Welcome to this week’s E News on the Citizens Advice Dorset website. 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. However, if there is something urgent in-between we will send out a supplementary edition.
You can now subscribe to the newsletter (it is free and 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.
If you would like to send anything out via the bulletin, and for all other enquiries about the Advice Dorset Partnership, contact Thomas Hensher at Citizens Advice Central Dorset: [email protected]
Information Updates
COST OF LIVING
2025 August Cost of Living Crisis Factsheet
BENEFITS
PIP Review News: Speaking on the BBC’s ‘Access All’ programme about the next stage of disability benefit reform and the proposals set out in the March 2025 Pathways to Work Green Paper, DWP Minister Sir Stephen Timms confirmed the government’s plan to carry out a full review of the PIP assessment, which he will lead and co-produce with disabled people and disability organisations. He stressed that the purpose of the review is not to make cuts, emphasising the importance of making this clear to encourage participation from those who might otherwise be hesitant to take part.
DWP Says it has Cleared Backlog of Cases: The DWP has stated that it is confident the backlog of LCWRA Move to UC cases, where the health element was not included in the first assessment period after migration, has now been resolved. However, it advises stakeholders to use the usual escalation routes if they come across any cases where the element is still missing following a move from ESA.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Interest Rates Cut to 4%: Today’s Bank of England rate cut offers limited direct relief for Dorset residents – some with tracker mortgages may see lower payments, but renters, benefit claimants, and those using high-cost credit will see little to no benefit. At the same time, falling savings rates could hurt older clients, while high living costs and debt remain pressing concerns.
IMMIGRATION
Far Right Protests in Bournemouth: Last week saw a far-right demonstration in Bournemouth with further demonstrations planned outside hotels. Many Dorset residents are likely going to be feeling extremely vulnerable due to the increase in far right protests locally and nationally, and the current discourse around migrant hotels. A reminder that hate crimes should be reported to Dorset police here.
SCAMS
Citizens Advice Scam Awareness Tips for Festival Goers: Don’t get caught out this festival season – Citizens Advice shares top tips to event-goers this summer.
1. Stick to official sellers: Buy tickets directly from the event organiser, venue, or official artist sites as this way you’ll know it’s genuine and at the original price. Don’t buy tickets from a website if:
- it’s offering tickets which aren’t officially on sale yet
- it could be hard to contact the company selling them – for example if they only have a PO Box address and mobile number
2. Use fan-to-fan platforms and reselling sites carefully: If the event’s sold out, you can try using reputable fan‑to‑fan resale sites that cap prices at face value and offer refunds if tickets turn out to be invalid or misdescribed.
Reselling (or secondary ticketing) sites resell tickets bought from official sellers and others, including private sellers. Some events have their own rules about reselling tickets or procedures for doing so and it’s worth checking the terms and conditions of an event for this information before you spend any money.
You should also make sure the reselling site you use tells you:
- what kind of tickets you’re buying – for example your seat number or if the tickets are for a standing area or has a restricted view
- your unique reference number for your tickets so that if you can’t tell where you’ll be sitting or standing you can use them to check with the original seller.
3. Always pay by card – never cash or bank transfer: You should pay for tickets online with a credit or debit card. If you use a card and there’s a problem, for example the tickets are fake, your bank will usually help you get your money back. Be very careful if a reselling site asks you to pay by bank transfer – this might be a scam.
4. Watch out for red flags – if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is: Be wary of vague listings, last-minute deals, or low prices that seem too good to be true. Scammers will also often say things like “only one left!” or “need to sell urgently” to push you into a quick sale — especially on social media or messaging apps. If a seller can’t provide clear ticket details, refund terms, or asks to “DM you privately”, think twice.
5. Don’t fall for pressure tactics by private sellers: If you buy tickets from a private seller, you’ll have little protection if you don’t get what you expect – for example the tickets don’t arrive. It’s best to meet the seller face to face before you pay them – meet them in a public place and take someone with you. Don’t be tempted to buy from someone selling tickets in the street near the venue – the tickets might be fake.
If you’ve experienced a problem with ticket scams, you can report any issues to Citizens Advice’s Consumer Service.
