DORSET COUNCIL NEWS
Photo by Claire Moore 3_7_2021
Latest updates from Dorset Council
‘Being Care Experienced’ becomes a protected characteristic in Dorset
Young people in Dorset leaving care will face less of a disadvantage, following approval to make being care experienced a
protected characteristic.
A report at Dorset Council’s Cabinet meeting heard that the council, its elected members and employees are all corporate
parents to Dorset’s children in care and care leavers.
If approved, this would mean that being care experienced in the Dorset Council area would be treated as if it were a
Protected Characteristic under the Equalities Act 2010 so that decisions on future services and policies made and adopted by
the council would be assessed and consider the impact on people with care experience.
Practitioners given insight into more hopeful safeguarding for children
A message of hope for children and young people was the key theme delivered at a recent conference to professionals from
Dorset Police, Dorset Council, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, Dorset Health, NHS Dorset and other
organisations who work with children in Dorset.
Presentations centred around how young people in Dorset can be better protected from harm.
Young people were also present at the event and spoke about their experience of working with practitioners in relation to
issues around gender identity and the need for professionals to work alongside them and understand their view and
perspective.
New round of community grants open
The latest round of Community and Culture Project grants is now open for applications.
The grants, which are managed by Dorset Council, welcome applications for projects and events for community, arts,
accredited museums, heritage, sport, youth, play and physical activity.
The grants can fund up to £5000 towards a project that will have a social impact and support local communities and hard
to reach groups and can provide up to 80% of total project costs up to a maximum of £5,000.
Dorset speed indicator initiative reaches milestone
A community scheme in Dorset’s towns and villages is marking 10 years since it was introduced to help slow down drivers.
The familiar Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) are vehicle activated illuminated temporary signs used by local communities to
display vehicle speeds and other permitted messages. This helps raise driver awareness of local speed limits to reduce
traffic speeds and increase road safety.
77 communities have signed up to the initiative at 230 locations around the Dorset Council area.