The Bridport Local Area Partnership (BLAP) is here for the community. Current members of the partnership include Bridport Town Council, 10 Parish Councils and more than 80 community organisations and individuals working to improve the social, economic, and environmental wellbeing of Bridport and surrounding areas. For information or if you have a piece you would like included in the BLAP Bulletin, please contact Jo Hughes by email at jo.hughes@bridport-tc.gov.uk BLAP Members' Meeting Open to all BLAP members, The BLAP Members' Meeting (formally known as Steering Group meeting) will take place this Thursday 5th June at 2.15pm, Mountfield, Bridport where we will be joined by Bev Thornton and Terry Barker who will talk about the work of the Bridport Community Kitchen. Farewell to Bridport Town Clerk Will Austin BLAP members may or may not be aware that Will Austin will be leaving Bridport Town Council this week after seven years as Town Clerk. On behalf of BLAP, we thank Will for the significant help and support he has provided over those years and wish him all the best for the future. Will's successor, Sally Freemantle will be joining Bridport Town Council in August. BLAP Members' Assembly A date for your diary - the BLAP Members' Assembly will take place early evening on Thursday 11th September (exact times to be confirmed) at the Town Hall where we will be joined by guest speaker Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council who will talk about Dorset Council's priorities, ambitions and challenges. Further details will be made available nearer the time. Bridport Vegan Market Celebrate all things vegan and eco-living with a range of traders selling everything from street food, cakes and bakes, deli items, ethical clothing, cruelty free skincare and homeware, arts and crafts and more! Entry to Bridport Vegan Market is free (dogs welcome) and will take place on Saturday 7th Bridport History Society - Talk The next meeting of Bridport History Society is on Thursday 12th June when the Society will be holding a small celebration to mark 30 years since its founding. The central attraction will be a talk which will be delivered by well-known Bridport historian Bruce Upton. Bruce has put together a special talk 'A Celebration of Bridport' just for BHS’s anniversary. The talk will explore how aspects of Bridport’s history have made the town the exceptional place it is today. There will also be some special guest appearances at the meeting. The talk will be held at the United Church Hall on East Street, Bridport. Doors open at 2.15pm for a prompt 2.30pm start. All are welcome, members £1pp, visitors £5pp. Bridport History Society meets on the second Thursday of each month (except July and August). Membership is open to all (£12 individual / £18 couple). For more information visit: www.bridporthistorysociety.org.uk. Bridport Swift Town - Swiftwalking The hugely popular Swiftwalk is back! Why have swifts returned to Bridport for 100's of years? What is it about the town's architecture and nearby green spaces that make it a good place for swifts to be? Join RSPB’s Luke Phillips for an evening swift walk around town, exploring the urban habitats that make Bridport perfect for swifts. Free and open to all, the Swiftwalks will take place on Thursday 12th, Tuesday 17th and Thursday 19th June, 6.00pm - 8.00pm. Register your free place by emailing swiftmail@commonground.org.uk. Bridport Food and Beer Festival This year marks the 21st birthday of the Bridport Food Festival which takes place at Asker Meadows, Bridport DT6 4SB on Saturday 14th June, 9.30am - 5.00pm showcasing the local food scene this area is famous for, from classic favourites to appetising innovations. Nearly 100 traders will be selling award-winning local food and drink as well as delicious street food, from wild venison burgers to Shuka Calf's oysters, Indian sweets to Dorset cheeses and there will be plenty of samples for foodies to graze. Adult tickets cost £3.50 in advance (£5.00 on the day) and can be purchased here. Children 17 and under go free. Prior to the big day, Friday 13th June is the start of the very popular Bridport Beer Festival commencing at 6.00pm. An impressive selection of over 100 different ales and ciders rub shoulders with cocktails, wines, fizz and Pimms all accompanied by live music and joining the event for the first time is the special fundraising 'Friday Feast' created by local restaurants and suppliers. Entry to the Beer Festival on Friday and Saturday is free from 6.00pm. Volunteer Centre Dorset - Understanding DBS Checks DBS Checks are one of the things Volunteer Centre Dorset (VCD) receive most enquiries about, with groups and organisations wanting to find out if DBS checks are needed for their volunteers and staff and if so, what level of