BH Life Spring 2018

LIFE

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Spring 2018 edition

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN Family tickets to Monkey World or Marwell Zoo See page 25

Step into spring Pier Approach nears completion - page 4

What next for Wessex Fields? - page 8

bournemouth.gov.uk Our local magazine produced for Bournemouth residents

Ideas to get you out and about... see pages 16 & 17

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- Advertising Feature -

Little Rays of Sunshine at Great Oaks

reat Oaks, a specialist residential, nursing and dementia care home in Bournemouth, has welcomed nursery and primary school children into the home, as part of its ongoing ambition to strengthen its links with the local community.

Pupils from Kinson Primary School have visited Great Oaks on several occasions; learning about care homes and meeting the residents. Ian MacDonald, Home Manager of Great Oaks, said: ‘‘We feel it is essential that all our residents feel part of the local community and therefore many of our events encourage members of the public to come to the care home to meet the team and our residents. Feeling isolated has such a negative e ect on people’s sense of belonging and self-esteem but we can see the joy that visits from local groups brings them just from the smile on our residents’ faces.”

Children from The Orchard Nursery in Bournemouth have also become regular

visitors of Great Oaks. The 3 to 5 year olds have treated residents to a sing-song and have since returned to spend time with residents; reading their favourite stories with them.

Sue Goktas commented: ‘‘We loved having the children visit and it showed by the beaming smiles on our residents’ faces. Activities help to sustain both physical and mental health, so it is important that our residents are able to maintain interests and also have the opportunity to develop new ones.”

Entertainers and other local groups are also regularly invited into the home for dance and music sessions. Great Oaks residents also enjoy pet therapy sessions.

Great Oaks is discreetly located within a private woodland setting on Poole Lane. The idyllic location of Great Oaks o ers residents a restful atmosphere, which is enhanced by the landscaped garden. It features raised ower beds and a vegetable patch, which green- ngered residents are welcome to help maintain.

Great Oaks is the latest addition of an established family of care homes from

Encore, which specialises in modern, purpose-built, private care homes.

The growing family of homes includes Fairmile Grange in Christchurch, in partnership with the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Hamble Heights in Fareham, which has since achieved several awards; including Best Activities in the Regional Great British Care Awards.

For more information about Great Oaks, or to make an appointment to view the home, visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk or call: 01202 087 444

Nursing, Dementia Care, Respite & Day Breaks

Personalised daily activities and trips out

Part of a Family Please call 01202 087 444 or visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk

Large and homely en-suite bedrooms

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Contents

Budgets and other big issues It’s been a busy few months as your council prepares for a new financial year in April, and works towards local government reorganisation in Dorset.

With less funding, increasing demand and rising costs for the services the Council provides, effective management of our finances has never been as crucial as it is today. The ongoing funding of adults’ and children’s social care makes resourcing for all services extremely challenging. Despite this, the budget is financially sound, continues to deliver front line services and supports those residents most in need in our local community.

You can read more about the Council’s funding position on page 11.

Housing and homelessness continue to be big national and local issues. Measures to tackle rough sleeping in Bournemouth have been debated extensively and reported in the local and national news. We’re listening to the public feedback. Our strategy is, and always has been, to help people get off the streets and into accommodation. By funding, managing and working with local agencies, we offer all vulnerable people the services and support they need. We also concentrate on preventing homelessness from happening in the first place. Read more about homelessness prevention on page 14.

Work towards local government reorganisation continues. This is taking shape through the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Joint Committee – find out more on page 28. News on a decision from the Secretary of State, when announced, can be found online at: futuredorset.co.uk Councillor John Beesley Leader of the Council BH Life magazine is delivered free to homes in Bournemouth.

It’s also available at a wide variety of outlets.

To advertise in BH Life call Jo Evans on: 01202 451616 or email: bhlife@bournemouth.gov.uk

This publication is environmentally friendly using paper sourced from sustainable forests, using no bleaching agents and printed using vegetable based inks.

The publication contains advertising and the Council cannot vouch for the legitimacy of, or endorse any advertiser in BH Life. Citizens Advice provide free, impartial consumer advice on 0345 404 0506.

Please recycle this magazine when everyone has read it.

Read and listen online at: bournemouth.gov.uk/bhlife

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In and around the town 8 ....... Wessex Fields proposal 11 ...... Spotlight on council finances 12 ...... Plastic pollution 14 ...... New service for landlords & tenants 15 ...... Focus on Churchill Gardens 16 ...... Spring park activities 19 ...... Children and education news 21 ...... Taxi tips 23 ...... Health and wellbeing news 24 ...... Local history: Bournemouth’s war memorials 25 ...... Competitions 27....... Community centres need you 28....... Council meetings 30....... What’s on?

Publication details Edited by: Jo Evans, Corporate Communications & Marketing, Bournemouth Council, BH2 6DY. Tel: 01202 451616 Email: bhlife@bournemouth.gov.uk Designed and produced by: IMS Group Tel: 01202 611100 Copies printed: 86,000 Cost per copy: 10p approx.

Advertising queries: Jo Evans, Tel: 01202 451616 or email: bhlife@bournemouth.gov.uk Distributed by: IMS Group

If you do not regularly receive BH Life tel: 01202 451435 or email: bhlife@bournemouth.gov.uk

BH Life Spring 2018

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In and around

News from around the borough

the town

Finishing touches take place to Pier Approach Pier Approach works taking shape earlier in the year

The second phase of improvements to the western-side of Pier Approach are progressing well and are on track to finish this spring.

The works to Pier Approach are being funded from a £1.9million grant from the Government’s Coastal Communities fund. It is one of 18 Dorset Coastal Connections projects which aim to support and boost the economies of Dorset’s coastal areas, co-ordinated by Dorset Coast Forum.

As well as freshly landscaping the area in keeping with the eastern side, we’re encouraging the approach of ‘leave only footprints’ with new semi submerged bins. These will have greater capacities for rubbish at this popular central location.

We will also be improving both rubbish and recycling bin provision along the seafront.

Meanwhile council funds are being used to undertake essential maintenance works to protect the flyover from the damaging effects of our coastal environment. The first phase, consisting of concrete repairs and surface preparation, started in late February and should be finished by the end of March.

Further work will take place after the summer holiday season.

Don’t forget that the pier and businesses in this area are all open as usual. Come and visit the seafront and see how the works are progressing.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/pierapproach

Coastal protection works on the beach at Southbourne continue until April. Please take note of any warning signs and site cordons, which are there for your own safety. Find out more: bournemouth.gov.uk/beachmanagement

Tuckton Roundabout set for safety improvements Works to improve Tuckton Roundabout for all road users have been given the go ahead.

Following ‘traffic modelling’, several live trials and public consultation, we are bringing forward improvement plans for this key commuter route.

Councillor Mike Greene, Cabinet Member responsible for Transport, said; “Around 30,000 motorists a day use this junction. Our aim is to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, including children who travel in this area, whilst also making sure that any changes we implement do not cause gridlock to other key commuter routes nearby.

