Dorset Council

New Family Hubs are already enhancing the lives of parents and carers, with more set to open across Dorset in the coming months.  Family Hubs are welcoming places that families with children and young people of all ages can visit when they need information, advice, or assistance. They also offer activities and social opportunities to… Read more More support available to families, thanks to Dorset council’s new Family Hubs

Young carers in Blandford Forum are being provided a nurturing educational space, thanks to a new initiative by The Blandford School in collaboration with MYTIME Young Carers.  The school has established a partnership with the charitable organisation MYTIME Young Carers, dedicated to championing the rights of young carers, ensuring they receive the necessary support, opportunities,… Read more The Blandford School and MYTIME, pioneering a new approach to supporting young carers   

Families of children with autism or a learning disability will be offered crucial respite, thanks to a newly renovated bungalow by Dorset Council.   Hayeswood, a short breaks home in Wimborne, is set to become a vital resource for local families caring for children aged 8-17 with learning disabilities and autism.   Families raising children with disabilities… Read more Hayeswood Bungalow in Wimborne, set to provide a nurturing hub for families of children with learning disabilities

  Children who have experienced early-life trauma will receive improved therapeutic care from Youth Practitioners.   A group of 17 youth practitioners from The Harbour has successfully earned an innovative Level 4 Certificate in Therapeutic Childcare.  This pilot course is the first of its kind, and far exceeds the minimum mandatory requirement for the role.  … Read more Youth practitioners in Dorset complete an innovative qualification in therapeutic childcare

Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre with support from Active Dorset, is providing accessible and affordable clubs for Dorset’s young people. Dorset’s young people now have greater access to affordable clubs thanks to Active Dorset Satellite Club Funding, Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre has launched two new teen clubs, with the climbing club going from strength to strength.… Read more Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre, offering affordable accessible adventures for Dorset’s young people  

Recent data has underscored the need for action, revealing a concerning trend where girls in Dorset are falling behind their male counterparts in maths performance.   According to the latest statistics, only 66 per cent of girls achieved the expected standard in maths.  This is 6 per cent below the national average.   In contrast,… Read more Closing the gap between boys and girls in maths outcomes

Children in Dorchester have been given a much needed boost of confidence, with thanks to Local Alliance Group funding  A group of 25 children at St Mary’s Middle School in Dorchester received a much-needed confidence boost this summer, all thanks to funding allocated by the Local Alliance Group.   The school hosted a week-long summer school… Read more Children in Dorchester given a much needed boost of confidence, with thanks to Local Alliance Group funding

Parents/carers will need to apply by Tuesday 31 October 2023 for the best chance of getting a place at their preferred school. This applies to all children moving from primary to secondary school, or middle to upper school in September 2023. Finding the right school place for your child is important for any parent/carer. The… Read more Is your child due to start Secondary or Upper school in September 2024?

Weymouth College’s summer transition programme, with thanks to Local Alliance Group Funding A group of young people have been encouraged back into learning thanks to a scheme which is run by the local alliance groups.  Weymouth College successfully hosted the Summer Transitions Programme, with the participation of 51 young people at risk of NEET (not… Read more Weymouth College’s summer transition programme, with thanks to Local Alliance Group Funding

Dorset Council has welcomed a new independent report calling for a national strategy on digital inclusion. For the past decade the council has led many local initiatives to help get people online – from rolling out superfast broadband to nearly 80,000 premises, gifting devices to people in need and creating a community of digital champions.… Read more National strategy needed to ensure no-one is left behind in the digital world

A free training course has recruited enough digital champions to help thousands of Dorset residents access vital digital services. The initiative, run by Dorset Council, has trained and recruited 950 people who work in frontline roles to be embedded digital champions. And, on average, each embedded digital champion is helping at least one person a… Read more Dorset’s army of embedded digital champions helping thousands of people get online