check is required for their role. Join VCD at 12.00pm on Wednesday 18th June for this free online event to find the answers from Mel Berry, Regional Outreach Adviser (South West England) from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Book here. Topics covered will include: • who can request a DBS check • the different levels of DBS checks available • what is ‘regulated activity’ and regulated activity provider responsibilities • rechecks and renewals • portability of certificates • DBS Barred Lists • who has a legal duty to make a barring referral to DBS and when this applies Bridport Refugee Support Campaign Organised by Bridport Refugee Support Campaign, enjoy an evening of unity, culture and connection to celebrate Refugee Week from 16th - 22nd June. Everyone is welcome to this free event (donations welcome) to enjoy music, food, stories and the spirit of togetherness on Thursday 19th June, 4.30pm - 7.30pm at Bridport Youth & Community Centre (Upstairs), Gundry Lane, Bridport. Bridport Cohousing Tours of Hazelmead Tours of Hazelmead, the new cohousing development located next to Bridport Community Hospital take place on the 3rd Saturday of the month with future tours taking place on 19th July, 20th September, 18th October and 15th November. Tours run from 2.00pm - 4.00pm, beginning with an introductory chat followed by a tour around the site before tea and cake and an opportunity for questions and answers. To book your place, please email info@bridportcohousing.org.uk Bridport Museum - Exhibition A new temporary exhibition runs from May to July at Bridport Museum in partnership with Bournemouth University Archaeological Research Consultancy. Called Archaeology Then and Now: Unearthing Waddon Hill, it explores how excavation methods have evolved over the past 150 years. Journey through the site’s history, from the Roman Hill fort's 19th- century discovery by quarry workers to 1960s excavations and today’s cutting-edge technology revealing earlier periods of occupation. The exhibition features exciting finds, including a newly conserved Roman dagger, offering a unique opportunity to see how archaeology has uncovered the secrets of Roman Britain. Allington Hillbilly Volunteers Anniversary Event Next year the Allington Hillbilly Volunteers will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the volunteer group and the 40th anniversary of the Bridport Community raising money, allowing the Woodland Trust to purchase Allington Hill. We are inviting the Bridport Community to take part in our “CELEBRATE 2026” project with micro events running from January 2026 until the main events held on Friday 1st May and Saturday 2nd May 2026, in Cooper’s Field, Hospital Lane, Bridport. On the Friday, community events will focus on youth projects, local food and entertainment in the evening. The main event will be on Saturday with a Country Fair, speakers marquee, craft demonstrations and activities. We are inviting organisations that have a clear link with nature, wildlife and country crafts to take part as activity providers, stall holders, speakers and sponsors. To register an interest in taking part, please email allingtonhill@gmail.com. Bridport to Yeovil Bus Service Expanded Dorset Council has made improvements to the CR6 bus service, enhancing transport links between Bridport, Beaminster, and Yeovil. Commencing Saturday 31st May, the service will now operate six days a week, providing greater flexibility for passengers and supporting local communities. Key service enhancements: • The CR6 bus, which previously ran Monday to Friday, will now operate on Saturdays as well, following the non-school day (NSch) weekday timetable. • The 1710 service from Bridport, which previously terminated at Beaminster, will now continue through to Yeovil, offering passengers more travel options. These changes will allow residents to spend the day in Bridport or Yeovil and return conveniently, improving access to shopping, leisure, and essential services. Dorset Council Funding - Closing Date Thursday 5th June Community and Culture Project Fund - If you’re looking to kickstart a new project that will make a difference for people in your community, Round 9 of the Community and Culture Project Fund is now open for applications. This fund offers small grants ranging from £1,500 to £5,000 to organisations who want to start new activities or events to benefit their community. The fund is for 'not for profit' community groups including: • Museums • Arts • Heritage • Physical Activity • Sport • Play They prioritise applications that support residents and those groups that are marginalised, disadvantaged or hard to reach. The closing date for applications is Thursday 5th June. Apply here. Small One-Off Capital Grants Fund - The Small Capital Grants Fund to