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
January’s quick links factsheet:
2025 JAN Cost-of-Living-Crisis-factsheet
COLD WEATHER
Local Info:
- Dorset Council
- BCP Council
- Severe Weather Emergency Protocol for rough sleepers – issued on Tuesday 7 January – here
NB: Cold Weather Payments for those on means-tested benefits are triggered by 7 days of temperatures below 0 degrees. Currently we are unlikely to get these in the Dorset and BCP areas – but you can keep an eye on this by entering your postcode here.
BENEFITS
Claiming Universal Credit and other benefits if you are a refugee: The guidance has been updated, and covers the urgent actions refugees need to take to claim Universal Credit and other benefits, once they have been given refugee status. Asylum support now ends 8 weeks after the person is granted refugee status.
The Pension Service: Whilst the deadline for claiming Pension Credit and backdating it to get the 2024 Winter Fuel Payment has now passed, we should encourage people of pension age to check their entitlements as as we go into 2025, You can contact the Pension Service to get information about:
your State Pension / Pension Credit / the over 80 pension / missing Cold Weather Payments and Christmas Bonus payments / getting extra payments from a deceased husband, wife or civil partner’s State Pension / making voluntary National Insurance contributions if you’ve already reached State Pension age – if you’ve not reached State Pension age, call the Future Pensions Centre instead / becoming an appointee for someone claiming State Pension
DEBT
Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) complaints: The ECB complaints process – here – is open for clients to make complaints about bailiff and firm actions from 1 January 2025. they must first complain to the bailiff or firm, and can pass the complaint to the ECB when they have a final response or after 20 days. Complain via the ECB website – here.
HOUSING
Housing allocations – Exemption from Local Connection Criteria for former Armed Forces members: New regulations have been introduced concerning the local connection requirement for social housing allocations, specifically for ex-members of the armed forces. Starting from 18 December 2024, the amended Regulations will modify the current rules. Previously, a local connection test was applied to individuals serving in the regular armed forces or those who had served within the last 5 years. The new regulations will eliminate the 5 year limit, allowing all former regular armed forces personnel to be exempt from the local connection requirement, regardless of when they last served.
IMMIGRATION
New Passenger Support Helpline for travel with eVisas: There is a new support helpline number available 24/7 for passengers travelling and who experience problems with an eVisa. Passengers will be able to contact 0800 876 692 for help, and all calls will be free of charge. If they cannot contact an 0800 number, they can instead call 0203 337 0927 and should be made aware that charges could apply. Staff on these numbers will not be able to resolve technical issues or contact carriers.
eVisas: The UK Home Office has delayed the full roll out of its digital eVisa system until 31 March 2025 due to IT infrastructure issues. Initially, the transition was set for 31 December 2024, but it has been extended by three months. Read the Govt’s latest Media Blog here. Local support is available, provided by Migrant Help , with local eVisa support clinics as follows;
Bournemouth – Weekly Mondays:
- Drop in – 10:30 – 12:30. Dignity Centre, 108 Old Christchurch Rd, BH1 1LU
- Drop in 2:00-4:00pm – International Care Network Community Hub, Citygate Church, BH8 8AS
Weymouth – Weekly Wednesdays – Drop in 1:30 – 4:30pm: Weymouth Library,
LOCAL NEWS
Appliances for those in Dorset Council area: Free replacement and first-time white goods/appliances if you have clients (over 65, disability, long-term health condition, income below £31k per annum, other frailty) that have a broken appliance (up to 2) or are setting up home and need several (up to 3). Ridgewater Energy have funding to assist with fridges, freezers, fridge-freezers, washing machines, gas and electric cookers. You can request a practitioner referral form from [email protected] and must be a frontline worker or practitioner to refer in. There are currently plenty of funds available but the budget must be spent by March 31st. We will complete a home visit for every client before ordering the correct sized items and will then try to assist them with as much other energy support as possible.
Events
CAP Money Coaching sessions in Dorchester: Saturday 18 January – 9.30am to 12.30pm (coffee and pastries from 9am) and Tuesday 21 January – 2pm to 5pm. Venue: Dorford Centre, Bridport Rd, Dorchester DT1 1RR. More info and booking here or call 01305 262045.
Wellbeing course, Poole: BCHA Learn are bringing their 5-week wellbeing course to Poole. Anyone 19+ living in Dorset can join them at Access Wellbeing Poole in January to help boost their wellbeing and confidence. The online enrolment form is here, or call 01202 410595.
Energy Savers Week, 20 -26 January 2025: Citizens Advice has teamed up with Energy Saving Trust for Energy Savers Week (January 20 – 26 2025) to help you stay warm and spend less on your energy bills with our winter heating checklist. Throughout the week we’ll be sharing five things you can do at home to help you reduce energy use and save money in the process, by making sure your heating is working as effectively as possible. Read more here.
Reports, research, etc
Rural Financial Crisis Deepens: The Rural Services Network (RSN) has conducted an initial analysis of the recent Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and is deeply concerned about the implications for England’s rural communities. While the government promised no reductions in Core Spending Power, many rural authorities saw no increase to their Core Spending Power. This stagnation contrasts sharply with the substantial increases experienced by some urban metropolitan areas – some of which saw increases of almost 10%. This variability in changes to spending power continues to significantly disadvantage rural areas. Read more here.
Funding news
BCP Ward Improvement Fund: Are you a small group, based in the BCP area, with an income of less than £20K per year, looking for funding, to help run a community activity? The Ward improvement fund (WIF) shows BCP Council’s commitment to support our residents and the local voluntary and community sector. This encourages communities to have active voices and promotes engagement and equality. To support this, each ward councillor has been allocated £4,000 per year to distribute to voluntary groups in their Ward.
Before you apply for this fund, make sure you have spoken to your local councillor about your project. The BCP Ward improvement fund closes on 21 February 2025. Read more here.
Dorset Community Foundation Neighbourhood Fund: The Neighbourhood Fund offers grants of up to £5000 to small community groups whose work addresses local issues, social problems, poverty and disadvantage in Dorset. There is particular interest in activities supporting older people, and activities supporting people experiencing mental health issues.
Groups with annual expenditure over £250,000 will not usually be considered by the panel. Closing date 17 January. Read more here.
The National Lottery – Community Power Fund: We’re looking for 10 to 15 partners to work with us in the development stage of our Community Power fund. By community power, we mean local communities being able to influence and change the places they live. As well as the services they use, and decisions that affect their lives. We’ve committed to a £100 million, 10 year Community Power fund. We aim to launch the broader programme in 2026.
For this development stage we have up to £1.2 million funding available over one year. This work will shape how the Community Power fund runs in the future. As a partner you’ll deliver activities in and with communities to increase their agency, power and control. This can be new or existing work. You’ll also work with us, and the other partners, to understand what works to increase community power. Including what the barriers are. And what support and learning is needed to improve community power activities over the long term.
We’ll open to expressions of interest on Wednesday 8 January 2025. Read more here.