“We have listened very carefully to local residents and user groups, engaging with them at every stage of the design process to ensure their views are taken on board.”

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BH Life Spring 2018

Some of the key improvements include: • four new raised parallel crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, providing a much-needed link to the Stour Valley Way cycleway • a shared footway/cycleway next to the roundabout • markings on the roundabout and approach roads to help traffic get into the correct lane • Tuckton Road will be widened outside Tesco.

Works are due to start in March, taking around six or seven months to complete. There will be a break in works over the summer period.

Sign up to our roads and travel email news:

 bournemouth.gov.uk/emailme

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In and around the town

News from around the borough

Improved lighting planned for Avenue Road

Parking services changing for the better New investment, smart technology payment options and continued value for money pricing are being rolled out across council car parks in Bournemouth.

We’re modernising and improving parking services to upgrade our car park offer in the face of competition from the private sector and provide greater convenience for users.

New measures being introduced over the coming months include: • payment by card machines, including contactless • improved offer and convenience on app payments • virtual permits for parking • improved lighting and part resurfacing in Avenue Road car park • small price increase to some car parks from April.

Councillor Mike Greene, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Bournemouth’s car parks are changing for the better and delivering an improved new offer for users. We are also pleased to be able to continue to provide residents and visitors with great value car parking in the town centre. With the current financial challenges for all councils, reluctantly we need to introduce a small increase. But even with the additional charge our car parks remain distinctively cheaper than those operated by private providers.”

In most council-owned car parks motorists will be charged just £2.50 for two hours and £4.50 for four hours. No car park will see an increase of more than 50p for any one period and there will be no increase at all in Seafront and Boscombe car parks.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/parking

Bay Run sign up deadline fast approaching!

Don’t miss another chance to run the Health-onLine Bournemouth Bay Run in association with the British Heart Foundation. It takes place on Sunday 8 April and you can choose from a variety of distances all taking place against the backdrop of the seafront’s golden sand and sparkling seas.

There really is something for everyone with a half marathon and 10k road race where runners will be chip timed, as well as 5k fun run and a kids’ 1k fun run (under 13s). Take in the sea air and breath-taking scenery while running for a great cause.

Why not celebrate being your own hero and take part in our optional superhero fancy dress theme?

Don’t forget to take some snaps, share them using: #BeYourOwnHero

If you haven’t already signed up, do hurry as the deadline is 23 March at 4pm.



For more information, entry prices and sign up details, visit: bournemouth.co.uk/bayrun

• Heart FM are the official radio partner for the event • Races start at various times, from 8am until 2pm.

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In and around the town

News from around the borough

Let’s get together and celebrate On 19 May, Prince Harry will tie the knot with Meghan Markel. Royal events are a great opportunity to come together to celebrate with family, friends and neighbours.

Street parties are a traditional part of British life and often take place to celebrate national occasions. If you want to hold a street party for the Royal Wedding, start planning now. You may need to apply for a road closure and you will need to do this at least four to six weeks in advance of your event date.

If you like the idea of arranging a get together with your friends and neighbours but need more planning time, then why not take part in ‘The Big Lunch’ on 3 June? This annual event is a nationwide act of community and friendship. Visit The Big Lunch website for a helpful event planning guide.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/streetparty  biglunch.com

Have you heard of the Community Infrastructure Levy?

Building new homes and business premises attracts more people to an area, to live and work, with an impact on local services and facilities. Developers are expected to help pay towards improving or increasing facilities to meet the higher demand that their development brings.

We collect a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on certain developments including residential developments, student accommodation and retail. Most of the levy is spent on major infrastructure projects across the town such as roads and transport schemes. However, funds are also set aside for local projects in the area where the development is taking place.

How can you get involved?

We work with community groups, resident groups and Area Forums to agree how best to spend the ‘neighbourhood portion’ of CIL funding.

If you have an idea about how this funding should be spent, contact your local ward councillor. They gather ideas and submit the bids they support to our decision-making panel made up of councillors and council officers.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/CILneighbourhood

CIL neighbourhood funding can be spent on environmental improvements, public art, equipment for a community group, projects that benefit the area or have community benefit.

Throop and Muscliff by-election result Kieron Wilson, an Independent candidate, was elected in January as the new Throop and Muscliff ward councillor following the retirement of Anne Rey.

The electoral turnout was 24.45%. The political composition of the Council remains unchanged: • Conservatives hold 51 seats • Independents hold 2 seats • Green Party hold 1 seat.

Councillor Kieron Wilson

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 bournemouth.gov.uk/elections

Contact your local councillors

Find out who your local councillors are by visiting our website. Search by name, ward and political party. You can also print ‘The Council List’, which contains details of all 54 councillors. Visit: bournemouth.gov.uk/councillors

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News from around the borough

In and around the town

Have a Fairtrade Easter

Blooming brilliant

Calling all gardeners - Bournemouth is a finalist in the 2018 Britain In Bloom competition and if you have a garden, great or small, a windowbox or even just a flowerpot you can help your town to win this prestigious award.

The nationwide competition pits rural villages, urban corners and city centres against one another across a range of criteria including horticultural know-how, community engagement, efforts to bolster biodiversity and climate change adaptation.

The RHS Britain in Bloom judges will visit all the finalists in August. Winners will be announced in the autumn at a ceremony in Belfast.

So, titivate your garden and plant your pots to help Bournemouth keep its reputation as a blooming marvellous town.

 bournemouthinbloom.co.uk

Bournemouth In Bloom meet on the first Friday of each month at St Francis of Assisi Church Hall (Charminster Road) from 7:30pm. Except in April, July and September when their flower shows are held. Membership costs £5 per year. Tel: 01202 512717

King’s Park Nursery opens again this Easter

For many of us, Easter means sharing chocolate and since Bournemouth is a Fairtrade Town, we hope you make your celebrations fairer for cocoa farmers this year by choosing Fairtrade eggs.

Chocolate is one of the world’s favourite foods but growing cocoa is a hard task - Fairtrade helps make it more sustainable. One example is Kuapa Kokoo, a Ghana cocoa-growing co-operative. It was set up in 1993 by cocoa farmers who also co-own their own chocolate company, which markets their chocolate products.

Most of the villages do not have access to healthcare, clean drinking water, or electricity. Fairtrade has made it possible for Kuapa Kokoo members to have: • wells and 348 bore holes for drinking water • mobile health clinics, with personnel to attend to the medical needs of farmers and other community members • construction/refurbishment of eight schools, a block of six classrooms and two day-care centres • development officers employed to advise farmers on good agricultural practices.

 fairtrade.org.uk/buying-fairtrade  bournemouth.gov.uk/fairtrade

The fabulous King’s Park Nursery will re-open on Good Friday (30 March) at 10am.

It will then be open every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (apart from Easter Sunday) from 10am to 4pm. The nursery will close again for the season in October.

Tucked away in the corner of King’s Park, Pokesdown (entrance via Christchurch Road, next to St James’ School), our little nursery has been going from strength to strength, selling all kinds of plants, carefully selected to thrive in our Bournemouth climate.