Research and Reports
Overwhelmed by the General Demand for Advice: A new research paper on the current state of the not-for-profit legal advice sector finds that austerity, welfare reforms, Brexit, Covid and the cost-of-living crisis have intensified crises around demand and lack of provision. Read the research paper here.
Large Families on Low Incomes Trapped in Hardship: New research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that that low-income families are no better off one year after Labour’s election victory. Read the report here.
No Country for Cold Homes: This briefing note assesses how the Government’s upcoming Warm Homes Plan should be shaped to meet the twin challenges of reducing energy bills while also driving decarbonisation of home heating. Read the report here.
Upcoming Events & Training
Bid Writing & Finding Funders, Monday 1 September 10:00 – 12:00, Kinson Community Centre: Securing funding is vital for the sustainability and growth of a charity. This training is designed to help UK charities master the art of bid writing and effectively find funders. Book here.
National Rural Conference, Monday 15 September – Thursday 18 September, Online: Aimed at Senior Officers, Members and policy makers along with those working to deliver services in rural areas this conference is an exciting opportunity to hear from expert speakers, network with like minded colleagues and share learning and rural experiences. Book here.
Level 2 Safeguarding Training with Online Safety, Saturday 13 September 09:30 – 16:00, Tinney’s Youth Club Sherborne: This training is suitable for anyone working with children and young people across Dorset that have not attended Level 2 training before. Book here.
Get Britain Working – Information and Input Session for VCS, Wednesday 13 August 14:00, online: Community Action Network are working with Dorset Chamber to facilitate the upcoming Get Britain Working: Information & Input Session for the Voluntary and Community Sector. This session is part of the Get Dorset & BCP Working Plan, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and delivered through local authorities. It’s a key piece of a national 10-year strategy to support people facing barriers to employment. Book your place here.
How to Handle Volunteer Complaints, Tuesday 23 September, 10:30 – 12:00, online: Managing concerns and complaints from volunteers is essential for maintaining trust, safeguarding wellbeing and strengthening your volunteer involvement. In this session, attendees will learn how to create a safe environment where volunteers feel confident to raise concerns, and how to respond appropriately when they do. Book here.
One World Festival, Saturday 8 August, Dorchester Borough Gardens, 11:00 – 16:00: The One World Festival is a free community event that celebrates Dorset’s cultural diversity through music, dance, food, and various activities. Showcasing both traditional and contemporary performances by local groups, the festival is being organised by the South West Dorset Multicultural Network in collaboration with Dorchester Town Council.
Policy in Practice – Understanding the impact of disability benefits reforms on local authorities, Wed, 27 August, 10:30 – 11:45 (online): This online webinar could be useful for charities in Dorset to get a better understanding of how the benefits reforms will impact local authorities. Register here.
Funding
Talbot Village Trust: The Small Grants Programme offers individual grants of up to £5,000. Funding can be used to cover core or operating costs, project expenses, or small capital items, such as equipment purchases or minor repairs. The total funding available through the programme is £100,000. It is open to organisations with an annual turnover of less than £250,000. Funding decisions are expected to be made by mid to late October. More information can be found here.
New Volunteer Centre Dorset Funding: VCD has been awarded a two-year contract to coordinate the first phase of the Dorset Thriving Communities Network, a new initiative to build stronger, more connected support for older people in Dorset. As part of the programme, VCD will distribute around £132,000 in grant funding to small networks of community groups and charities. If you would like to register your interest in being involved in a Thriving Community Network, please email [email protected]
SNG Thriving Communities Fund Launched: Launched on 23 June, the Thriving communities fund is aimed at supporting not-for-profit groups and organisations to deliver cohesive, sustainable, and resilient communities. Click here for all the details.
BCP Thriving Communities Fund: Dorset Community Foundation are offering grants of up to £5,000 supporting capital costs to improve community buildings. The grants are to support capital improvements, for community groups running community buildings in BCP that provide facilities for local community-led groups and activities. Further details can be found here.
Local Alliance Group Funding: Do you have a project you are setting up to support children, young people and families? The Local Alliance Group (LAG) are once more inviting applicants to apply for:
- funding up to £5000 for individual groups/schools, or
- funding up to £20,000 for consortium applications from a group of settings (such as schools, individuals or organisations are also encouraged)
Further details can be found here.