One year of Mockingbird support for Dorset’s foster families
This month marks the one-year anniversary of Dorset’s first ever Mockingbird constellation – Pegasus.
Ten years of getting Dorset online
Dorset Council’s volunteer digital champion service is ten years old and to celebrate is holding a ‘get online’ roadshow. During national ‘Get Online’ week (16-20 October) the council’s volunteers will be manning stalls in Sherborne, Bridport, Wool and Wimborne and anyone needing help to navigate the digital world are urged to come along. The volunteer… Read more Ten years of getting Dorset online
Dorset Council digital skills training programme wins national award
A free training programme that has recruited an army of special advisors to help thousands of Dorset’s residents get online has scooped a prestigious national award. Dorset Council’s ‘Embedded Digital Champion’ initiative has won the acclaimed ‘Digital Skills’ title at the Connected Britain awards in London last night. The award recognises the feat of training… Read more Dorset Council digital skills training programme wins national award
Let’s celebrate Dorset Day!
The 1st June marks Dorset Day, an opportunity to celebrate Dorset’s rich heritage and beautiful scenery. Today, Dorset Council will be raising the familiar yellow, red and white County Civic Flag.
‘Loving’ Dorset Council director shortlisted for a national award
An inspiring leader who is helping to transform the lives of families and young people across Dorset has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award. Dorset Council’s Executive Director for Children’s Services, Theresa Leavy, is a finalist in the Municipal Journal’s (MJ) Achievement Awards. Theresa, who has worked at the council since 2020, has been… Read more ‘Loving’ Dorset Council director shortlisted for a national award
Statement in response to Home Office announcement
We are aware of the Home Secretary’s announcement this afternoon, confirming that the Home Office wishes to proceed with its plans to house asylum seekers in floating accommodation at Portland Port. Dorset Council’s position has not changed. We still have serious reservations about the appropriateness of Portland Port in this scenario and we remain opposed… Read more Statement in response to Home Office announcement
Get ready to celebrate English Tourism Week 2023 in Dorset
English Tourism Week, a national celebration of tourism across England, kicks off on 17 March 2023 and Visit Dorset, Dorset Council’s tourism team, is encouraging everyone to make the most of what our fantastic county has to offer.
Deadline looming to apply for Community and Cultural Project Fund
There is still time to apply for funding if you have a sports, arts, or heritage project or event you wish to get off the ground in the new year.
New lead for Education and Learning announced
Dorset Council has appointed a new Corporate Director for Education and Learning, following a rigorous recruitment and interview process.
Weymouth has a new, bright and cosy children’s home
Take a tour of The Harbour Hub and College House. Watch the VIDEO Young people and their families, who need that extra bit of support, will benefit from a brand-new facility in Weymouth. Dorset Council has opened a children’s home named ‘College House’ and an innovative children’s outreach centre ‘The Harbour Hub,’ both located in… Read more Weymouth has a new, bright and cosy children’s home
Festival to show Dorset is a place to do digital business
Dorset’s future as a place to do digital business will be showcased when local companies and industry leaders come to the Festival of the Future. They will be speaking at the at the Dorset Innovation Park in Winfrith on Wednesday 12 October, when the festival highlights the career opportunities in the digital sector. The event… Read more Festival to show Dorset is a place to do digital business
Families in Ferndown to find out about their digital futures
Families in Ferndown will discover how digital can benefit their lives at a special event being hosted by Dorset Council next month. The Festival of the Future will be coming to The Centre in Tricketts Cross on 11 October, when the focus will be on the family. Volunteer digital champions will be on hand to… Read more Families in Ferndown to find out about their digital futures
Breaking the code to a successful digital future
Thousands of Dorset school children have taken part in the county’s first ever Coding Day. Organised by Dorset Council, BCP Council and Barclays Digital Eagles, Dorset Coding Day brought together 43 schools across the county, from Christchurch to Beaminster and from the north in Gillingham to the coast of Portland. In addition, 25 local tech… Read more Breaking the code to a successful digital future
Dorset Council Local Plan – Cabinet update
Earlier this year, the Leader of Council, Cllr Spencer Flower, set out his commitment to develop a new Dorset Council Local Plan that meets the needs and aspirations of the people of Dorset.
