Author: stourpaine.info

Fostering

https://dorsetcouncil-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/could-you-foster-a-dorset-child-or-young-person

Could you foster a Dorset child or young person?

Could you foster a Dorset child or young person?: Foster with Dorset Council logo

Our focus is on keeping local Dorset children close to their schools, friends and birth families and to avoid sending them out of the county. To do this, we need more people to foster with us. 

Dorset Council is looking for people from all backgrounds to help care for Dorset’s children and young people. You can be married, single or in a partnership, working/not working, and from all ethnic groups and backgrounds. Providing you are over 18, have the space in your home and the time to offer a young person, then fostering might be a brilliant option for you. 

When you foster with Dorset Council you will receive wrap-around support, training and a weekly allowance. You’ll also join Dorset’s supportive fostering community who have a wealth of experience. 

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, or would like to find out more, then head to our website for further information, download an information pack or submit an enquiry. Our team is always happy to have a no-commitment, friendly chat and to answer any questions you might have. 

Email fostering: enquiries@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Contact Information

Rian Davies
rian.davies@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Notes to editors

We have a number of foster carers who are happy to be interviewed or discuss their fostering experiences. Please get in touch for any interview opportunities. 

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Wessex Internet – Full Fibre Rollout – Update

Following a meeting with Wessex Internet on Wednesday 17 May 2023, the latest update is that the Planning effort for the rollout into Stourpaine village has been delayed.

Work commence is now expected for early June 2023.

Little progress other than a rumoured “early Autumn”

Work commenced 09 October 2023 for cable laying into and around Stourpaine with town work expected in the following 8-10 weeks for completion.

Wessex Internet Broadband Social Tariff

Wessex Internet now offer a Social Tariff for full fibre to current and new customers and one for its wireless connection for existing customers.

You must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:

  • Universal Credit (UC)
  • Pension Credit (PC)
  • Income-based Employment Support Allowance (I-ESA)
  • Income Support (IS)
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (I-JSA)

Fuller details here: https://www.wessexinternet.com/social-tariff/

  • £17.50 per month
  • 35Mbps download, 15Mbps upload
  • Unlimited monthly usage
  • 12 month contract

Compare with BT‘s Social Tariff: the basic £15 a month plan includes average speeds of 36Mbps but you would also have to include line rental.

Ofcom offers unbiased information: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/social-tariffs.

Money Saving Expert: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/compare-broadband-deals/broadband-social-tariffs/.

Remember there are mobile phone SIM-only social tariffs also through VOXI and EE (pending).
If you a a light phone user, you might consider 1p Mobile instead.

Your Library Card accesses free e-magazines and more

All you need is your Library Account Number, on your Card and your PIN.

Establish your Electronic Credentials

Accessing Libby & pressreader & NewsBank

Bonus One – On-line Newspapers – pressreader

The Libby service offers a Dorset bonus , allowing access to pressreader for National newspapers, and more. You have 30-days access at a time but can immediately renew.

From Friday 19 May 2023, digital newspapers will be moving from the pressreader (Libby) service to BorrowBox.

Bonus One – Updated – On-line Newspapers – BorrowBox

All you will need to do to access digital newspapers on BorrowBox is to install the BorrowBox app on to your device or click here to use the website.

Email the Blandford Library if you do not see a National or local newspaper you might expect; more titles will be added in the coming months, including The Daily & Sunday Telegraph, The Times & Sunday Times, The Sun & Sunday Sun, Bournemouth Daily Echo, Dorset Echo, Bridgwater Mercury, Gloucestershire County Gazette & Somerset County Gazette.

Bonus Two – On-line Newspapers – NewsBank

You will need your Library Account Number with DORSET in front for this login: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/user/librarycard/DorsetCountyCouncilLibrary?destination=easy-search%3Fp%3DUKNB, for the following archives:

Changing your Email Provider

If you are considering moving to a new email provider, you may wonder what the technical practicalities are for this process and how to keep all your prior emails. Here are some of the steps and options you have to make the transition as smooth as possible.