Most of the plants have been grown from seed in the nursery, although you will also find a good range of tropical and more unusual plants including olives, limes and palms.

If you’re new to gardening, chat to one of the team who will be more than happy to share their expertise.

 kingsparkplants.co.uk

01202 427851 (leave a message for a call back)

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Transport B BOURNEMOUT BOURNEMOU BOURNEMO BOURNEM BOURNE BOURN BOUR BOURNEMOUTH BOU O I IN INT INTE INTER INTERN INTERNA INTERNAT INTERNATI INTERNATIO INTERNATION INTERNATIONA INTERNATIONAL G GR GRO GROW GROWT GROWTH PROGRAMME

Wessex Fields:

Proposed new link road and junction Plans to build a new link road and junction directly from the A338 to connect with the Wessex Fields business park will go before Planning Board in the spring.

The scheme is being delivered as part of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership’s Bournemouth International Growth (BIG) Programme. The proposed new link road and junction will improve the transport infrastructure in this part of town.

Specific benefits include: • the potential to create around 2,000 new jobs at Wessex Fields business park • safeguarding the existing 10,000 jobs, including 4,000 at Royal Bournemouth Hospital • a second access to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site • providing more reliable journey times at Cooper Dean Roundabout, the Chaseside Junction and parts of Castle Lane East, and • enhanced facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and bus users leading to more sustainable journeys in the area.

Councillor Mike Greene, Cabinet Member responsible for Transport, said: “Wessex Fields is a major asset in Bournemouth already earmarked for employment. However, the existing road networks are congested, inadequate and are acting as a barrier to growth. Through additional government funding we have an opportunity to transform the transport infrastructure, by connecting the Wessex Fields business park and surrounding area to the A338.”

Last year residents and businesses attended a series of public roadshows where draft plans for the link road and junction were on display. The Dorset LEP, many businesses and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital have shown their support for the scheme.

Edwin Davies, Associate Director of Estates, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Trust fully supports the creation of the new junction from the A338. It will significantly improve the entrance and exit from the site, which will be increasingly important as the Trust develops its services in line with the recent Clinical Services Review.”

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BH Life Spring 2018

The proposal put to the Planning Board will also address key issues raised by some residents, including:

Greenbelt: only a small section of the scheme is located on greenbelt. The scheme will not impact on the openness of the area and will, in fact, make part of the greenbelt more accessible for the public to enjoy. Proposals include new walking and cycling routes connecting this area to the Stour Valley Way.

Air quality - assessments on the proposed scheme show that there will be negligible impact on air quality.

Street lighting - will be in the development site only and not on the new junction and overbridge.

Embankment planting is planned to shield light from vehicle headlights, particularly in relation to nearby housing areas.

Visit our websites to find out more, including A338 improvements and upcoming roadworks. The planning application number for Wessex Fields is 7-2017-9177-DH

 bournemouth.gov.uk/wessexfields  A338.info

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For

one wanting more time together

Close to home, yet a world away, France is the perfect location for a break while the dramatic landscape of northern Spain is simply not to be missed. Make the most of spring by exploring somewhere new, or old, with us.

Spring hotel breaks in France

Spanish Parador hotels

2 nights away from £120 per person

4 nights away from £219 per person

Set sail for France and enjoy 2 nights or more at some of our customers’ favourite hotels. From tranquil seaside resorts to historic towns, there’s plenty to choose from in Normandy, Brittany and beyond.

Combine a relaxing cruise with a stay at one of Spain’s renowned Parador hotels. Once grand castles, monasteries and palaces these offer elegant surroundings coupled with modern creature comforts.

✓ Return day sailings to France with your car ✓ 2 night hotel stay with breakfast ✓ 3 and 4 night breaks also available ✓ Sail overnight and save 15% on cabins

✓ Return overnight cruise from Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao

Travel until 30 June 2018

with your car and en suite cabin

✓ 2 night hotel stay with breakfast ✓ 5 and 7 night breaks also available Travel until 1 July 2018

Find out more at brittanyferries.com/bhlife or call 0330 159 6689 Prices shown are per person based on two sharing. New bookings only. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply - see website for full details.

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Meyrick Rise Care Home Experience a new approach to care Everything we do at Meyrick Rise is designed to make every day the best it can be. Our specialist approach to personal care, recreational activities and quality food and dining all create a welcoming and friendly environment for our residents and their families.

As well as long term placements, we offer the same quality care for short term respite.

• Residential • Palliative

• Nursing

• Respite care

To arrange a visit, please call the Home Manager on 01202 983 854.

Meyrick Rise Care Home 11-13 Branksome Wood Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 6BT www.brighterkind.com/meyrick-rise R Registered Charity No. 1014697

Thinking of moving into a care home – or just needing a little extra help at home?

We’re here to help Whatever your care needs, we know that it’s the care that counts – the quality care of all our residents and home care customers.

As a leading provider of residential and home care in Bournemouth, we offer compassionate residential, nursing, dementia and home care at a realistic cost.

Whether you’re looking for care in your own home, a short respite stay or a new home, we offer a warm welcome, comfort and peace of mind.

To request a brochure, arrange a visit or find out more, contact

www.care-south.co.uk 01202 712400

| info@care-south.co.uk

CARE SOUTH IS A LEADING PROVIDER OF RESIDENTIAL AND HOME CARE ACROSS DORSET

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BH Life Spring 2018

At our family run care home in Queens Park, Bournemouth, we take excellent care of the older retired lady or gentleman wanting the freedom from the burdens of running their own home.

We provide a fresh and contemporary environment in a magnificent older building set in award winning gardens with the addition of a large bright conservatory and relaxing summer house.

Now offering

Day Care from £45

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Council finances

Local services funding in the spotlight Your Council Tax bill arrives soon, so we have taken this opportunity to explain a little more about council finances.

Bournemouth faces the biggest financial challenge for a generation. Paying for hundreds of council services against a backdrop of reduced funding, rising costs and increasing demand is becoming much more difficult. However, councillors recently set Bournemouth’s budget for the coming financial year (April 2018 to March 2019) despite these many challenges.

In assessing the spending commitments for the year ahead, the Council must manage a reduction in devolved funding of £4million in 2018/19 and a further reduction of £3.5million in 2019/20.

Having made identified savings of over £10.5million in the 2018/19 budget, we are following the Government’s strategy and increasing Council Tax by 5.99%, made up of 2.99% in standard Council Tax and the addition of 3% Adult Social Care precept (see below).

Daily Echo, Bournemouth

Councillor John Beesley, Leader of the Council (pictured right), said: “The budget once again makes substantial provision for homelessness and the most vulnerable with an additional £4.5million allocated to adults’ and children’s services for 2018/19. This means that next year 79% of the Council’s entire budget will be used to meet the cost of statutory, demand-led social care services.”

