Funding opportunities

Christchurch and east Dorset Ward Budgets 

Christchurch and East Dorset Councillors are pleased to announce their Ward Budgets for community funding in each ward across the CED area. This funding is available to community organisations, groups and clubs seeking funds for revenue and/or capital projects. 

 

… So get in contact with your ward councillor at 

http://moderngovcbc.christchurchandeastdorset.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1

 

http://moderngoveddc.christchurchandeastdorset.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1

 

… and discuss your project and its funding. Every little helps!

New flag designed by six-year-old girl unfurled at Christchurch Splash Park

Mayor of Christchurch Frederick Neale

New flag designed by six-year-old girl unfurled at Christchurch Splash Park

Will Frampton / / Christchurch

Follow @Will_Frampton

A NEW flag is flying over the Christchurch Splash Park thanks to a six-year-old girl.

Bethany Westlake, a pupil of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, was the winner of a competition to find a new flag to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the opening of the facility at Christchurch Quay.

Primary school pupils across the town were asked by the borough council to produce a design along the theme of ‘having fun at Christchurch Quay’, and more than 100 entries were received.

Becky Beaumont, community and recreation officer at Christchurch Council, said: "Bethany’s design really stood out, firstly because it was bright and colourful and secondly because it really answered the design brief."

Bethany’s design was made up into a flag and she was joined by Mayor of Christchurch Frederick Neale to raise it over the Splash Park. She was presented with a goody bag of sporting prizes including swimming vouchers for Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre.

PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL

Please read this DCC Leaflet re Event to be held in St Catherine's Hall on the Hill

A very BIG Thank You!

To everyone who came out in Jumpers,

to re elect me as their Ward Councillor,

Along with the many helpers

and good wishes received.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN,

Regards

Fred

front and back of election address

If you did not receive a copy

of my election address,

feel free to download and read a copy.

Thank you, Fred

Poster 2015

If you would like to display a Poster for us, 

please feel free to download this image, 

thank you.

NEW SERVICE FOR LOST PROPERTY

Report My Loss goes live across Dorset

Dorset Police have reviewed the way in which lost property is reported. A new service, starting 6 April 2015 will be implemented to make reporting lost property quicker and more efficient. 

Report My Loss (http://www.reportmyloss.com/) is a website which allows the public to report lost property quickly and easily without the need to telephone or visit a local police station.

The information provided in any loss report is viewable by police forces nationally.

Members of the public reporting lost property will be asked to complete an online form. A lost property reference number will then be issued for use when making an insurance claim.

The Report My Loss system was originally developed in 2008. Avon and Somerset were the first force to adopt it and have since improved their service to the public while improving the repatriation of lost property.

Head of Contact Management, Superintendent Caroline Naughton said: “Currently Dorset Police receive around 43 calls per day in relation to lost property, which takes up valuable time that Force Command Centre staff could be using to respond to other 101 and 999 calls.

“The implementation of Report My Loss will reduce the number of lost property calls into the Force Command Centre and improve call waiting times for the 101 service.

“The cost to report lost property to Report My Loss is £3.95. In Dorset the use of this service is subsidised by the Force making any reports of property lost in Dorset free.”

The benefits of using the Report My Loss system are:

•

More efficient reporting

•

Improved accuracy

•

Reports are searchable nationwide rather than being isolated to station or force-specific systems

•

Call operators are able to answer more 101 calls

•

Recovered property is more easily identifiable and returned to people. 

•

Loss report numbers are independently verifiable by insurers enabling more efficient claims processes

•

Serial-numbered items reported lost are prevented from sale at responsible traders nationwide

Chief Operating Officer of Recipero Ltd Les Gray, who operates the Report My Loss site, said: “The process consistently delivers measurable savings, while improving services and recovery rates for members of the public that have lost items of property.”

You can log in at any time to Report My Loss to record or update lost property reports. If the item is recovered, the appropriate authorities will contact you.

Issued: 2 April 2015

CONGRATULATION TO FRED

https://twitter.com/christchurchcp/status/573531679949721601

CRIME PREVENTION EVENT

On Saturday 28th March 2015 between 10am and 2pm at The Hall On The Hill, Marlow Drive, Christchurch.

