Community Action Network
Do you know anyone that would benefit from upskilling their numeracy? Dorset Skills and Learning are ready to work with you!
Multiply is a government-funded programme of FREE numeracy activities for adults.
In Dorset, Skills & Learning offer tasters, drop-in sessions and short courses to boost confidence and skills around maths and money for everyday life for adults with low numeracy skills (below GCSE grade C / 4).
They offer ‘Get Number Confident’, ‘Get Money Confident’ and ‘Get Maths Confident’ for work, and can work with you to tailor the timings and content to your clients’ needs.
Getting a qualification doesn’t have to be the learner’s aim – some people just want to brush up their number skills – but they can choose to go on to Functional Skills or GCSE courses at Skills & Learning. They can deliver where you are, in one of their adult learning centres or online. They also offer free CPD for staff and volunteers working with the community to provide information and advice on numeracy.
They’d love to talk to you about working together to boost maths and money skills and confidence among adults in Dorset. Contact Kate Holmes, Multiply Learning Coordinator: [email protected] tel: 01202 016225 website: Multiply - Free Maths Courses - Skills & Learning Adult Community Education (skillsandlearningace.com)
BCP Council, Prama and the World Health Organisation have been working together to develop Age Friendly Communities across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. This includes the development of an Age Friendly Network. If you would like to learn more about Age Friendly Communities and their purpose watch this short video.
UK Network of Age-friendly Communities | Centre for Ageing Better - YouTube
If you would like to join the network contact Heather Olive, Age-Friendly Communities Coordinator or you can sign up to the monthly newsletter here.
BH Support is a not for profit organisation based in Southbourne, who provide affordable legal support to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in the BCP Council area. They focus on family law, such as divorce/separation, protection orders, child arrangements and court support. All of this can be extremely traumatic and can incur significant financial costs.
BH Support believe that everyone should have access to legal support regardless of their financial situation and offer a FREE 30 minute initial consultation, with ongoing sessions being subsidised.
More information can be found on their website.
Our Dorset are looking for people with lived experience of Dorset’s geography, demography and diversity to join their Public Engagement Group (PEG).
‘Our Dorset’ is the county’s Integrated Care System; a partnership of local NHS organisations, councils, public services and voluntary and community partners who work together to improve health and care across the county. They work closely with people and communities across Dorset to ensure that people's voices are heard and that there is opportunity for communities to get involved and help shape the services they use.
The PEG plays a key part in this, and its role is to provide advice, guidance and challenge on public engagement that is being planned to ensure that Dorset informs and involves local people and communities in developing and delivering future health and care services.
Anyone interested in becoming a member can find out more here and complete the expression of interest form by Wednesday 14th June 2023.
Our Dorset are also seeking a chair for the PEG. Please fill out the expression of interest form accordingly if this is something you would be interested in.
Join the Dorset Innovation Hub at our latest Community of Practice event which will be focused on successfully engaging and working with stakeholders when making changes in a health and care setting.
The event will include practical tips and tools as well as insights from a local case study presentation by Dorset Council based on the 'Digitising social care records in Dorset' project.
Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session, facilitated by the Dorset Innovation Hub team.
This online event will be held on Thursday 22 June 2023 (14:00 to 15:00) and is open to all.
Visit Eventbrite to book a place or contact [email protected] for further information.
The Boscombe Community Wellbeing project is a collaborative project that is offering all BCP residents the opportunity to get involved in a FREE programme of fitness, wellbeing, cooking, art sessions and more! Within the sessions, people can learn a skill or cultivate a new hobby in a fun, friendly, supportive environment – led by trained and passionate coaches.
These sessions are held in Churchill Gardens, Boscombe and will run every day up until 23rd June 2023. Please spread the word If you, or anyone you know, needs a boost to their confidence or would love to get involved with fun, social activities.
For more information, click on their Facebook page here or email [email protected]
Every Monday between 10am and 1.30pm, TOSH offers a welcoming and comfortable space for the community to gather and socialise. Whether someone wants to catch up with friends, meet new people, or simply relax and enjoy some peace and quiet, they’ll find a friendly and accessible atmosphere.
Please spread the word to anyone who you think might benefit.
GamCare are new CAN members and their mission is to raise awareness of, and support those affected by, gambling-related harm. They operate the free and confidential National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 which is open 24/7 365 days a year, including via live chat on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
GamCare provide free treatment for anyone who is harmed by gambling, create awareness about safer gambling and treatment, and encourage an effective approach to safer gambling within the gambling industry.
They’re concerned about the rise of women who have problems with gambling and are raising professionals’ awareness and understanding of gambling-related harm through equipping them with the skills they need to identify at-risk women.
They’re also giving professionals the confidence they need to talk about and screen their clients for gambling harms, and how to signpost and refer women and girls to tailored support services.
So, whether you’re working in debt advice, primary care, mental health, housing or any other sector, you can sign up for GamCare’s free CPD accredited training for staff and volunteers to help make gambling-harms more identifiable when working with women.
GamCare are offering free CPD accredited webinars to learn more about gambling harms to support your clients on:
7th June and 28th June – from 10:00-11:30am.
To book a place please email [email protected]
In January Dorset Youth successfully launched the 0-25 Knowledge Hub a one-stop-shop for information and support, aimed at helping VCS organisations guide young individuals on their journeys and connect them with other local providers. It offers a range of features, including, Find an Organisation, 0-25 activities, and the latest news.
Sitting alongside the 0-25 VCS Forum, a dedicated platform offering information, resources and promoting networking and partnership working. The Hub and Forum are set up to amplify the excellent work being done by youth organisations in the Dorset Council area.
Find out more and sign up to the newsletter here
Ahead of the upcoming 2023/24 season, AFC Bournemouth are opening the application process for next season's charity partners.
The club is looking for four new charity partners to create meaningful impact and better opportunities for those who need support in the local community. Partners should share our commitment towards advancing equality, diversity and inclusion, and improving physical and mental health.
Applicants must have their head office registered locally and benefit the lives of people living in the Dorset and Hampshire area.
The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 12th June 2023.
Take a look back at our previous newsletters to find out about what’s on, celebrating success and news from around the local VCS, NHS, Council and beyond. Read more