Your council, as part of its long-term financial strategy, has become more efficient, adopted new and innovative ways of working and taken a more commercial approach, all to help protect front line services wherever possible. Despite this, the ongoing challenge of funding adults’ and children’s social care means there will need to be further changes to council services in the years to come.

•Bournemouth has managed a reduction of £54million in core funding since 2010/11 •This is only the third increase in Bournemouth’s Council Tax in the last eight years.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/counciltax Adult Social Care precept explained

The Adult Social Care precept is shown as a separate charge on your Council Tax bill.

Adult social care is a range of different types of support for vulnerable adults.

Services cover health, wellbeing and independence for: • older people • disabled people • people with a learning disability • people with mental health needs • carers.

Adult social care pressures include: • purchasing high cost, complex care packages for people being discharged from hospital • rising numbers of people with dementia who need specialist residential or nursing care • rising numbers of people with a learning disability who have complex needs but wish to live independent lives.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/adultsocialcare

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Waste and recycling

Worried about plastic in the environment?

CHOOSE TO REUSE Plastic pollution has been a growing issue for many years and now features regularly in the news.

This is helping many of us to rethink what we buy, where we buy and how we use everyday items.

We are committed to helping residents reduce, reuse and recycle. You can recycle many items in your ‘Big Bin’ and we provide additional facilities at Millhams Community Recycling Centre.

The average UK household uses around 500 plastic bottles per year but only recycles just over half of them. Recycling is a good way to deal with the items you no longer want. Review your recycling habits to make sure you’re not disposing of any of these items in your waste bin.

Of course, not everything can be recycled.

Coffee cups used by high-street coffee chains aren’t recyclable. They are a mixture of plastic and paper so they are waterproof but can only be recycled at a tiny number of specialised plants. Then there are single-use plastics, which are used only once before they are thrown away or recycled. These include things like bags, straws, drinks bottles and most food packaging. The best way to help reduce this waste is by reducing the amount we create in the first place. Take a look at the table on the right for ideas on how you can make a difference.

For the times when single-use items are unavoidable, opt for those that are biodegradable or compostable.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/recycling 12

BH Life Spring 2018

Ready to start reducing your use of plastic?

4 Invest in a good quality stainless steel or a glass reusable bottle.

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4

4

4

4

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Steel and glass can be recycled again and again.

Carry a reusable coffee cup, many high-street coffee chains offer a discount if you bring your own mug.

When shopping, choose food that doesn’t have a lot of packaging.

Buy loose items or sign up for a vegetable box scheme.

Carry a bag with a plate and/or utensils so you don’t need single-use plastic cutlery.

Prepare food at home for lunches, they’re healthier, cheaper and help you avoid excess packaging.

Avoid wrapping food in cling film or foil. Use a reusable lunchbox instead.

Say ‘no thanks’ to plastic straws.

Park Cafés offer greener options

Our Park Cafés are offering and using packaging options that are better for the environment. Reusable drinks cups will soon be available for you to buy and receive a great-value hot drink.

We’ve also recently changed our packaging to include: • 100% biodegradable cellulose straws • biodegradable single wall hot drinks cups • biodegradable cup lids • wooden stirrers • biodegradable, unbleached napkins.

Did you know that we also aim to compost and reuse as much as possible within Bournemouth’s parks, gardens and open spaces?

 parkcafes.co.uk/packaging

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slip into something more comfortable... presenting luxury

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Handy Man Repair Service As we get older, we may need someone to undertake a few household jobs such as changing a light bulb, installing a handrail or keysafe, hanging curtains or pictures.

Our fully insured staff will meet your repair needs, as long as the job can be completed within two hours.

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Housing

Prevention service offers early help and advice

Bournem outh & Po ole

Housing Preventio Early n Service

“Helping you stay

in your home”

Informati on For Landlord s & Agen

ts

New housing service is helping tenants and landlords Bournemouth and Poole’s new ‘early prevention service’ is helping tenants under threat of eviction to stay in their home and is saving landlords’ time and costs in pursing legal action.

Early prevention is a new approach to tackling homelessness. Working across Bournemouth and Poole, our team work alongside landlords and tenants to avoid problems becoming a crisis. We offer advice and support, liaising with tenants and landlords to resolve issues such as rent arrears.

So far, our prevention work is helping around 50% of singles, couples and families from being issued with an eviction notice and therefore keeping them in their existing home. This avoids tenants having to move when they don’t want to and means we have less people living under the threat of homelessness.

Jacky Newcombe, Simply Let Dorset, said: “The attitude of helping tenants is so refreshing. For example, lower income, disabled, injured, and those tenants returning to work and dealing with changes in benefits need this kind of extra support. So do we as agents who are balancing a relationship between tenant and landlord. It makes sense to help tenants rather than evict due to circumstances and rehouse them at huge costs. It feels good to have the support to help tenants maintain a tenancy and stay in their home.”

Councillor Robert Lawton, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “Preventing a notice to evict is a win for the tenants, a win for the landlord and a win for the local authority. We fully understand the levels of disruption, stress and anxiety that the threat of homelessness can bring to all those involved. Our Housing Prevention Service provides practical advice and helps to tackle some of the root causes that lead to eviction and homelessness.”

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Who do we help?

• Private rented tenants, home owners and people (over the age of 18) living at home who are Bournemouth and Poole residents • Landlords and their agents with properties in Bournemouth or Poole.

We support tenants and landlords who have not already received/served a legal notice (such as a ‘Section 8’ or a ‘Section 21’ notice). However, if a legal notice has already been issued you can still talk to us as there may be other options available or we can refer you to other services who may be able to help.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/earlypreventionservice 

earlyprevention@poole.gov.uk  01202 633819

Bournemouth and Poole councils are working together to deliver The Early Prevention Service. We are one of 20 areas chosen by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to provide this new service to residents until 2019.

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Housing

Helping to enhance and protect local heritage

Clean and tidy streets

FOCUS ON: Churchill Gardens Churchill Gardens is one of Bournemouth’s conservation areas – that’s an area designated for its special architectural or historic interest. It was given this status in 1993 in recognition of the unified Victorian and Edwardian character of homes and the formal layout around a central green space.

Working with the local community, we’ve been seeking to preserve and enhance the area’s character and appearance. To support the work of the Boscombe Regeneration Partnership, we’re using the area’s heritage status to try to secure future funding for improvements to streets and green spaces. We’re also running a grant scheme to help property owners restore and preserve original features.

Local history

The area was established between 1880 and 1912, with the first properties built in 1893. These were medium sized homes for the middle class, sometimes with livein servants or lodgers. Before the houses were built, the area was used for recreation, sports and cricket. The green space was named ‘Gower Gardens’, then in 1970 it became Gorsecliff Playing Fields and by 1979 renamed again to Walpole Road Rec, before most recently becoming Churchill Gardens.

Maintaining and restoring architectural features

Properties in the area were built with interesting architectural features. These included low front boundary walls, bay windows, timber sliding sash windows, timber panelled front doors, decorative entrances and balconies and attractive tiled pathways. Over time, some of these architectural features have been lost or deteriorated.

