Support & Advice Services

Citizens Advice (East Dorset and Purbeck)

Citizens Advice in East Dorset and Purbeck is an independent charity that provides free, confidential and impartial advice and support. The goal is to help everyone find a way forward, whatever their problem.

There are offices in Wareham and Wimborne and have outreach centres across East Dorset and Purbeck and are part of the Citizens Advice network in Dorset and across England and Wales.

The Mobile Advice Bus is here!
NO APPOINTMENT NECCESSARY

It arrived for the first time Tuesday 4th April.
Between 1-3pm you can speak to their friendly advisers about a range of issues including benefits, debt and money, employment, energy, water schemes, family, housing, legal and more.

Citizens Advice Bus in Park Way Tuesdays
1-3pm 

For more information visit www.edpcitizensadvice.org.uk or to speak to an adviser, call the Dorset Adviceline Freephone 0800 144 8848, 10am-4pm weekdays.

Here is their latest newsletter:
CA EDP Newsletter May 2024

It summarises activities over the last quarter of FY203-24 (January-March).
This newsletter can also be viewed on our website here www.edpcitizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/information

Castleman Community Larder

Not for profit social supermarket based in West Moors, who tackle food insecurity and the environmental impact of food waste in the community. They source their products from surplus redistribution companies and charities, saving end of day goods from supermarkets and local businesses; they have an allotment to grow their own produce, promote home growing and accept donated surplus fruit and veg grown locally too. They purchase products like freezer goods to ensure their service users have a wide selection of food and goods available to them at every visit. They operate on a membership basis to be able to monitor user trends and create a unified community feel for the service users. They do not pre allocate goods, their members choose what they like and will use which helps minimise further waste. Members visit once per week, there is a £7 visit fee to be paid when accessing Castleman Community Larder. They use this £7 to contribute towards the running costs like rent (£800pcm). They also use this to purchase any food that they cannot source from end of day, local business or in their regular collections. Members take home UNLIMITED fruit, veg and bread. 3 RED ITEMS - Items from the Fridge/Freezer like family size packs of minced beef, fresh meat and cheese, butter etc And 12 YELLOW items which consist of staple foods, tins, jars, cereal, pasta and household / toiletries like toilet roll, cleaning products, nappies etc Their priorities are focused on saving waste in our community and giving all of our service users a friendly, and welcoming environment when they choose to visit us.

 

Age UK (Bournemouth Poole and East Dorset)

Age UK Bournemouth, Poole & East Dorset offers a free and confidential information and advice service for older people, their families and carers.

You can access our Information and Advice Service in a number of ways.
By phone:
01202 530530 Monday - Friday 10am - 3:45pm.
By email: enquiries@ageukbped.org.uk

By appointment only at the offices at
700 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth BH9 2EG and 22 Victoria Road, Ferndown, BH22 9HZ (specific days only).

Unfortunately they are not available for walk-ins but are happy to deal with enquiries face to face via zoom or by a pre-booked appointment at one of the offices or clinics.

They offer an Attendance Allowance form completion service which can be done face to face, over the phone or via zoom.
These are by appointment only and cost £20.
If you require this service please contact the welfare benefits team on 01202 530530.

 

Ferndown Community Support

Ferndown Brunch Club has reformed, refreshed and renamed itself following feedback from the public. The new Saturday Club, which started 30th September, offers a dedicated community space for all, once a month, with emphasis on parents/carers and children. In addition to the stay & play, the community cafe is

now available to all offering a warm space, drinks, toast and snacks, AND:

A parents swap shop!

Bring your outgrown toys/books/games/clothes/equipment to pass on to someone else in need, and/or pick up something that you might need too. There is no need to bring something to take something you need. Our aim is to support those on tight budgets and the wonderful benefits to all of reusing and recycling!

Dorset Community Response

Dorset Community response is a strengths based partnership between Dorset Council, Volunteer Centre Dorset, #HelpAndKindness and the wider community.

If you have any questions or comments about the project please get in touch with them on.
dcr@helpandkindness.co.uk or call 01305 59 59 58.
They can:

• help you get back safe and well from hospital
• fetch your groceries
• Collect your medicines
• Checking you're OK, helping at home
  

The service is available between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.
They are closed at weekends and Bank Holidays.
You can still find local services on our main site here: #HelpAndKindness

 

Dorset Community Transport Directory

Find your Local Community Transport team 

Maintained by Dorset Council, to get you where you need to be and help you to make essential journeys to places like the hospital, doctors, dentists, opticians and some offer transport for shopping and social trips.

Many of these schemes are only in existence thanks to the generosity and support of local volunteers.

If you or somebody you know is interested in becoming a volunteer driver or organiser, please contact your local scheme to discuss how you might be able to help them.

 SEDCAT (South East Dorset Community Accessible Transport) is a charity dedicated to meeting the transport needs of people with mobility issues to prevent social isolation and loneliness. You can phone them on 01202 534 027

Using minibuses, they take people from their homes to shopping areas and on outings. A community car scheme using volunteer drivers helps people get to appointments and a Shopmobility scheme hires out scooters, powered and manual wheelchairs.

