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
PENSIONS
Revival of Pension Commission: The government has relaunched the independent Pensions Commission, originally set up in 2002 and instrumental in establishing auto-enrolment, to confront a looming “retirement savings crisis” amid revelations that 45% of working-age adults aren’t saving for retirement, many only contribute minimal amounts, and future retirees risk lower incomes.
State Pension Age Review Launched: Work & Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has launched a statutory review of the State Pension age (currently 66). The last review concluded in 2023. The review will examine whether the retirement age should proceed to 67 (already planned for 2026–28), rise to 68 (2044–46), or be adjusted further, considering life expectancy, sustainability, and fairness.
See our website for pension advice.
UTILITIES
The Water Sector is “Broken”: The Independent Water Commission (IWC) has delivered a critical assessment of the water industry in England and Wales. Key points from the report include:
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The current regulator, Ofwat, is to be replaced with a new body, following concerns over its failure to properly manage the sector.
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Water metering should become mandatory, with the aim of encouraging households to cut down on water use.
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Citizens Advice may be given a formal role in representing consumer interests, to help rebuild public confidence.
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The report recommends introducing national standards for infrastructure resilience, to ensure ongoing maintenance of water supply and wastewater systems.
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The proposed new regulator would be empowered to enforce minimum capital requirements for water companies to ensure financial stability and long-term investment.
IMMIGRATION
Immigration Rule Changes from 22.07.2025: The UK government has published a new Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules setting out several significant reforms which came into force on Tuesday. The changes are the first to be rolled out from the recent immigration white paper. The key changes are summarised below:
1. Skilled Worker Route – Higher Skill Level Required
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Minimum skill level raised from RQF 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF 6 (bachelor degree level).
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Over 100 occupations (mainly in social care, retail, and hospitality) are no longer eligible unless listed as exceptions.
2. Skilled Worker Salary Threshold Increases
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General salary threshold increased from £38,700 to £41,700.
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PhD-relevant roles threshold increased to £37,500.
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STEM/new entrant roles: £33,400.
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Transitional threshold (pre-April 2024 sponsorships): £31,300.
3. Temporary Shortage List Introduced
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New list created for critical roles at RQF 3-5 skill level.
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Applies only until 31 December 2026.
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Visa holders under this route cannot bring dependents.
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Employers must meet full salary thresholds.
4. Immigration Salary List Expanded (Then to Be Phased Out)
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More RQF 3-5 roles temporarily added to the Immigration Salary List.
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Government plans to replace it with the Temporary Shortage List by 2026.
5. Closure of Overseas Care Worker Route
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Care worker roles are closed to new applicants outside the UK.
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In-country care workers can continue to extend or switch their visas until July 2028, provided they have been employed in the UK for at least three months.
The full paper is available here.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Regulating the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) market: The Financial Conduct Authority has released details of its plans to regulate the £13bn BNPL market, including making lenders carry out affordability checks small loans. Responding to the announcement, Tom MacInnes, Director of Policy at Citizens Advice, said:
“Having pushed for change for so long, it’s a relief to see the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) follow through in proposing better protections for Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) consumers.”
“With virtually no oversight, the booming BNPL market continues to leave people struggling to repay credit they can’t afford, falling behind on essential bills with many needing emergency support, like food bank vouchers.”
“This is a long overdue opportunity to get regulation right. The FCA and firms must now have a laser-like focus on turning these proposals into good outcomes for consumers.”
- In 2024, Citizens Advice helped 5,534 people with a BNPL issue, more than three times the amount of people helped in the whole of 2022.
- Up until the end of June 2025, the charity helped 3,798 people with a BNPL issue. This is an increase of 48% from the same period in 2024 (when it saw 2,565 people).
- Dealing with debt repayments is still the main issue among those who come to Citizens Advice for help with BNPL (82% of clients with a BNPL issue in 2025).
Research and Reports
Challenging Summer for Children in Struggling Families: A recent survey by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) highlights growing concerns among low-income families, revealing that many parents are more anxious this summer than last about affording essentials and activities for their children. Read the report here.
1 in 9 Children Affected by the Two-Child Limit: A new DWP report reveals that 1.6 million children are affected by the two-child limit policy. CPAG estimates that the policy has pulled 350,000 children into poverty, and pushed 700,000 children into deeper poverty. Read the DWP report here.
Stepping off the Hamster Wheel – Retention, Wellbeing and Culture in the Social Welfare Advice Sector: A report commissioned by London Citizens Advice and the London Legal Support Trust reveals a sector struggling under significant strain and offers practical, evidence-backed recommendations for reform. Read the report here.
How Racism and Discrimination Affect Black and Black Mixed Heritage People’s Access to Social Homes in England: A new report from Shelter shows that Black people are disproportionately affected by the housing emergency due to systemic racism and discrimination. Shelter is campaigning for a housing system built on the principles of inclusion, fairness and equity. Read the report here.
Reimagining Insolvency – A Blueprint for Personal Insolvency in England and Wales: A collaborative report by Citizens Advice and the Money Advice Trust outlines a proposed vision for a reformed insolvency system, presenting key principles to guide improvements along with a detailed blueprint for a redesigned framework. Read the report here.
Upcoming Events
Dorset VCSA – Virtual Exchange Webinar, Thursday, 31 July, 11:30 to 12:30: Join the Dorset Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly for a virtual ‘Question Time’. This is your chance to ask anything about the future of the VCS in Dorset over the next 12 months. Sign up for the event here.
Policies & Processes for Effective Volunteer Management 29 July, 14:00 – 15:30: This training by Dorset’s Community Action Network covers the essentials of effective volunteer management, focusing on key policies, how they differ for volunteers and staff, and how to create core documents like a volunteer policy, handbook, and agreement. Sign up 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.