Using the special conservation area status, we have been able to work with property owners to recommend work that

needs to take place. Through our Heritage Grant Scheme, we have been able to help eligible property owners replace front walls in line with original features. More than 60 properties have either completed additional restoration works or they are underway or booked in. We do have enforcement powers to ensure necessary repairs take place where properties are in a poor condition, and have issued formal warnings to eight owners.

Clean and tidy streets

We have also used this opportunity to co-ordinate several council services and the police to undertake two ‘enviroclean’ days at the end of last year. Working with residents to remove cars from the area, streets were swept, road lines repainted, gullies cleared, property frontages swept and the allotment tidied.

Councillor Jane Kelly, Cabinet Member for Regeneration said: “There has been an overwhelming amount of support for recent projects around Churchill Gardens. It forms part of the second phase of ‘Operation Galaxy’. This is a joint police and council initiative, working with other agencies to target problems such as housing disrepair and antisocial behaviour arising from densely populated areas with some low-quality accommodation and houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs).

“There is a fantastic community spirit shown by many residents which will help us to improve the look and feel of that part of Boscombe.”

 bournemouth.gov.uk/conservationareas

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Spring activities

What to see and do at your local park this spring Do you want to relax, socialise, get closer to nature or fit in some exercise? Your local park offers all this and more with a host of activities to help you escape the stresses of everyday life.

Visiting a green space is good for the mind, body and soul. So, here are five ideas to help you plan your next visit.

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d train Enjoy a ride on the Hengistbury Head lan and provides

ies of plants and animals Hengistbury Head is home to many spec our. Taking a trip on the land train is an Harb urch stch visitors fantastic views of Chri 50 headland. This spring we’re celebrating enjoyable way to get around the ancient years of the much-loved land train. y Joyce Faris on 1 April 1968. Roger sadl The service was started by Roger and ly fami Faris the by run train service was passed away in the late 1980s, but the y e’s retirement in 2015. It continues toda Joyc until s year 45 for very successfully and Mudeford park car main d Hea ury gistb Hen een betw and takes in a picturesque circular route itting*), with perm ther , which runs every half an hour (wea Spit. Board the train by the Hiker Café ren and £2 for adults. prices from 20p for dogs, 50p for child brated in a variety of ways.

The land train’s golden jubilee will be cele , commemorative sion There will be an event to mark the occa and more) available in ers post , merchandise (such as t-shirts, hats n. Please help us by bitio exhi ial spec a the Visitor Centre shop, plus of the land train to our Flickr sharing your fond memories and photos website. page - further details available on our *Check details before travelling.

 01202 425517

 visithengistburyhead.co.uk/landtra

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Spring activities

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Take a refreshment break at our Park Cafés

Find freshly prepared food in wonderful settings at our Park Cafés. The pennies you spend will Woodpecker Cafe also help support spaces.

Bournemouth’s beautiful parks and open You can find Park Cafés at: • Woodpecker café, Queen’s Park • Squirrel Café, Boscombe Chine Gardens r • Hedgehog Café, the kiosk in the Lowe ens Gard !

• Fox Café, Redhill Park – coming soon The first phase of the improvements to upstairs Woodpecker café are now finished. The multia into ed café has been totally transform feel, l stria indu n, clea functional space, with a e is spac The s. seat fy com modern lighting and es, parti ren’s child for lar popu also proving very been have s Plan s. wake and tings mee business approved for the second phase of our ing the improvements, which include transform new and café a into downstairs of the building golf shop. n online.

Find room hire details and more informatio

 parkcafes.co.uk

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Local bowling clubs are on a recruitment drive. They are on the hunt for new members of all ages, it doesn’t matter whether or not you have played before.

There are eleven bowling greens and one indoor facility, each with its own character and charm.

One example is Argyll Bowling Club, situated on West Overcliff Drive with panoramic views of the Isle of Wight and Old Harry Rocks. For the competitive player to those just seeking gene ral relaxation, come along to one of the Argyll’s two open days between 10am and 4pm on Sund ay, May 6 or Sunday, June 3. They can provide woods and shoes as well as tuition - all free of charg e.

Meanwhile, Southbourne Bowling Club is havin ga free public open day on Sunday 6 May from 10am to 4pm. There’s also ‘Bowls4Fun’ on Mond ay evenings, 6.30pm to 8pm on 14 and 21 May plus 4 and 11 June. A one-off fee of £5 covers all Bowls4Fun sessions. Find out more from Pete r on: 01425 271401 or Geoff on: 01202 431386.

Open days and events will be taking place at other bowling greens too, see page 30. Bowling facilities are run by local clubs and you can find local sites and club contact details online.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/bowlinggreens

 01202 309229

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Take part in seasonal events

Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre and Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre have a busy programme of events happening over the spring – most popular of which are our fantastic Easter trails, £3 and £2 per person respectively.

Or why not try Egg rolling at Kingfisher Barn?

Collect a rubber egg and see who has the best technique. Your egg can be decorated once you’ve finished. The cost is £2 per person.

If you’re into your arts and crafts, then connect with nature at Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre with some indoor sessions for children or adults.

From needle felting for adults, to sand art and fossil art for the children (from £2.50 per person).

Look at our latest Parks event leaflet for more information, it can be found online.

 visithengistburyhead.co.uk  visitstourvalley.co.uk

Try bowls, join a club

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Explore one of the area’s orienteering courses

Do you want to have fun with the family whilst enjoying some fresh air, exercise and a mental challenge? If so, head to one of the five permanent orienteering courses in Bournemouth, which are free to use whenever you want.

Courses are located at: • Littledown • King’s Park • Queen’s Park • Slades Farm • Boscombe Seafront.

There are ‘easy’ and more ‘challenging’ courses for you to try at each location. Visit the Wessex Orienteering Club website for full instructions, course locations in the area and printable maps.

 wessex-oc.org

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What might the future look like for Bournemouth Water?

Throughout March and April we’re asking for your views on our proposals for 2020-2025 Look out for ‘Waterlevel’ - our free customer magazine

Did you know?

Bournemouth’s tap water was near perfect in 2017, hitting 99.98% of industry standards

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To read the proposals in full and have your say visit: bournemouthwater.co.uk

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Advice for parents and carers

Children and education

Could the ‘Local Offer’ help you?

Do you look after a child or young person with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities? Did you know the Bournemouth Local Offer could help you?

The Bournemouth Local Offer aims to help local families, carers and young people to be able to find information, support and services that are particularly helpful for those children and young people (aged 0 to 25) who have SEN or disabilities.

What is Tax-Free Childcare?

Tax-Free Childcare allows working parents to open an online bank account, and use this to pay registered childcare providers directly. For every £8 parents pay into their account, the government adds £2.

This scheme is open to all qualifying parents, including those who are self-employed and those who have been unable to access childcare vouchers, because their employer doesn’t have a scheme.

