoint Jamie Sherwood as their manager.

Great Britain's Paul Blake dominates to win T36 800m gold on the first day of the World Para-Athletics Championships in Dubai.