Do you know someone who should be on the Priority Services Register for their utilities?

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free UK-wide service that provides extra support and tailored assistance to vulnerable customers during electricity, gas, or water supply interruptions. People on the Priority Services Register can get 24/7 power cut updates, a personalised power cut plan, Tailored communication (braille, audio, large print etc), and a safety password for peace of mind. Eligible people include those who need temporary extra support — for example after hospital discharge, is deaf or hard of hearing, has a disability, lives with children under 5, is blind or partially sighted, has a chronic illness, relies on medical equipment that needs electricity, or is over 60. Registering someone is free and straightforward to do, in Dorset just click on the following link for the SSEN website. You only need to register once and this will apply for your gas and water connection too: https://www.ssen.co.uk/power-cuts-emergencies/priority-services/

Volunteering for St John Ambulance

The Dorset branch of St John Ambulance would like your help to spread the word about a couple fantastic volunteering opportunities that exist in the county. They’re currently looking for Emergency Responders and Community First Aiders. I’ve attached posters for information, if you could print and put posters up on notice boards and share digitally with friends, community groups and on social media that’d be great. I have larger file sizes available if you would like higher resolution posters – just let me know! For enquiries about the volunteering roles visit their website: https://www.sja.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/ or email Jane: Jane.Nield@sja.org.uk

Latest Dorset Women CIC Podcast now available

The latest podcast from Dorset Women CIC called ‘compassionate maternal mental health services’ is now available for you to listen. It’s episode 5 in the series and there are 3 bonus episodes to listen to as well!  To listen to their podcasts or access the fantastic range of information available please visit their website: https://dorsetwomen.org.uk/speaking-of-womens-health-podcast/

Help & Care HOPE programme

I mentioned a couple weeks ago Help & Care’s Help to Overcome Problems Effectively (HOPE) programme, which is a free 6-week course that can help people manage fatigue and stress, deal with setbacks, get active and creative amongst others. I’ve now attached a poster for the programme that runs throughout Dorset including Boscombe, Bridport, Christchurch and Weymouth. If possible, please print and display the poster in public areas, it would be great for more people to know about the course! Here’s a link to their website for information: https://www.helpandcare.org.uk/what-we-offer/hope/

Lloyds bank scam email

A scam email impersonating Lloyds Bank is doing the rounds, telling you that the bank is ‘changing the way it looks’ and needs you to ‘reauthenticate to continue using your account’. It then asks you to click on a link to proceed. On Lloyds Bank's official website, it says genuine emails will always greet you by name, include part of your main account number and never link directly to the internet banking login page. A version of the scam email is attached for your information. You can report scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk

Ageing without children survey

Ageing Without Children (AWOC) is the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting and advocating for people who are ageing without the support of adult children. They are currently reviewing their strategy to decide their priorities for the next 4 years and are running a short survey to find out more about your experiences and views. Although the published closing date is 6^th March you should still be able to contribute your feedback. This is a national survey but findings from Dorset will be shared with key stakeholders. To take part in the survey please click on the following link: https://awoc.org.uk/ageing-without-children-survey-2026/

Help Shape the Dorset Anchor Programme – Invitation to VCS Information Sessions

Macmillan Cancer Support’s Neighbourhood Transformation Fund is a new way of investing that focusses on working together to shape the care and support people need in local communities. Over the next three years, £500,000 will be invested into the sector to provide small grants to tackle health inequalities, strengthen VCS involvement in local health and care systems, and place people with lived experience at the centre of decision-making. Dorset Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly (VCSA) are holding meetings on Tuesday 17 March, 16:00–16:45 and Wednesday 18 March, 12:00–12:45 to discuss this. If you would like to be involved please contact: adam.martel@dorsetvcsa.co.uk with your name, organisation, and preferred session. They will send the joining link the day before.

Young Carers Action Day

Young Carers Action Day is taking place on 11^th March 2026 and the theme for this year’s event is 'Fair Futures for Young Carers', a call to ensure every young carer has the same chances to learn, grow and thrive as their peers. There is a webpage with more information about the day: https://ourdorset.org.uk/yong-carers-action-day-next-steps-and-offers-of-support/  or contact Lizzie: Lizzie.eden@nhs.net

Radio Solent Make a Difference Awards – nominations now open

The BBC Radio Solent Make a Difference Awards celebrate individuals, groups and animals who go above and beyond to help others. Do you know someone who deserves recognition — a great volunteer, young hero or even a helpful animal? Nominations are open until 31^st March. There are eight categories including Volunteer Award, Young Her Award, Great Neighbour Award and Community Group Award amongst others. For more information and to make a nomination please click on the following link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/makeadifference/awards/

Free online sessions to understand challenging child behaviours

Action for Children are holding free sessions on 4^th March and 15^th April for parents living in Dorset to better understand child behaviours that can be challenging. The sessions are delivered by a child clinical psychologist for parents whose children are between the ages of 5 – 11. More information is in the attached poster or click on the following link to book: https://service.actionforchildren.org.uk/dorset-services/parenting/#information-session-dates