In total, parents can use their Tax-Free Childcare account to pay for up to £10,000 of childcare, per child, each year. This means you get up to an extra £2,000, per child, from the Government per year. If your child is disabled, you could get up to £4,000 extra.

The Bournemouth Local Offer provides a one-stop shop of useful information, including: • education • health and care • advice and support • activities and leisure • money and finances.

You can also help us to improve this information by giving us feedback on Bournemouth’s Local Offer. To see the Local Offer and find out more, visit our website.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/localoffer

The money can then be used to pay for day nurseries, preschools, registered childminders and school based care such as breakfast, after-school and holiday clubs.

Tax-Free Childcare is being rolled-out to parents with children under the age of 12, or 17 if the child is disabled.

For eligibility criteria and more information, visit our website.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/taxfreechildcare

Make a difference to a young person’s life

Did you know that in Bournemouth we have around 200 young care leavers? Each of these young adults needs ongoing support and advice as they start to live more independently. Some of this support is delivered through a mentoring scheme, which links a young adult aged 18 to 25 with a volunteer mentor – and that mentor could be you.

Councillor Nicola Greene, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, said: “Research shows care leavers can really benefit from personal mentoring to prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness as they become more independent.

A relationship with a supportive person is one of the most important factors in a young care leaver’s development. Investing time and energy with a young adult can help them to build essential life skills for the future.”

We are looking for committed individuals who can offer a couple of hours a week for at least a year. Mentoring experience is not needed as full training and support is provided.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/mentoring  01202 456140

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Take United Taxis Everywhere

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The safest way to book a Taxi Track your Driver All United Drivers are

Police Checked

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Taxis

Taking a taxi? Top tips...

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Get home safely with our quick guide to getting a cab. Know the difference between a taxi and a private hire, find out how to make a complaint and more…

Your council licenses all taxis in Bournemouth. We make sure that every taxi driver has an excellent knowledge of the area and is a safe driver.

Did you know that there are two types of licence? One is known as private hire and the other is a hackney carriage licence. The difference is that private hires are pre-booked whilst hackney carriages can be flagged down or picked up from a taxi rank.

We work with the taxi trade to improve standards, regulate the local industry and set prices. Our Licensing Board, made up of councillors, has the power to revoke licences when drivers fail to meet the standards required. The Board also approves maximum fares and charges for hackney carriages. There are three tariffs – a day rate, an unsociable hours’ rate and a rate that applies to defined dates and times for Christmas and New Year. See our website for details.

Lost property and complaints

Lost property found by a driver usually takes 48 hours to reach our customer service centre where we hold on to it for three months. Lost items may have also been found by another passenger and handed into the police, so it’s worth contacting their non-emergency ‘101’ number if you have lost an item.

As the licensing authority for taxis and private hire vehicles in Bournemouth, we want to know if you’ve had a problem. If you have lost property in a taxi or have a complaint, please contact us with the details.





bournemouth.gov.uk/taxi taxi.privatehire@bournemouth.gov.uk

 01202 451180

Contact numbers for wheelchair accessible taxis can be found on our website.

Four Bournemouth taxi drivers had their licences revoked by the Licensing Board in late 2017.

Top tips

Beware of unlicensed or bogus drivers.

Before getting into a taxi, check the following:

if using a private hire, a yellow sign will be displayed by the door handle which reads ‘No booking, no ride’ if using a hackney carriage, they are all yellow with white lines on the side and a Council ‘Coat of Arms’ on the door both types will have an extra licence plate on the back of the vehicle showing that they are registered and, therefore, legitimate.

When you get in the vehicle:

sit in the back check for the driver’s identification badge / credentials on display – make a note of the number put your seatbelt on know roughly how much the fare should be get your money ready to pay as you approach your destination.

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Health news and information

Health and wellbeing

Better informed means better care The Dorset Care Record (DCR) is being introduced. It will bring together information from hospitals, GPs, community teams and local councils, enabling details of a person’s medical or care history – and their needs – to be summarised in the same place.

As well as bringing together a range of patient/client information, the benefits of the DCR include not having to repeat your story, helping get the right treatment by the right person at the right time and knowing that, in due course, it will aid professionals in managing people’s health care more easily.

Leaflets and posters about the DCR are available in GP surgeries, libraries, hospitals and council buildings. Leaflets provide information about your consent options for sharing records with the health and social care professionals dealing with your care.

 dorsetforyou.gov.uk/dorset-care-record Dorset Care Record helpline:

 0345 200 0026

Libraries can help you feel better!

Reading Well ‘Books on Prescription’ help you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing through self-help reading.

There are four schemes available covering: • common mental health conditions • dementia • young people’s mental health • long term health conditions.

The books have all been recommended by health professionals and have been tried and tested by people with experience of living with the conditions. The books are free to borrow from any library in Bournemouth. We’d love to hear what you think of them.

During Mental Health Awareness Week (14 to 20 May) and Dementia Awareness Week (21 to 27 May), you’ll find lots of activities in libraries to help you cope with and understand your conditions.

Pop into your local library to find out what’s happening near you or visit our website to find out more.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/libraries

Help shape the future of your local hospitals

Did you know that it’s free to become a member of The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust?

There are lots of reasons to join: • you will be asked for your views on hospital services • you will receive FT Focus, a regular newsletter packed full of information about the hospitals, the changes afoot and ways you can get involved • you will receive invitations to events such as health talks, public meetings and the annual open day • you can vote for your local governor and stand for election as a governor.

Anyone who is aged 12 or older can become a member.

Just complete an application form online at: rbch.nhs.uk/membership, email ftmembers@rbch.nhs.uk, write to Royal Bournemouth Hospital (B28), Castle Lane East, Bournemouth, BH7 7DW or call 01202 303626.

You can also get to know the Trust better by following them on Twitter @RBCH_NHS and liking them on Facebook @RBCHTrust.

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War Memorials

Remembering the casualties and heroes of war This year marks the centenary of the end of World War One. When the guns fell silent, war memorials were soon erected in towns and cities across the nation.

Bournemouth was no different and features several prominent sites that honour the region’s fallen servicemen and casualties of war. 2018 also marks the 75th anniversary of the bombing of the Metropole Hotel, which was the tragic scene of a German air raid on Bournemouth during the Second World War. Here are a few facts about just some of Bournemouth’s war memorials:

Fampoux Gardens Memorial

One of the lesser known war memorials is Fampoux Gardens, in Green Road. Named after the Battle of Fampoux in 1918 that saw soldiers from Bournemouth, fighting in the Hampshire Regiment, facing overwhelming odds.

The gardens were laid out in 1923, as part of a council project with the Royal British Legion to provide paid work for unemployed ex-service men, and were named to honour the Hampshire Regiment soldiers who died at the French village of Fampoux.

The Mayor will take part in a ceremony of commemoration at the gardens planned for 28 March.

Metropole Hotel Memorial

It took just one minute of devastation on a Sunday afternoon in 1943 to create one of the deadliest events in the town. This dark chapter on 23 May, saw a Luftwaffe bombing raid destroy 22 buildings and damage over 3,000 in central Bournemouth.

