Welcome to this week’s E News on the Citizens Advice Dorset website. Just a reminder that the Advice Dorset Partnership is a network of organisations providing advice and support to residents of Dorset and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole. It is managed by Citizens Advice and is open to any organisation which provides information, advice and support/guidance to local residents.
The Advice Dorset Partnership E news is published fortnightly on a Thursday, BUT if there is something urgent in-between we will send out a short supplementary edition. This is one of those, and features details of some important events, and CAN’s ‘state of the sector’ survey.
Please can you now subscribe to the newsletter (it is still FREE but in future you will get an automatic notification when it is published) – and do encourage colleagues to subscribe too. The Subscribe option is at the bottom of this page! So far I can see that over 100 people have subscribed; if you haven’t done so already please do asap.
If you would like to send anything out via the bulletin, and for all other enquiries about the Advice Dorset Partnership, contact Caroline Buxton at Citizens Advice Central Dorset: [email protected]
Events
Gypsy Roma History month – Saturday 15 June, 12 – 4pm: Event in Borough Gardens, Dorchester, all welcome. The team from the new Citizens Advice/Kushti Bok GRT Advocacy project will be having a stand (let’s hope it warms up a bit!) More in this poster:
Refugee Week 17 – 23 June: This year, Refugee Week will take place between the 17th and 23rd June 2024, with World Refugee Day falling on the 20th June 2024. The annual festival is celebrated across the UK and brings people together from all kinds of backgrounds. It inspires people to have a deeper knowledge and understanding of what refugees and displaced people go through. Refugee Week initiatives encourage people to share their experiences and reflect on a range of core beliefs and values. Read more on the UNHCR website here.
Locally there are a number of events, for example in Weymouth, as here and in this flyer:
Citizens Advice – Data Insight session – Thursday 20 June 12-1pm: This is the Living Standards Election. Are voters confident that the main parties have a plan? Join us as we examine how the next government could improve living standards in their first-term and if we’re seeing a commitment from the main parties to put pounds back in people’s pockets. Families everywhere have a simple problem. Can their income cover their costs? Is there enough coming in for heating, eating, and the rest? Join us for our Data Insights Election Special as we explore how the incoming government could raise living standards and pull people out of the red from day one. Book via eventbrite.
Wessex Water Community Drop-Ins: If you want advice or have a question about our services, you can speak to us in person at one of our Community Drop-In sessions. A Customer Adviser can:
- answer questions about your bill
- refer you for support if you are struggling to pay your bill
- provide advice on saving water and avoiding blockages
- answer questions about water quality, plumbing and drainage.
For questions about your bill, please bring a recent bill or your customer number with you. Venues in Dorset/BCP include various libraries and The Spire in Poole. Read more here.
Training
Introduction to Safeguarding – Monday 15 July, 10 – 1: This course is organised by CAN and will be held at Beech House in Poole. The course introduces safeguarding for VCS groups; it is aimed at anyone who works or volunteers with children, young people and/or adults who needs the knowledge and skills to help keep them safe. This is an intermediary course for those requiring a fundamental knowledge of safeguarding (more than basic awareness). Book via eventbrite.
Consultations
Take the State of the Sector survey – help the VCS thrive: The last year has thrown us all some serious challenges, and many are struggling to keep up with increasing demand. As one of Dorset’s infrastructure charities, CAN supports the VCS with training, advice, resources, and volunteer connections, but they need to hear from YOU to ensure the most effective support possible is offered. This is where CAN’s annual State of the Sector Survey comes in…….By taking this 30-minute online survey, you’ll play a vital role in shaping the future of the VCS in Dorset. Your answers will help CAN and others to understand the current challenges faced by charities and groups, and how best support can be offered to build your resilience.
The link to the survey is here, and it will be open until the end of July.