Purbeck Gateway latest to be showcased at Wareham Market
The latest information about the future of the former middle school site in Wareham will be shared with residents at a Purbeck Gateway engagement event, led by Dorset Council, next month.
Dorset Day
Today is Dorset Day – an opportunity for us to shine a light on the people, places and natural environment that make our county so special.
Dorset centres among the first to benefit from £5 billion Project Gigabit
Schools, libraries and a visitor attraction in Dorset are set to be among the first in the country to benefit from next generation full-fibre broadband using the government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit funding. Dorset Council has been awarded nearly £900,000 to oversee the project and Blandford-based Wessex Internet has secured the contract to deliver the… Read more Dorset centres among the first to benefit from £5 billion Project Gigabit
Operation Heathland Campaign
2022 sees the return of our Operation Heathland Campaign run by the Urban Heaths Partnership (UHP), a drive to ask all visitors to our heaths and forests to help us protect them. This year we have celebrity support and are asking everyone to create and share their own photos and videos clips across social media,… Read more Operation Heathland Campaign
Dorset Council’s Harbour Team wins Crime Reduction Award
Members of Dorset Council’s Harbour Service team have been formally recognised by Dorset Police for their work in reducing crime.
New project will improve lives for Dorset children
Families in the Weymouth and Portland area of Dorset will benefit from a pilot project, Safeguarding Families Together, which will improve the health and education outcomes for children and support the aim of making Dorset the best place to be a child.
New training programme could help thousands more get online
A free training programme has been launched to recruit an army of special advisors who can help Dorset’s digitally excluded residents get online. Open to any organisation in Dorset which works directly with residents, the new programme will train people who can champion online services to their users and customers. Called the ‘Embedded Digital Champion’… Read more New training programme could help thousands more get online
Congratulations to Dorset’s newly elected Youth Parliament Member
A huge congratulations to Stanley who is Dorset Council’s newly elected Member of Youth Parliament.
How digital transformed Ivon’s life
A gift of a free smartphone and digital training during lockdown has totally transformed one Weymouth resident’s life. Ivon Peters, who is profoundly deaf, was given the smart phone from Dorset Council to help him feel less isolated during lockdown. The 55-year-old also received dedicated help and training from one of the council’s volunteer digital… Read more How digital transformed Ivon’s life
Dorset Council launches new project to help speed up mobile rollout
Dorset Council has been awarded £500,000 to spearhead a new pilot project to look at ways of boosting mobile digital coverage. Joining forces with partners Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Hampshire County councils, this new ‘Wessex Digital Infrastructure Accelerator’ scheme will examine how online mapping technology can help speed up the rollout of connectivity. The… Read more Dorset Council launches new project to help speed up mobile rollout
Dorset Council proposes to withdraw management from Queen Elizabeth Leisure Centre
Dorset Council is proposing to withdraw its management from the Queen Elizabeth Leisure Centre (QELC), Wimborne in 2024, but has pledged to work with its owners Queen Elizabeth School (QES) to find a sustainable way of keeping their facilities available to those who need them.
Lockdowns help Dorset break local waste recycling records
Recently published figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) show that Dorset Council’s recycling rate hit a record high last year.
Engineering a solution to help bridge Dorset’s digital divide
Dorset Council has been awarded £20,000 towards developing a pilot training programme for fibre engineers and help boost broadband provision in the county. Nationally 63% of premises now have gigabit capable broadband whereas in Dorset the figure is just 15%. One of the factors affecting this is a lack of fully trained fibre engineers. It is estimated in Dorset… Read more Engineering a solution to help bridge Dorset’s digital divide
New free special school for Weymouth and Portland
Dorset Council is delighted to be working with the Department for Education (DfE) on a new special free school for Weymouth & Portland.
Council’s digital and change service wins national praise
Dorset Council’s Digital and Change team has received national acclaim after being highly commended in the Local Government Chronicle awards, in the ‘large team of the year’ category. The accolade recognised the support the team provided to local communities during the pandemic, including setting up the Dorset Digital Hotline. There was also praise for how… Read more Council’s digital and change service wins national praise
How Dorset Council is spending £19m to make our buildings greener and cleaner
Dorset Council officers have been working hard with councillors on plans to update and upgrade Council properties using £19 million of grant funding, awarded to help us tackle the Climate and Ecological Emergency.
