It is nearly three years since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and thousands of Ukrainians have had to flee the worn torn country.
Hundreds of refugees have found a safe haven in Dorset, regaining their independence with the help of kind hosts and sponsors.
More than 500 households in Dorset have opened their homes as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, but more homes are still needed for those escaping war zones.
Dorset Council is once again asking anyone who has a spare room or two, or an annexe, to host a Ukrainian refugee or a family and help them rebuild their lives. For more information, please register here
You will be linked into a network of support, and we will pay you £350 a month to provide a room in your house.
Rental
We’re also looking for landlords who can rent a home to refugees. Many are now ready to live independently. Ukrainians on the Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Extension, and Family Schemes have the right to rent, work, claim benefits and access public funds.
Ukrainian refugees can access a range of services including schools, work, training and volunteering placements, while libraries and community groups are working to make them feel welcome.
Here are a few quotes from our current hosts:
“Hosting is a venture worth embarking on – understand the implications, have courage, and the rewards will be with you, and your guests, for life!”
“They bring me immense joy every day”
“Playing a small part in taking action to show support for Ukraine in opposing criminal Russian aggression.”
Cllr Ryan Hope, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement at Dorset Council, said, “We continue to stand with all those affected by the horrific events which have taken place in Ukraine since the Russian invasion.
“Dorset has a proud history of welcoming new arrivals at times of crisis, offering homes and support to people escaping the horrors of war, and I am grateful to local people who have shown true community spirit and willingness to help others by welcoming Ukrainian people into their homes and our communities.”
If you would like to talk to us about the Ukraine Response in Dorset, please call 01305 221000 or email us at ukraineresponse@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Leaving small electrical devices on charge overnight has been the cause of multiple house fires in recent years, so Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) is urging people to ‘Unplug to Unwind’.
Only large appliances such as fridges are designed to be left switched on all the time, so ensuring that everything else is unplugged before you go to bed is a simple routine that could protect your home from fire.
To help reduce the risk of a fire in your home, take these simple steps:
Make sure an electrical appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it.
Only buy your electrical chargers from a reputable source.
Never leave items on charge when you are sleeping or when you are not at home.
Don’t overload sockets.
Regularly check for frayed or worn cables and wires.
Stampede by the Sea is raising funds for Weldmar Hospicecare, who provide specialist end of life care for local adults with a life limiting illness, and support for their loved ones.
As Learning Partner, Wessex Internet is encouraging schools across Dorset to get involved in designing their own elephant and also helping Weldmar to provide vital resources to help teachers tackle ‘the elephant in the room’: the loss of loved ones.
With discussion of grief and dying still a taboo subject, Weldmar will work with teachers, leaders and schools to support group conversations with young people while they work on the art project, and to help those directly affected to safely share their feelings with their friends, parents and teachers.
Wessex Internet will also be funding longer-term training and resource materials for teachers and schools, which will help them to support young people who need it in the future.
Our only ask of you is to spread the word so that more young people can be helped:
If you are involved in a school – as a parent, staff member, governor, PTA member or other volunteer – please take a moment at the start of this new school year to let the school’s leadership know about the initiative.
There are still a few baby elephants available to schools or other learning venues to take part in Stampede by the Sea, and leaders can speak to Weldmar about the resources that are available.
Community Contact Point Meet your neighbourhood policing team
When & Where is it? Sat 17 Aug 2024 10:00 M&S Foodhall, Langton Road Blandford Forum DT11 7EN ///surveyors.cling.unloading
Community Contact Points are pop-up events where you can speak to an officer from your neighbourhood policing team to report a crime or an incident or discuss issues affecting your community. These are drop-in style events with no need to make an appointment. Please come along as this is your opportunity to speak with your local officers to discuss any issues of concern to you. If you are unable to attend this meeting but would like to attend a future one, look out for the dates on Dorset Alert or follow us on social media. You can report concerns in your area, view policing priorities and a calendar of events from your local neighbourhood policing team via this link: https://www.dorset.police.uk/npt
Message Sent By Pete Smith (Dorset Police, NEO, North & East Dorset)
During 2023, one third of the kitchen fires attended by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) were in the homes of people aged over 65 and living alone. To combat this alarming statistic, DWFRS is launching a new safety campaign, with a focus on preventing cooking-related incidents and making residents safer at home.
‘Cook with Care’ has four key themes to help reduce kitchen fires:
Prepare – Before you start cooking, create a clear space to prepare your meals safely. Keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob, and take care if you’re wearing loose clothing.
Prevent – Never put anything other than pots and pans on your cooker hob; even after you’ve finished cooking, the hob will remain hot for some time.Never put anything metal into the microwave.Saucepan handles left sticking out create a danger; there’s a risk they could be caught, leading to the pans being knocked off the hob.
Focus – Don’t leave cooking unattended.Avoid cooking if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that leaves you drowsy.
Stay Safe – Keep the oven, hob and grill clean as a build-up of fat or grease can catch fire when hot.Switch off the oven and/or hob when you have finished cooking and take pans off the heat.
It’s vital that we do all we can to protect our communities, especially those people who are perhaps more vulnerable because of their age or where they live. By highlighting some of the potential dangers in the kitchen, DWFRS hope to encourage safer cooking behaviours amongst those most at risk.
There is more information on the DWFRS website about safety in the home, www.dwfire.org.uk/safety-at-home and anyone with an older friend or relative who lives alone is asked to share this advice with them.
If you are concerned for someone’s safety, you can contact the DWFRS Safe & Well team – call 0800 038 2323 or visit www.dwfire.org.uk/safe-and-well-visits
Child Okeford Stores, The Cross, Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 8ED, runs The Post Office Outreach Service in the Stourpaine Village Hall every Tuesday morning.
The Post Office pays for this service to us and The Post Office is doing an audit for the next 3 months about usage in outreach places.
Stourpaine is in danger of losing this post office facility unless we use and promote it more.
Please can everyone do their bit and try and buy some stamps, post a parcel (Parcelforce Express Services), use Drop & Go rather than get the Postie to come to you (a great convenience), withdraw some money, open an account, etc as much as possible ( especially whilst the audit is happening).
At the same time the Village Hall Committee invites you to the “Warm Hub” between ten and twelve where tea, coffee, biscuits and a chat are always brewing.
Beats cycling or walking to Blandford Forum or beyond.
The Blandford Group Practice (BGP) Whitecliff Surgery will be holding an information meeting in the Child Okeford Village Hall at 6pm to 8pm on Thursday 23 May 2024.
Refreshments will be available.
The purpose is to provide more information about the surgery and to allow patients to meet those who work there. There will be presentations by:
the Practice Managers
a Social Prescribing and Health Champions co-ordinator
the Website and Anima co-ordinator
a member of the Patient Participation Group
There will be opportunity to submit questions to the Team
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