improve, adapt, or refurbish community spaces, village play areas, sports pitches, local greenspaces, arts, or museum venues is open for applications. They can fund small one-off capital projects that support community facilities and the places we live by improving our infrastructure, access to local amenities and our sense of belonging. Examples might include: • village hall or community building enhancements, alterations or improvements • improvements to greenspaces, nature trails resulting in better access and experiences • improvements to sports pitches and playing fields (including Play equipment) • small capital projects that improve accessibility to local amenities for communities • outdoor play areas including multi-use games areas (MUGAs) • new public art • improvements to visitor experience when visiting local heritage, arts and museum venues • projects that improve the social fabric and foster pride in local towns and their communities • projects that improve health outcomes and enable people to access local amenities. This fund provides one-off grants between £5,000 and £15,000. The closing date for applications is Thursday 5th June. Further information is available here. Dorset Council - Towards a New Model for Day Opportunities Dorset Council is proposing changes to day opportunities services across Dorset and would like to share their ideas with you about their proposed hub, spoke and specialist model. These are services currently delivered at or from Bridport Connect in St Andrews Road. Dorset Council want to hear your thoughts and understand how this might work in your local community. No one will lose access to a day opportunity but if, following consultation, the proposals are agreed there may be changes to how they are delivered. The proposed changes in West Dorset can be viewed here. The formal consultation period is open until midnight on 9th June 2025 and the online survey can be accessed here. There is also the opportunity to join an online event to share your thoughts this Wednesday 4th June at 6.00pm. The event will start promptly with a presentation about the proposed model. Please click here for further information and to join the event. Dorset Council - Social Housing Tenants Survey Dorset Council is wanting to engage with local residents who live in social housing to understand their views & feedback, specifically regarding downsizing - it is aimed at people who are living in social housing and under occupying their home. Social housing tenants can provide their feedback by following this link to the survey which is open until 30th June 2025. Dorset Council Housing Allocation Policy Consultation Dorset Council has launched a 12-week consultation to examine how people are prioritised for the housing register. All responses received will help shape the council’s next housing allocations policy. A new housing allocation policy will have to factor in local need alongside national regulations and guidance. The consultation is open to everyone and local organisations that have a view on affordable housing are also urged to have their say. To take part, visit the website at Housing Allocation Policy Consultation - Dorset Council - Citizen Space or complete paper copies available in your local library. The consultation ends at midnight on 24th August 2025. NHS Urgent Dental Care South West Survey The NHS is gathering public views on urgent care dentistry in the South West. Your feedback will be used to inform a review of Urgent Dental Care across the region. Take part in the survey by clicking here. The Bridge The June edition of the Bridge Magazine is now available to read and features articles about Bridport Town Council's annual meeting, the restoration and redecoration of St Swithun's Church, an interview with Funeral Director Simon Wakely and updates and events from Bridport and the surrounding parishes. Eggardon & Colmers View The June edition of the Eggardon & Colmers View is now available and features updates from local parishes and villages including Askerswell, Broadoak, Dottery, Eype, Loders, Powerstock and Symondsbury Bride Valley News The June edition of the Bride Valley News includes updates and events from Burton Bradstock, Litton Cheney, Shipton Gorge and Puncknowle & Swyre including parish council updates and information and news on a wide range of groups and events.

The Puncknowle, Swyre and West Bexington History Group hold monthly meetings to discuss the local history of our area, and during the spring and summer months also organise history walks. Recently there was a presentation by our own historian-in- residence Paul Kingston on Litton. If you would like to know more about the group, and learn more about your local surroundings please contact Paul Bullen 07527141560 paul.bullen@icloud.com