In total, there were 77 dead, 46 seriously injured and 150 slightly injured (civilians).

Hardest hit was the Metropole Hotel in Lansdowne, which suffered a direct hit and housed many servicemen. In 2013, a memorial plaque was unveiled near the site of the former hotel.

Many of those who lost their lives at the Metropole Hotel – servicemen and hotel staff, are buried in Bournemouth’s North Cemetery, Strouden Avenue. Our Bereavement Services team have now begun work with the War Graves Commission to add an information board by the graves in North Cemetery, to explain more about this tragedy.

Bournemouth War Memorial

The Bournemouth War Memorial in the Central Gardens was built in 1920-22. It’s a poignant reminder of the impact of the First World War on the local community.

It has two bronze plaques commemorating fallen servicemen from both World Wars.

The stone lions guarding the memorial has one roaring, while the other sleeps. These were sculpted by acclaimed mason WA Hoare based on Antonio Cavona’s lions which guarded the tomb of Pope Clement XIII.

It received a Grade II Listing status in 2014, as part of an English Heritage scheme to list 500 war memorials to mark the centenary of the First World War.

Bournemouth will commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One, alongside national events, later this year.

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Exclusive competitions for BH Life readers

Competitions

A family ticket to WIN MONKEY WORLD Monkey World is home to over 250 primates of more than 20 different species.

Win a family ticket to Monkey World where fun is combined with conservation. See the stars of TV’s ‘Monkey Life’, then ‘monkey around’ in the south’s largest Great Ape play area. There are several food outlets available at the park, or visitors are welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy lunch in the beautiful surroundings.

To be in with a chance of winning a family ticket for this fantastic day out, just answer the following question: Monkey World is home to over how many primates?

• 250 • 25 • 2500

To enter, email your answer and contact details to: bhlife@bournemouth.gov.uk or send a postal entry to: BH Life competition, Bournemouth Council, Town Hall, Bournemouth, BH2 6DY. Closing date: 1 May 2018

For more information about the park or to purchase tickets go to: monkeyworld.org, email apes@monkeyworld.org or call 01929 462537

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room for one more

At the dinner table?

At breakfast? In your home?

Can you help provide Supported Lodgings for a young person leaving care?

We want to hear from you!

Training, support and financial assistance is available.

For more information, please call 01202 452768 or visit: www.bournemouth.gov.uk/supportedlodgings

making and breaking the rules Royal Academy 250 at the Russell-Cotes

4 May–14 October

East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AA russellcotes.com

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Volunteering

Get involved at your local community centre

Volunteers at Ensbury Park Community Centre

Your local community centre needs you Do you want to do something worthwhile in your community? Do you have some time that you could spare? If so, then we’d love to hear from you.

There are nine community centres across Bournemouth: Kinson, Moordown, Strouden, Muscliff, Ensbury Park, Townsend, Beaufort, Howe Croft (pictured left) and The Phoebe Centre. Each centre offers a range of activities, events, experiences and most importantly a place for local people to meet and socialise.

Volunteers and trustees are essential to the running of each centre, helping to provide local communities with a beneficial meeting place. Councillor Jane Kelly, Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Voluntary Sector, said: “Volunteering is a fantastic way to help out your community, meet new people and find something you enjoy doing. You can benefit from learning new skills whilst giving something back to your local area and helping your possible future career prospects.

Being a volunteer or trustee is a worthwhile experience and there are plenty of options that could suit you.”

All of Bournemouth’s community centres are run by independent charities

Social media helpers and secretaries/treasurers are always needed at our community centres.

What’s involved?

There’s a whole range of volunteering roles depending on the skills or aspirations of the individual. Duties could include the organising and running of tea and coffee mornings, opening and closing the centre, working on events or updating social media pages.

Laura Rosenfeld, Fundraising Trustee at The Phoebe Centre, said: “It is amazing how half an hour of one person’s day can mean the world to another person’s life time.”

Jack Hamlet, volunteers at Ensbury Park Community Centre. He said: “I have learnt a lot of new skills. I have trained as a first aider, fire warden and also as a ‘PAT’ tester to be able to check electrical items in the centre meet safety standards. These are all things I never thought I would be able to do.”

Become a volunteer or trustee

The recruitment process involves an informal chat to best place you in the right centre and position. From there it’s down to you. There is no limit to the volunteering you can do, whether it be an hour, a couple of days or a full-time commitment. No matter how many hours you can spare, you will be making a difference.

To talk about becoming a volunteer or trustee for a community centre, please contact Amanda Nicholls. Email: amanda.nicholls@bournemouth.gov.uk or call: 01202 451165.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/communitycentres  bournemouthcvs.org.uk (information and volunteer vacancies).

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Local government

Joint Committee continues to plan for new council The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Joint Committee (BCPJC) has been meeting regularly to plan for a new council. There is a lot of work to do, with 1st April 2019 being the anticipated start date for the new authority (if approved).

Many important areas of council business have already been discussed and continue to be priority work areas.

These include: • Structural Change Order (SCO) - this is the formal Order that goes through the Parliamentary Process to create the new council • Electoral arrangements and proposals for the Shadow Authority • Council Tax Harmonisation options • ‘Disaggregation' – this is the process for identifying the budget and costs of Dorset County Council service provision in Christchurch and agreeing the transfer of responsibilities for these services to the new council.

The Joint Committee also receive updates on the financial position of Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset Councils. This continues to show significant pressures on budgets for delivering services to the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The date of the next BCPJC meeting is scheduled for 20 March, 2pm at Christchurch Civic Offices.

 bcpjointcommittee.wordpress.com

Council and Area Forum meetings Council meetings usually take place at the Town Hall and they are open to the public. Here is a selection of some of the meetings for the coming months.

Cabinet:

Full Council*:

21 March, 18 April and 24 May at 10:30am

25 April and 19 June at 7pm

Annual Council: 25 May at 11:15am, The Pavilion 19 March, 16 April, 21 May

Planning Board: and 18 June at 2:30pm

20 and 29 March, 3, 12, 26

Licensing Board: April, and 3, 10 and 24 May at 9:45am

Overview and Scrutiny Panel meetings – please see our website for details.

Please confirm details before attending.

 bournemouth.gov.uk/councilmeetings  01202 454713

* Dates are provisional at the time of going to print.

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Future Dorset proposal

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, has said he is ‘minded’ to approve a proposal – Future Dorset – to replace all nine councils in Dorset with two new unitary authorities.

One of these unitary authorities would cover the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area. When The Secretary of State announces his decision, reaction to the news will be posted online.

 futuredorset.co.uk

Area Forum meetings

Area Forum meetings are run by residents with support from ward councillors and take place across the town.

