Published: 13 May 2020

Last Updated: 13 May 2020

Dorchester Household Recycling Centre (Tip) (Louds Mill)
NOW OPEN - Details CLICK HERE

Published: 13 May 2020

Last Updated: 13 May 2020

Car Parks - Coronavirus Information CLICK HERE

Published: 30 April 2020

Last Updated: 30 April 2020

A new helpline has been launched to support parents and carers who are worried about how their child is coping during the Coronavirus pandemic. CLICK HERE

Published: 28 April 2020

Last Updated: 28 April 2020

Dorset Digital Hotline...

Can we help you?

Telephone:  01305 221000 (Select Option 2).

Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 12 noon (except Bank Holidays) or leave a message. 

Many people in your local community are likely to be relying on digital online services and applications more than ever before.  For some this will be a first and they need to learn from scratch and for others there are new digital hurdles to overcome almost on a daily basis just to get every day jobs done such as shopping or ordering prescriptions.  

We wanted everyone in your local community to know that there is a new free telephone hotline set up in response to the COVID-19 lockdown, to provide support for people with IT and digital problems of all kinds.  The hotline has received more than 50 calls in the first three weeks.

Here is a selection of some of the support the digital advisers can provide – no problem too small!

• helping families with digital applications for home schooling
• providing help to get online for home shopping
• support for all digital NHS services and e-Consult
• setting up video calls such as Skype and Facetime to keep in contact with friends and family
• support to use all digital appliances and solve problems
• using digital to exercise at home and keep fit

An example of how the Dorset Digital Hotline can make a difference to people’s lives is expressed by one of our digital advisers.

Andy Hargreaves a digital adviser said: “One lady I helped this week uses her iPad to keep in touch with her family via Facetime. She told me that she couldn’t hear her family speaking to her clearly on her calls because the sound on the iPad was distorted. I helped her to correct the problem over the phone and soon it was working properly. She said to me that if she wasn’t in isolation she would come over and give me a hug because the iPad was her lifeline now to the outside world.”

The Dorset Digital Hotline is run by a group of volunteers mostly made up of retired IT professionals and some Dorset Council staff. The team are extremely versatile and experienced and can offer a wide range of support to anyone including assistance to vulnerable people in your community.

Published: 10 April 2020

Last Updated: 10 April 2020

THE WINTERBOURNE COMMUNITY TRUST

...is here to support individuals and families experiencing financial hardship is these difficult times. We can offer grants to help with everyday living expenses and some practical support.

We cover Martinstown, Winterborne Steepleton and Winterborne Abbas. All enquires are confidential.

Please contact Frances Clifford on 889400 or 07780441043 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Jan Griffiths on 889783 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Joy Parsons on 889611

Published: 08 April 2020

Last Updated: 08 April 2020

Many of us have a network of family, friends, neighbours and community volunteers supporting us to get the food, medicines and essential household items that we need. We're proud to see our communities come together to help each other during this time and to see support groups launched across the Dorset Council area. 

But there will be some vulnerable people who don't have any support networks available to them.

To support these people specifically, we've set up a dedicated helpline: 01305 221000. Lines open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. Or you can email communityresponse@dorsetco>uncil.gov.uk. 

Find out more: http://orlo.uk/Lz7UP#DorsetTogether