The West Dorset Magazine, April 8, 2022
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Business
There’s free parking for shoppers in county town Shoppers can still park for free in Dorchester despite the price hikes – after BID members agreed to fund the town’s successful Park4FREE scheme. More than 70 shops and other businesses in Dorchester and the Dorchester BID are paying the parking charges for anyone who spends more than £10 in a participating business. Two hours’ parking will be refunded to shoppers via the parking voucher scheme operated by the Dorchester BID. When you spend £10 or more in the participating shops and businesses they
will discount £1.50 off your purchase. Just look out for the blue Park4FREE stickers in windows. When you park in town using the meters to park, you get a double part ticket. The first part stays
in the car on the dash as usual and the second part is the voucher that can be redeemed in an evergrowing number of shops in town that want to thank their customers by paying for their parking. The popular scheme has been running for many years, when two hours’ parking cost £1, but members have agreed to continue after the prices went up. In addition, if you park on a street where the meters only produce a single ticket next time you are in town you can take your old
ticket and get the £1.50 off a purchase – The date on the ticket does not matter! DBID project director Phil Gordon said: “I was of course concerned with the new prices coming in but I am very proud of the town’s businesses as they have risen to the challenge, worked with me and have agreed to meet the cost 50/50 with a subsidy from the DBID to keep this innovative scheme alive. “Essentially, come shopping in Dorchester and you can park all day long for free, two hours at a time, just as long as you keep spending money in the town’s businesses!”
Autism training initiative welcomed By Dan Goater newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk
Health and social care professionals throughout Dorset will receive training to help them better support autistic people. Charity Autism Unlimited has been commissioned to develop and roll out the training scheme by Dorset Council and the county’s Clinical Commissioning Group. The charity says the training will help professionals understand how to adapt their ‘behaviour and surroundings to help an autistic person feel included, welcomed, understood and supported’. Donna Wearn, executive director of people,
performance and learning at Autism Unlimited, said: “Assessing when to make small changes, such as simply warning when a bright light is put on or off or ensuring there is a quiet atmosphere, could allow an autistic person to fully engage, receive, and give, important information. Other simple techniques include giving instructions in short sentences. “This training will be an amazing step forward for the autistic community in Dorset and we are thrilled to be partnering with the councils and healthcare partners to deliver this training package which has been co-produced with the autistic network.” Donna added: “There is growing recognition that only minor changes are
required to accommodate the needs of autistic people. Autism Unlimited exists to support and empower autistic children, adults and their families. We work collaboratively, listen and respect the view that all autistic individuals are recognised for their unique skills and abilities. This is the first of many training in the workplace educational programmes we are running during 2022 and we are absolutely delighted that we are starting with council and health employees.” Councillor Peter Wharf, briefholder for Adult Social Care at Dorset Council, said: “Autistic people often encounter barriers due to a lack of public understanding of autism.
“Autistic people can often experience a lack of timely and informed support for themselves and their families, poor access to general health and mental health services, an inability to gain and maintain employment based on their strengths and abilities, as well as social isolation.” Tracey Naylor, steering group member at Dorset Parent Carer Council, said: “We are very excited to be involved in a much needed and long-awaited development which will certainly benefit and be welcomed by many of the families we represent. “We are particularly pleased the training will be delivered by and include the lived experience of people from Dorset.”