North Bournemouth: 10 March, 10am at Howe Croft Community Centre, 12 May, 10am at Kingsleigh Primary School Pokesdown Forum: 28 June at Salvation Army Hall, Norwood Place at 7pm Throop, Muscliff, Strouden, Townsend and Holdenhurst: for details visit: tmsthareaforum.info Wallisdown, Winton West and Ensbury Park: 14 April, for details visit: wwwepaf.org.uk Westbourne: 22 March at Westbourne Library, 7pm Westcliff: 20 March at St Michael’s School, 7pm Bournemouth Older People’s Forum: 16 March, 20 April, 18 May and 22 June at The Bridge, Littledown Centre site (BH7 7DX), from 10:30am for refreshments.

This meeting is for anyone interested in the wellbeing of this age group. Lunch takes place after the meeting. For details, email: pat4bop@accessdorset.org.uk

 bournemouth.gov.uk/areaforums  01202 451165

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Put your business in front of 194,000+ residents and 6.8 million visitors using unique online, outdoor and printed media exclusively available through IMS Group

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What’s on

March

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Bournemouth & Beyond Discovery Group: social evening. Main Hall of Richmond Hill St Andrews Church, St Stephen’s Road, 7:30pm. Visitors £3. bournemouthandbeyond.co.uk The Southbourne Literary Society: Kathy McNally ‘Spying - The Great Game’ and Ian Dickins ‘Nursing During WW1’. The parlour of Trinity

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Easter children’s activities at Russell-Cotes with trails, activities, craft days, competitions and garden games. russellcotes.com Charminster Art Club AGM, Trinity URC, Sutton Road, 7:20pm. New members welcome. Full details from Kathy: 01202 393977 Bay Run, Bournemouth Seafront. See page 5 Pavilion Dance, ‘Giselle’ The Bolshoi Ballet, 3pm.

Tickets: £13.50. T: 01202 203630, pdsw.org.uk Richmond Park Bowls Club open days, Winton Rec, 10am to 5pm. Free bowls and instruction. Also, bowls and club social events throughout the year.

E: dorothyborthwick@aol.com T: 01202 397087 Parkinson’s Awareness Day, Pavilion Dance, 11am to 5pm. Free. T: 01202 203630, pdsw.org.uk Dorset Humanists: ‘Learning to Live Well Together’ Dr Allan Hayes. Moordown Community Centre, 2pm. Free entry. dorsethumanists.co.uk The Southbourne Literary Society: Alex McKinstry ‘The History of Southbourne’ followed by the

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May

BEAF continues… see 28 April Charminster Art Club, Trinity URC, Sutton Road, 7:20pm. Art demonstrations. £3. Details from Kathy: 01202 393977 Royal Academy 250 at the Russell-Cotes: major new exhibition, until 14 October. russellcotes.com/ra250 Moordown Bowling Club Open Day: Endfield Road, 10:30am to 3:30pm. Free bowling available. All ages welcome. T: 01202 512817, moordownbowlingclub.com Boscombe Cliff Bowling Club Open Day, Woodland Avenue, 10am to 4pm. T: 01202 418280 Pelhams Bowls Club Open Day, Pelhams Park, 10:30am to 4pm. T: 01202 572184 pelhamsbowlsclub.co.uk Dorset Humanists: Science and religion debate with

June

Bournemouth Open Golf Festival – see 29 May event details Child Car Seat Check, Littledown Centre, 10am to 3pm. bournemouth.gov.uk/roadsafety

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Methodist Church, Southbourne Road, 7:30pm.

Visitors £4. T: 01202 258304 Pavilion Dance: Spring Revue, 6pm. Tickets £8.

T: 01202 203630, pdsw.org.uk Easter children’s activities at Russell-Cotes. See April listing below

October is Black History Month: blackhistorymonth.org.uk

April

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Events and things to do in Bournemouth

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society’s AGM. The parlour of Trinity Methodist Church, Southbourne Road, 7:30pm. Visitors welcome £4. T: 01202 258304 BSO Concert Season: ‘Hall of Fame’, Pavilion Theatre, 7pm. For details visit: bhlivetickets.co.uk T: 0844 576 30000 Give or Take West Howe, Henry Brown Youth Centre. bournemouth.gov.uk/giveortake Bournemouth Emerging Arts Fringe (BEAF) until 7 May. Home-grown creative talent in and around the town. Performances, exhibitions, talks, workshops, entertainment and more. Visit: b-e-a-f.co.uk Pelhams Bowls Club Open Day, Pelhams Park, 10:30am to 4pm. T: 01202 572184 pelhamsbowlsclub.co.uk Moordown Bowling Club Open Day: Endfield Road, 10:30am to 3:30pm. Free bowling available. All ages welcome. T: 01202 512817, moordownbowlingclub.com

Professors Greg Atkins and Keith Fox. Moordown Community Centre, 2pm. Free entry. dorsethumanists.co.uk Al Fresco Tea Dance, Pavilion Dance, 2pm to 4pm.

Free. T: 01202 203630, pdsw.org.uk Bournemouth & Poole National Trust Association, Hallmark Hotel, 2:15pm. Talk by Priscilla Morris - The life of Agatha Cristie. £4 Half term activities at Russell Cotes until 3 June.

Celebrate with trails, activities, craft days, competitions and garden games. russellcotes.com Bournemouth Open Golf Festival until 2 June.

Serious qualifier competitions and fun noncompetitive rounds. queensparkgolfcourse.com/BOGF T: 01202 451675

Picnic in the Park at Queen’s Park – community fun day. queensparkgolfcourse.com Bournemouth Food and Drink Festival: bournemouth.co.uk

Get information on the latest events in our What’s On email.

Sign up at: bournemouth.gov.uk/emailme

BH Life Spring 2018

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If you’re coming to a show, why not make a night of it?

Enquire about pre-show dining when booking your tickets.

@bhlivetickets Call charges apply. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your telephone provider’s access charge.

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Croft & Pearce After a total sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe 2016 and a hit series on BBC Radio 4 these award-winning comedians bring their hilarious sketch comedy show to Lighthouse.

7.45pm | THE SHERLING STUDIO

Tuesday 3 April

Brainiac Live!

Science’s greatest and most volatile live show is returning with a vengeance!

Strap on your safety goggles and buckle up for the ride of your life…

2pm | THEATRE

Saturday 7 April

The Drive Two women, a fractured friendship, a car full of boxes and a message from a dead friend. A show about friendship, grief and coming of age in the 90s.

8pm | THE SHERLING STUDIO

Thursday 19 April

Parking & travel Blue Badges Bus passes Parking

Saturday 24 March

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This magazine is available in audio and large print.

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BalletBoyz This all-male dance company are back with an exciting quartet of new works playing with the concept of balance and imbalance.

7.45pm | THEATRE

Saturday 21 April

Ninebarrow Expect an evening to remember as 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominees, NINEBARROW, are launching their highly anticipated third album at this special concert.

8pm | THEATRE

Friday 27 & Saturday 28 April

Mountains Based on Helen Tse’s best selling Novel Sweet Mandarin, this new family drama tells the extraordinary story of the woman behind the famous Manchester restaurant.

7.30pm & 2.30pm (Sat Matinee) | THEATRE

01202 280000 www.lighthousepoole.co.uk