Support is available for low-income households

Low-income households can now apply for financial support from Dorset Council.

Round four of the Household Support Fund (HSF) offers help for families in the form of supermarket vouchers.

Citizens Advice is allocating this fund on behalf of the council, with vouchers issued to eligible applicants within six to eight weeks.

Dorset Council households are eligible to apply if they have an annual household net income of less than £30,000, savings of less than £16,000, and have not applied for a previous HSF payment in the last six months.

Tracie celebrating her first year as celebrant

A midwife who branched out into running slimming groups and then trained as a celebrant is marking a year of helping to mark family occasions.

Tracie Williams, 56, trained as a celebrant after becoming inspired by speaking at her own father’s funeral. Her husband Duncan works as a funeral assistant at Grassby’s Funeral Directors and encouraged her to train after hearing her eulogy. She studied at the International College of Professional Celebrants in Malham in Yorkshire.

Tracie said: “The training was second to none, with the very hardest aspects of the role being faced head on, such as child and baby loss and suicide and how to help families suffering in this way, at what is likely to be one of the darkest times in their lives.” n Call Tracie on 07379 982487 or email juneroseceremonies@ gmail.com

Tracie, who is a Slimming World consultant and trains consultants in her role as a Slimming World manager, has hosted 40 celebration of life services and has four weddings already booked for this year.