4 minute read
Business
Dorchester Post Office on Trinity Street has now opened the first Super Tourist Information Point (TIP) in Dorchester. Dorchester BID set up the TIP initiative initially and there are lots of locations across town where you can pick up leaflets and information about visiting Dorchester. David Prince and the team at Dorchester Post Office have dedicated a substantial area of the shop to leaflets, What’s On information and Dorchester related gifts… and even your favourite news magazine. The Post Office is receiving no financial incentive to carry out the role but Dorchester Town Council and Dorchester BID have been supporting the team in collating materials and providing information. The Super TIP was officially opened by the Mayor Gareth Jones. The new Discover Dorchester App and website www. discoverdorchester.co.uk created by the town’s Tourism Partnership has also just published and printed a new leaflet for Dorchester highlighting attractions, free places to visits, local amenities and facilities. In another BID initiative, across the road from Dorchester Post Office, the Better Hearing shop has been given a facelift using funding from the Welcome Back Fund (money from the European Regional Development Fund). The windows and fascia have been cleaned and replaced with smart new signage with useful tourist information, perfect for those visitors who have just arrived in the town on the bus.
Want a hot TIP? For your information, it’s right here
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The inaugural Dorset Apprenticeship Awards have been launched to celebrate excellence among apprentices and trainees. Dorset Chamber has joined forces with the Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network to showcase apprenticeship talent with honours to be presented in five categories at a ceremony with the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Angus Campbell in May. The categories are: n Trainee of the year (Traineeship) n Level 2 (Intermediate) Apprentice of the Year n Level 3 (Advanced) Apprentice of the Year n Level 4 or 5 Higher Apprentice of the Year n Degree Apprentice of the Year Ian Girling, chief executive of Dorset Chamber, said: “These new awards will celebrate the hugely important contribution that apprentices make to business in Dorset.” Entrants must be undertaking a traineeship or apprenticeship programme or have completed a programme within the last 12 months. Each finalist, along with two guests and their employer, will be invited to an awards celebration lunch on May 18. Winners will be presented with their trophy by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset in front of dignitaries. Each winner will be profiled in the Dorset Business Focus magazine. n Visit dorsetchamber. co.uk/dorsetapprenticeship-awards for more information and to enter.
A London double decker bus will be bringing much-needed support to boost young people’s mental health thanks to charity #Willdoes, which was set up by Lesley Paddy in 2019 to serve as a long-lasting legacy to her 14-year-old son William. Since then #Willdoes has raised more than £100,000 for good causes in Dorset and the surrounding area, supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of young people. In December 2020, the charity decided to launch a project for a youth bus, and now the dream has turned into a reality now the converted double decker bus is ready to offer a range of services for young people. The #Willdoes youth bus will be based in the Main Beach car park in Swanage but will visit areas in need of youth service provision including Dorchester and the rural villages. On board, the bus provides a safe space to chat, with a room for confidential discussions as well as a bean bag area to relax in and a small kitchen to provide drinks and snacks. With LED coloured lighting and brightly furnished seating it’s intended to be a welcoming place where young people can meet up as well as get to speak to youth workers, counsellors and medical professionals. The #Willdoes charity is dedicated to the memory of William, a sporty, charismatic child with a cheeky smile who grew up near Swanage and enjoyed horse riding, snowboarding, rugby and tennis. A sensitive and empathetic kid, Will loved animals and being surrounded by them. Sadly his life ended early at the age of 14, but his energy lives on through those who knew him and in his charity, #Willdoes. Will’s mother, Les, set up the charity to help young people who may be finding life tough, struggling to cope with daily life.
Ambassadors supporting #Willdoes are: n William Fox-Pitt MBE (World and Olympic equestrian eventing champion) n Sandra Redknapp n Holly Woodhead (international equestrian eventer) n Jason Fox (ex-UK Special Forces, better known as Foxy, instructor on the TV show SAS: Who Dares Wins) n Jamie Nicholls (Team GB Olympic snowboarder) n Victoria Pendleton CBE (Olympic, European and Commonwealth cyclist champion)
ALL ABOARD: Lesley Paddy with the #Willdoes bus and, inset below, inside Double decker hits the road to boost youth mental health
