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News from around the borough
In and around the town
New regional adoption agency launched
A new adoption agency covering the whole of Dorset has been established. Aspire Adoption Services is the name given to the new agency. It brings together the three local authority adoption services in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole and works in partnership with ‘Families for Children’ a local voluntary adoption agency. B
As a regional service, Aspire Adoption is better able to respond to anyone expressing an interest in adoption or special guardianship to ensure that their application is undertaken without delay by highly experienced social workers.
The services Aspire provide include supporting those who have decided to adopt, ensuring timely adoption and special guardianship assessments, matching children for adoption more quickly, and supporting those who have adopted or care for children under Special Guardianship Orders. They will also be providing support and advice to others touched by adoption or special guardianship, including adopted adults and birth relatives. Aspire Adoption is based at the Kinson Hub in Bournemouth, where we host the agency on behalf of the other partners.
aspireadoption.co.uk
enquiries@aspireadoption.co.uk
0300 123 9868
What will our survey reveal?
This autumn, a randomly selected group of Bournemouth households will be invited to complete a survey, asking for their opinions of the council services we provide.
If your household is chosen you will receive a questionnaire through the post and we hope you’ll use the opportunity to take part. The results are used to help us see how we can improve and if our new initiatives are making a difference.
If your household isn’t chosen but you want to take part in other surveys, then why not consider becoming a member of our E-panel? This involves taking part in online surveys to tell us about the kind of local services you need and want. The surveys cover a wide range of local issues.
bournemouth.gov.uk/epanel
New home for Jon Egging Memorial The Jon Egging Memorial sculpture has been moved to the top of the East Cliff zig-zag, a location chosen by Jon’s widow Emma and mum, Dawn. Due to the landslip, the sculpture had become inaccessible in its previous location and was perched very close to the edge of the clifftop.
In the summer, all the glass beads in the sculpture were removed for individual cleaning, along with the stainless steel trails. The sculpture was then carefully relocated in time for the anniversary of Jon’s passing and before the recent 2017 Air Festival.
The Jon Egging Trust (JET) has been set up in Jon’s memory and realises his dream of supporting young people to reach their full potential. Bournemouth University hosted 54 young people in the summer for the largest graduation of JET Dorset’s ‘Blue Skies’ students. Blue Skies is an accredited learning programme set up to develop young people’s life and work skills. It provides students experiencing difficulties, with access to inspirational role models and life-changing opportunities linked to aviation, engineering and science.
Local fundraising for JET is essential. With your help, they can change the lives of even more young people.
joneggingtrust.org.uk/dorset
BH Life Autumn 2017
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