Care where we live - conversations about adult social care reform

An online platform from the Local Government Association (LGA) gives people who use care services (unpaid carers, professionals, and partner organisations) a space to share their experiences and insights. The feedback will inform national discussions on adult social care reform, including work linked to the Casey Commission. This is an important opportunity to help ensure carers are recognised and supported in future policy and practice. Steve, the Lived Experience chair of the Pan Dorset Carers Steering Group recently shared his carer story and reflections at a webinar hosted by the LGA on this topic and the response was very positive. There is now an opportunity to ensure Dorset’s voices and experience are represented even wider. For more information and to participate please click on the following link: https://lga.clevertogether.com/welcome

Hope programme at Help & Care

HOPE is a free six-week self-management course designed for people aged 18 or over who are registered with a GP in Dorset and ready to explore new ways of looking after their health. It’s ideal for anyone living with long-term conditions or facing the pressures of caring. Led by trained facilitators, each session blends proven techniques with supportive peer discussion, helping participants discover what matters to them and build tools that last well beyond the course. Courses take place throughout Dorset, for more information or to book a space please visit their website: https://www.helpandcare.org.uk/what-we-offer/hope/

Help & Care services

Along with the Hope programme mentioned above, our colleagues at Help & Care offer a variety of services and support for people in different parts of Dorset including Social Prescribing, Health & Wellbeing Coaching, Carers Service and Dementia Coordinator Services amongst others. For information on the services offered please visit their website:  https://www.helpandcare.org.uk/

Introducing Active Dorset Partner Packs

Our friends at Active Dorset are launching their new Partner Packs – practical resources designed to help you champion movement in your workplace. There will be three packs available every year and will focus on a month-long theme, which incorporates pre-existing awareness days and weeks, allowing partners to plan ahead and engage as much, or as little as time allows. Active April is the first pack and will focus on Stress Awareness Week, World Health Day, and On Your Feet Day. For more information and to register please visit the Active Dorset website: https://www.activedorset.org/partner-packs or contact Dan Hunt: dhunt@activedorset.org

Dorset VCSA Fortifies Board with new members

The Dorset Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly (VCSA) has appointed four new members to its Governance Board. These appointments will strengthen their leadership and deepen their collective impact across Dorset’s voluntary and community sector. The new Board members are Becky Aldridge, Donna Blanche, Emma Lee and Poppy Connell. For more information about the new Board appointees please visit the VCSA website: Dorset VCSA Fortifies Board with Strategic Appointments, Enhancing Expertise and Community Impact | Dorset Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly

Younger person’s survey at Healthwatch Dorset

Do you engage with younger people – if so Healthwatch Dorset would love your help to share information about their younger person’s survey. A poster is attached for information (a higher resolution version is available on request), it would be great if you could display posters/share online.

Kooth – Free mental health support for young people

Kooth offers free, confidential online mental health support for young people with no waiting lists or referral needed. Their clinically approved, BACP-accredited service for young people is commissioned by the Integrated Care Board across Dorset for 10-18 year olds. If you’re a professional working in Dorset with young people or their families and would like to know more about Kooth you can visit their website: https://www.kooth.com/ or contact them:  lfinn@kooth.com

Opportunity to join Dorset Council’s Quality Assurance Reference Group

The Quality Assurance Reference Group meets every other month to share feedback, insights and critiques on all things quality assurance- ranging from the Council’s CQC inspection readiness to their Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) action plan. It's a place for open, round table discussions and over the last two years, the group has helped to shape what quality means from a resident perspective. This is a voluntary role but travel costs are reimbursed and vouchers are given as a way of recognising people's contributions. More information is in the attached poster or contact: adultsengagement@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Dorset's Creative Health strategy

Our friends at the Arts Development Company would like to thank everyone who’s contributed their thoughts to the vision and work-plan for the first creative health strategic priorities. Their next consultation form is now live and they would love your input to it: 2/3 - Implementing Dorset's Creative Health Strategy. The form is live until Monday 2^nd March. They also have a meeting on Wednesday the 25^th February, for more information and to register to attend please click on the following link: Creative Health & Wellbeing Dorset Forum February Meeting · Zoom · Luma

Can you contribute to BCP’s Falls and Frailty mapping survey?

As part of the Falls and Frailty programme our colleagues at BCP Council are asking for help to understand what programmes, classes or groups exist in the BCP Council area that help to prevent falls and frailty in adults as they age. This work is part of the ASC Prevention Strategy implementation in relation to the focus areas of Falls Prevention, Strength and Balance, and Better Physical Health. If you have any information that could help please click on the following link and complete the survey (it says the deadline is 15^th February but this date has been extended): Falls and frailty prevention programmes mapping survey

New guide for professionals supporting bereaved carers is now available

We’re pleased to say our colleagues at Dorset Healthcare have produced a new guide for professionals supporting bereaved carers. The guide was co-produced by professionals from across Dorset’s health and social care system and shaped directly by what carers said they needed. The resource is aimed at helping staff across the whole health, social care and voluntary sector network to feel more confident and better equipped to support carers at a very difficult time. The guide is attached, please share with any relevant people or groups.