First, you need to choose a new email provider that suits your needs and preferences. There are many factors to consider, such as the storage space, the security features, the user interface, the customer support, and the price. You may want to compare different providers and read reviews before making a decision.

Second, you need to create a new email account with your chosen provider and set up your personal information and settings.

  • You may want to import your contacts from your old email account.
  • You may just create a new address book.
  • You can use the same username as your old email account or choose a different one.

Third, you need to transfer your old emails to your new email account. There are different ways to do this, depending on your old and new email providers:

  • Some providers offer a built-in tool or service that allows you to migrate your emails automatically. For example, Gmail has a feature called Mail Fetcher that lets you import emails from other accounts.
  • Other providers may require you to use a third-party software or app that can sync your emails between different accounts. For example, you can use Outlook or Thunderbird to connect to both your old and new email accounts and copy or move your emails manually.

Fourth, you need to notify your contacts and other services about your new email address.

  • You can send an email to your contacts informing them of the change and asking them to update their records.
  • You can also set up an auto-reply message on your old email account that tells anyone who emails you that you have switched to a new address and provides them with the new one.
  • You may also want to update your email address on any online accounts or subscriptions that you have, such as social media, banking, shopping, etc.

Fifth, you need to decide what to do with your old email account. You can keep it active for a while until you are sure that you have transferred everything you need and notified everyone who needs to know. You can also delete it if you want to save space or avoid security risks. However, before deleting it, make sure that you have backed up any important emails or files that you may need in the future.

Moving to a new email provider can be a daunting task, but with some planning and preparation, it can be done successfully. We hope that this paragraph has given you some useful information and guidance on what the technical practicalities are for moving to a new email provider and how to keep all prior emails.

Switching Broadband Provider

The first thing you should do is contact the provider you wish to switch to and they will be able to explain the process you need to follow.

One-stop Switch

If your current broadband service runs on the Openreach phone network, and you’re switching to another provider that also uses this network, you can follow a ‘one-stop’ switching process. (Companies that use the Openreach network include BT, EE, Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone.)

Under this process, you don’t need to contact your current provider at all. Instead, your new provider can arrange the transfer for you. Once you’ve contacted your new provider to begin the switching process, both your new provider and old provider must both send you a letter to inform you of the switch.

Switching between Networks

If you’re switching to, or from, a fibre-to-the-premise or ‘full-fibre’ service or a provider that doesn’t use the Openreach network, you should contact both providers.

Switching a Bundle

If you use a bundle of services with a provider, for example home phone and broadband, you will usually follow one of the processes described above but if you also a TV service, there might be some differences – particularly if the switch involves cancelling a satellite TV service. Your new provider can give you information on this.

If you take a landline and broadband service from the same provider, switching your broadband provider is likely to mean switching your landline service at the same time. So make sure you’re happy to do so before signing up for one of these offers.

Social Tariffs: Cheaper Broadband and Phone Packages

Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. Some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband.

Social tariffs can provide a safety net for customers who might be struggling to afford their broadband or phone services.

How a Social Tariff could help you

  • It’s available to those on a variety of benefits. If you or someone in your household claims Universal Credit, you could switch to any of the tariffs available.
  • It’s cheaper than a regular package. Current prices range from £10 to £20.
  • Fast, unlimited broadband. Most tariffs offer superfast broadband at speeds over 30 Mbit/s – fast enough for you to keep in touch with friends and family, stream HD films or shop online.
  • You’ll pay next-to-nothing to get set up. If you do have to pay any setup costs, these should only be small. Your provider should tell you before you sign up.
  • It could cost nothing to switch. If your provider offers a social tariff, you can switch to it at any time, free of charge.
  • The price won’t go up mid-contract. You won’t pay any more than what you agree at the start of the contract.
  • It costs nothing to leave. You won’t pay a fee to leave the tariff before the end of your contract.

Check https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/social-tariffs for a list of Social Tariff Providers.