Linking Dorset is a partnership led by PramaLife and facilitated by Morebus
It provides a joined-up way of signposting people to transport schemes available, and provides advice on an array of transport opportunities, including local bus services, community-based minibus schemes, community car schemes, dial-a-ride etc.

The telephone number is: 01202 586 055
The advice line is only open between 10am and 2pm on weekdays (not Public Holidays). You can contact local schemes themselves for further information and to make a booking where required.

DC- Trading Standards - Friend against scams

Dorset Council Trading Standards offer free business advice to businesses based in our area. If you’d like more information, then visit www.businesscompanion.info or call a business advisor on 01305 224702.

If you’ve concerns about a business or would like advice on your consumer rights, then visit the Citizens Advice consumer helpline at citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer or phone 0808 2231133.

Friends Against Scams aims to break the silence around scams, giving people information to be able to spot the signs of a scam, talk with and support others and report scams. 

Anyone can become a ‘Friend’, many people are, and you could too. Visit the national website www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk to learn more about scams, to find a local face-to-face session, or to complete 20 minutes of online learning. You can continue to raise awareness of scams to help people protect themselves against financial abuse by rogues. If you are concerned about a scam, want consumer advice, or want to report something to trading standards, then call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506 or visit: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer 

 

 Friends Against Scam Facebook

Criminals won't stand a chance with a call blocker by your side. These amazing units have a track record of blocking 91% of scam and nuisance calls!

Protect yourself and your loved ones by applying for a free call blocking unit at www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/callblocker. Stay one step ahead of the criminals and enjoy a scam-free phone line.

Good Neighbour Scheme

The Good Neighbour scheme is a voluntary organisation which has been relaunched through Prama and covers West Moors, Ferndown and Wimborne.

The aim is to help people with small one-off tasks they can no longer manage themselves.
A small donation is asked for to cover administration costs.

Jackie Stafford is the Good Neighbour Lead Co-ordinator.
Jackie explains: “These are small tasks where professional help is not needed, as our intention is not to take work away from the professional workforce. All our volunteers carry identity and are Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked which ensures they are trustworthy and can be relied on.”
Officially launched at the West Moors Group Practice in October 2017, the Good Neighbour scheme has keen volunteers on hand in West Moors with a variety of skills on offer.

The volunteers can help with a range of small tasks - here are a few examples of what they could do:

• Change a lightbulb • Fill out a form • Take rubbish to the tip • Post a letter • Walk a dog • Small sewing jobs
• Tune a television.

For more information, please call 01202 804003 or email: goodneighbours@prama.org.uk

Digital Champion

Digital Champion sessions are provided by Dorset Council.
Around 21% of people are not confident using the internet - that's around 150,000 people across Dorset. And 70,000 of these have never been online.
You can call 01305 221048 weekdays (excluding Bank Holidays) from 10am to 12noon.
To get help with:

Our Digital Champions are volunteers who help and support people in the local community to use the internet and gain basic online skills such as:

 

• learning to use a device (laptop, smartphone, tablet etc)
• setting up email and contacts
• sharing photos and managing photo storage
• online safety
• using search engines such as Google or Bing
• printing
• updates and backing up
• using apps
• finding cheaper utilities
• online banking and Paypal
• connecting to wifi.

Click here for Digital Champions in Purbeck and East Dorset

 

Help and Care

Help and Care is a charity providing information, advice & support, for people and communities to live the lives they choose. They are able to provide information, advice and support to take control of your life, make decisions and find support that is appropriate.

You can also call them on 0300 111 3303,
Monday - Friday, 10-4pm

Dorset Education Advice Line (DEAL)

There is a new campaign to raise awareness of the DEAL amongst the Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) community across Dorset, to make even more residents aware of this free service.
DEAL Information leaflet

Dial A Ride

Dial A Ride is part of Vision Wimborne Registered Charity No 1081678.

Run entirely by volunteers DIAL A RIDE owns and operates three wheelchair adapted vehicles. 

"Our aim is to help to meet the transport needs of people who due to age, illness, low income or disability cannot easily use public transport and do not have access to any other suitable means of transport."

Dial a ride poster

 

Family Information and Social Care Services

Dorset is blessed with a wealth of on-line services that can inform & advise on a wide range of family matters for all age groups and requirements. 

Dorset FIS is a free, impartial information service for parents and carers of children and young people aged up to 19, or up to 25 years for those with special educational needs or disability (SEND)

It is a central resource covering education & learning, early years & childcare, health & well-being and young peoples service. It is hosted on the Dorset Council web site, with a search facility to make it easy to find the help you need. Should you have difficulty with accessing the web site, they have a telephone number: 01305 221 066 (office hours only). 

 

For help specific to adults, regarding such topics as abuse, care & support, paying for care, health and well-being and much more, then use the Dorset Council: Care and support for adults web page.

For help specific to children & young people, such as schools, childcare, Special Educational Needs (SEN), concern about apparent abuse, activities and much more, then use the Dorset Council: Children and families web page.  
If you have difficulty accessing the links above, please call the contact point for the east Dorset area of Dorset Council: 01202 228 760, or the main switchboard for Dorset Council here: 01305 221 000.

 

 

The Petwyn, our village green.

Pinehurst Road shopping parade

The Library