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.
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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]
Information updates
COST OF LIVING
November Cost of living Quick Links:
2024 NOV Cost-of-Living-Crisis-factsheet
Local update – Household Support Fund:
- BCP: Round 1 open for applications from 11th November – 6th December via Citizens Advice
- Dorset HSF6 open – applications via referring agencies, eg. Citizens Advice.
Other budget updates:
- It was announced in the budget that the maximum deduction to repay debts, from Universal Credit (UC), will be reduced from the current 25% to 15%. This is called the Fair Repayment Rate. It’s not clear when this will be introduced, whether it will only apply to third-party deductions, or be expanded to legacy benefits.
- It was confirmed, in a written statement available on the parliament website, that there will be no increase to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) or benefit cap for 2025/26.
HOUSING
Homelessness applications – assessing housing needs: This Adviser Online article gives practical tips on checking a housing needs assessment and personal housing plan.
LEGAL
Small Claims process – Mandatory mediation extended: From 5 November, mediation is now mandatory for most small claims submitted on the GOV.UK Money Claims Service. Claims for road traffic accidents and personal injury are exempt. The mediation is a free one hour appointment provided by HMCTS. Read more here.
EMPLOYMENT
Employment Tribunals: Preparing for an ET can be complex – ACAS provide a clear guide to the process here. Recently the employment tribunals published an updated template agenda for case management, which parties must complete before a preliminary hearing. The template remains broadly similar to the previous version, but simplifies language and makes several changes; the new template is here.
IMMIGRATION
Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs): As of 31 October biometric residence permits are no longer being issued. Existing BRPs expire on 31 December 2024. They are now replaced by eVisas. For more on eVisas go to the govt website here. If you need to report an error with an eVisa, the Home Office has launched an online reporting service – here – for example if there is a problem with an image, a name, type of permission, dates, or conditions of leave.
ENERGY
Boiler Upgrade Scheme: The BUS provides funding of up to £7,500 towards the cost of installing a heat pump or up to £5,000 towards the cost of installing a biomass boiler. These are low-carbon alternatives to conventional heating systems, like gas boilers and storage heaters. However a low-carbon heating system may cost more to run than a conventional heating system, especially if the property doesn’t have adequate insulation. Clients looking to reduce their heating costs should consider insulating their home in the first instance. If their existing heating system doesn’t need replacing, they might benefit from new heating controls. Help is available from other schemes towards these improvements. Read more on energy efficiency improvements here.
Local Energy Updates: Ridgewater Energy have announced:
- SGN Dorset Help for Warmth is a new scheme designed to assist all clients in the domestic sector – from owner occupiers, private and social tenants and their landlords, whether on low incomes, benefits, or in full time well paid employment, across Dorset. The scheme can help anyone living in a domestic premises, to get advice and assistance with upgrading the energy efficiency of their home. Read more here.
- HSF Dorset and BCP – appliances (first-time and replacement). Clients have to be referred to the scheme, they cannot self-refer. Contact: [email protected]
Events
National Safeguarding Adults Week – Monday 18 to Friday 22 November 2024: The theme is working inpartnership, and there is more information and resource on the Ann Craft Trust website here.
Carers Rights Day – Thursday 21 November 2024: This year’s theme is recognising your rights, and our aim is to help carers recognise and understand their rights, and to access the support available to them, whenever they need it. Read more on Carer’s UK.
Online energy advice sessions: Ridgewater Energy are hosting several sessions to cover the range of help available locally (note there are sessions for Dorset Council area and BCP Council area); Dan Fancy from the Citizens Advice Energy Unit will also be presenting. Dates: Monday 2 December, 11 – 12 BCP, 2 – 3 Dorset; Wednesday 4 December. 11 – 12 Dorset, 2 – 3 BCP. register by email: [email protected]
Research, reports etc
Ofcom’s post-monitoring report: Ofcom has published its annual post-monitoring report. It shows two-thirds of people had a parcel delivery issue in the last 6 months. Common issues are: delivery delays, parcels left in an inappropriate location, delivery driver not knocking loudly enough, and not having enough time to answer the door. The report also compares courier companies’ performance. Amazon and DHL scored highest. Evri has the lowest levels of satisfaction but has improved on its 2023 performance. Read more here.
Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) reports on doorstep conduct: The ECB has published research after assessing a random sample of 600 instances of video footage from bailiff’s body worn cameras. It shows that 6% of cases breached the current standards. Breaches related to privacy, client vulnerability, operating outside of normal permitted hours and acting in a way that could be embarrassing to clients. Read more here.
UK Finance half-year fraud report: The report details the amount of money its members have reported as stolen through payment fraud and scams in the first half of 2024. Criminals stole £571.7 million through unauthorised and authorised fraud, a 1.5% decrease compared to the first half of 2023. Banks prevented £710.9 million of unauthorised fraud through advanced security systems. 72% of APP fraud started online and 16% started through telecommunications networks. Read more here.
Joseph Rowntree Trust briefing: This briefing looks at implications from the budget and calls on the Govt to develop a strategy for household economic security, starting with plans to address hardship. Red more here.
Funding News
BH Coastal Lottery Small Grants Scheme: Does your project benefit residents living in the BCP Council area, help contribute to developing a vibrant community and would benefit from a grant of up to £3,500? The BH Coastal Lottery Small Grants Scheme helps support VCS groups. Your project should include strong volunteer or resident involvement. Priority will be given to projects where a small grant will make a significant difference. The deadline for applications is 5th January 2025 – read more here; there is a Meet the Funder webinar will be held on Tuesday 3rd December at 2pm – book here.
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation:
Community Support small grants: Single year grants between £2,000 and £10,000 are available to charities and not for profit organisations with income of less than £250k, for core costs, salaries , running and project costs. Your organisation’s postcode must fall within the following on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation:
- if you are located in an urban area, you must be in the bottom 15% most deprived areas
- if you are located in a rural area, you must be in the bottom 50% most deprived areas
Projects must have a focus on Community Support and address urban and rural deprivation in the UK. Rolling programme. Read more here.
Major Grants: Single year grants between £10,000 and £50,000 for core costs, salaries, running and project costs or multi-year grants for a maximum of 3 years, not to exceed £100,000 in total over this period, for core costs, salaries, running or project costs. No more than £50k can be applied for in any given year. Organisations should have a focus on Family Support. Same Multiple Deprivation criteria as above. Read more here.
Lloyds Bank Foundation – Funding Programme for Specialist Small Charities: The Foundation has announced that it will be awarding 83 unrestricted grants of £75,000 over three years, alongside tailored development support, to small, local, specialist charities supporting people to overcome complex issues. Applications will be considered from charities and charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) with an annual income between £25,000 and £500,000; they must have a track record of delivering services for at least one year, mainly to people aged 18 and older, and they must also be delivering these services currently. Applicants must be providing in-depth services in one of the following eight themes:
- Addiction
- Asylum Seekers and Refugees
- Care Leavers
- Domestic Abuse
- Homelessness
- Offending
- Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
- Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery
A live webinar and Q&A to talk through the programme will be held on 19 November 2024 (10:30 to 12:00). Registration is required and can be done on the Foundation’s website. Applicants will be notified of a decision by 23 May 2025 and with funds available from June 2025. The deadline for applications is 23 January 2025 (17:00). Read more here.