Dorset Council

Championing digital skills will help Dorset Council improve customer service

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All this month we are celebrating five years of Dorset Council signing the Local Digital Declaration.  The Declaration is a shared ambition for the future of local public services. It was written in 2018 by a collective of 45 local authorities, sector bodies and government departments – including Dorset Council – and outlines our goals… Read more Championing digital skills will help Dorset Council improve customer service

Volunteer digital champion with Patrick, one of his regular visitors

When volunteer digital champion Mike answered the call for help, he never looked back

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This year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our volunteer digital champion service and over the next few months we’ll be shining a light on the difference this is making to people’s lives. We start with a feature on one of our longest serving champions, Mike Watson. It was a just normal day of the… Read more When volunteer digital champion Mike answered the call for help, he never looked back

Simon Hobbs from Swanage with the laptop that was gifted to him by the Digital Doorway scheme and one of the crafts he has made.

How digital opened a whole new world for Simon

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It was 2021, the country was in lockdown and everything in Simon Hobbs’ world had turned upside down. Forced to give up his job as a primary school teacher due to mental health struggles, the then 50-year-old from Swanage had reached the lowest moment of his life. But fast-forward two years later, thanks to amazing… Read more How digital opened a whole new world for Simon

Image of a coffee shop

How digital and council employees are helping to boost the local economy

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As an organisation one of our top priorities is to be digital council in a digital place. We pride ourselves on being both a good employer and a supporter of local businesses – and with our local discount scheme we’re able to do both. And thanks to digital, we have found a very easy way… Read more How digital and council employees are helping to boost the local economy

Dorset Council awarded £1 million for digital initiatives that will help improve services for residents and businesses

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Dorset Council has once again shown itself to be a leader in digital services after securing two major levelling up grants to support this work. We are just one of eight local authorities to be chosen to help pilot a new national initiative called Future Councils. Receiving £750,000 from the Local Digital arm of the… Read more Dorset Council awarded £1 million for digital initiatives that will help improve services for residents and businesses

Free internet workshop for Dorset residents

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An internationally renowned IT company that usually works with young people in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) is now introducing new events for adults here in Dorset. CGI has teamed up with #DigitalDorset to offer a free STEM camp for any adult who wants to feel more confident about using the internet. The event,… Read more Free internet workshop for Dorset residents

How digital and understanding people’s needs could help transform adult social care

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A team of our digital experts and social workers joined forces with the government to look at how digital innovation could help transform adult social care. At the heart of this work, which saw us work with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), was asking our residents and carers how the service could… Read more How digital and understanding people’s needs could help transform adult social care

Give the gift of digital this Christmas 

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With 10 million people struggling to get online through a lack of digital skills and a further eight million considering giving up their broadband or mobile data because of the cost-of-living crisis * – never has giving the gift of digital been so important.  We are launching a Christmas campaign called #GiveTheGiftOfDigtal and you don’t… Read more Give the gift of digital this Christmas 

Dorset Council is helping to lead the way to improving adult social care

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Dorset Council and its residents are to play an important role in informing how adult social care will be provided in the future. The council was selected to work with the Department of Health and Social Care on a unique partnership to examine how our residents are referred into adult social care and how their… Read more Dorset Council is helping to lead the way to improving adult social care

Good news for Dorset's residents looking to rent - a new Dorset Council project is helping landlords make rental properties more energy efficient

Opening the doors to digital is helping Dorset residents live in more energy efficient homes

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A new digital initiative to help Dorset’s landlords make their homes more energy efficient has received national recognition. The Dorset Council ‘Minimum Energy Efficiency Savings’ project is a finalist in the Granicus 2022 Digital Public Sector Awards in the ‘new initiative’ category. To find out why, read our case study below. Unlocking the key to… Read more Opening the doors to digital is helping Dorset residents live in more energy efficient homes