Category: Information

Digital Champions

Digital Champions and how this army of volunteers is helping people all around Dorset to improve their digital skills.

We have a Digital Champion in our area; please feel free to drop in and see him:

Dan Lamkin
Every 4th Monday
16:00 to 18:00
Blandford Library

Superfast Dorset, Dorset Council 01258 484363

dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Facebook.com/DorsetCouncilUK
Twitter.com/DorsetCouncilUK
Instagram.com/DorsetCouncilUK

To receive the latest news from Dorset Council by email, visit dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/e-newsletter

Are you prepared?

Preparing for the future is often something people put off thinking about. This autumn sees Dorset County Council launch an adult social care campaign called ‘Prepare to live better‘.

The campaign aims to educate people about the changing landscape of social care and encourage them to make provisions and plans for their future care needs.

Dorset County Council’s Cabinet member for Health and Care Jill Haynes said:

“Prepare to live better is all about encouraging people to stay active and keep as independent as possible.

“We naturally become more independent as we progress through life. But as we get older, it is even more important to stay independent.

“When it comes to adult social care we want to help people stay in their own home for longer. By thinking about the future and preparing for the costs of care, you can have more choice and control over the care you want.”

Eight-five per cent of people aged 51 to 75 have no plans for how they will pay for their care. One of the hardest things is knowing when to talk about care, but it’s never too early to have those conversations with family and friends.

In Dorset we have a high number of older people who are isolated and lonely. By coordinating the efforts of social care, health and other agencies, we are striving to help people remain happily independent in their own homes and able to make informed choices about their support needs.

Staff will be out and about over the next few months visiting towns across the county and talking to people about planning for their future. You can find out more about living better at dorsetforyou.gov.uk/livebetter

Alternative Broadband Services

Be advised that BT is now offering BT Infinity for Stourpaine. Five years on!

It has a 25% Welcome Discount, which I have checked applies even if you have “Unlimited Broadband” (not fibre) already.

Visit: http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/broadband-packages/#packages

We do have an alternative using wessexinternet (wireless): https://www.wessexinternet.com/superfast-home-broadband/?pp=content
wessexinternet offer VoIP (Vonage Phone), which could replace your BT (or other) landline.

The choice (at last) is there but you should consider, upload and download speeds, latency, tied services (Landline, current email provider) against the cost (or saving) for each service.

Power cut? New phone number 105 launches in September

On 6th September a new national phone number “105” will be launched by electricity network operators for customers to call should you need to report or get information about a power cut in your area.

Key points to note about this service are:

Dialling 105 will put you through to your local electricity network operator – the company that manages the cables, power lines and substations that deliver electricity into homes and businesses in your area.

105 is just one of the ways that you can contact your electricity network operator. You can also contact them by phone or via their website, and most network operators are on social media too.

105 is a free service for people in England, Scotland and Wales. You call 105 no matter who you choose to buy electricity from.

You can also call 105 if you spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put anyone in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, you should call the emergency services too.