Dorset Police, Christchurch Borough Council and Homewatch will be hosting a crime prevention awareness day.

The purpose of the day is to offer crime prevention and security advice, learn more about Homewatch, we will also be selling smartwater, which is a forensic property a forensic property marking kit, which will be available at the reduced cost of £10.00.

There will also be a number of other organisations on hand to give practical advice.

Please come along and support this event and hopefully pick up some useful advice

SCAMS SCAMS SCAMS - BEWARE,!!

Warning about cut-price council tax phone scam

Residents in Christchurch are being warned about telephone scammers offering to reduce council tax for a fee of £55.  The callers are claiming to be from a Dorset Council, but the authorities said their staff would only ask for bank account details over the phone to make or arrange payment of council tax.

Highcliffe Castle Wedding Fair

Wedding fair date

A spring Wedding Fair is being held at Highcliffe Castle from 10.30am to 4pm on Sunday.

Highcliffe Castle Tours - Mr SELFRIDGE

Mr Selfridge is just the man for the job

Enjoy a tour of fascinating discovery, history and local heritage in Dorset.  Highcliffe Castle has many stories to tell and visitors can now marvel at its sights and take in the history, courtesy of the Real Mr Selfridge Experience tour taking place every Wednesday and Thursday.

HEALTH WATCH DORSET

Healthwatch Dorset

The latest newsletter from Healthwatch Dorset is now available online highlighting, amongst other things, the work they do and the nature of recent comments on health and social care services that they have received.

Please go to http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=8c817cb4724009913844df91a&id=6de201336e&e=56587526a8 to see it.

Council Offices Closed over Easter

Friday 3 April​             Bank Holiday- Good Friday

Monday 6 April​           Bank Holiday – Easter Monday

Easter Activities

Easter holiday activities in Christchurch and East Dorset

Kids at a loose end over the Easter holidays in Christchurch and East Dorset have plenty of choice of activities to keep them busy.

Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre in Christchurch has activities for children aged 5 to 13 running from 9am to 4pm during the holidays as follows:

•

Monday 30 March – Mini Olympics fun day

•

Tuesday 31 March and 7 April & Friday 10 April – Multi Sports fun days

•

Wednesday 1 and 8 April & Thursday 2 and 9 April – Bounce, Bend & Boogie fun day

•

31 March to 2 April and 7 to 9 April – Soccer Academy

Cost is £17.50 per day.

There are lots of other activities during the holidays, including trampolining, roller discos, archery and swim and fitness sessions.

Details at www.dorsetforyou.com/2-rivers-meet or call 01202 477987.

QE Leisure Centre in Wimborne is running a Fun First Club for children over eight from 31 March to 2 April and from 7 to 9 April. This offers a daily programme of sporting activities as well as creative arts and crafts. Activities run from 8.30am to 5.30pm and cost £17.50 a day or £46.50 for any three days.

QE is also running the Arsenal Soccer School from 7 to 9 April from 10am to 3pm for young soccer stars aged five to 12 and a Mini Gunners Course for four to six-year-olds.

In addition QE Leisure Centre is offering a number of other sporting courses, including swimming, trampolining, indoor climbing and gym sessions as well as dance workshops. Full details at www.qe-leisure-centre.co.uk or call 01202 888208.

Children can find a whole host of activities at Verwood Hub – everything from arts and crafts activities to Nerf Wars, bouncy inflatables, Easter disco and children’s cinema.

Emmanuel Sports Hall has a Fun Gym & Trampoline session and a multi-sports day. More details of activities at Verwood Hub and Emmanuel Sports Hall can be found at lifestyleverwood.com or call 01202 828740.

For kids who like the rugged outdoors Moors Valley Country Park has a number of activities including Little Egg-splorers sessions for accompanied children up to seven years of age on Tuesday 31 March, 7 and 14 April and a Woodland Quest for children over eight on Wednesday 1 April. Full details of these and other activities at www.moors-valley.co.uk or call 01425 470721.

Families can enjoy a day out at Highcliffe Castle on an Easter trail running every day from Friday 3 to Monday 6 April from 11am to 4pm. People can drop in any time to find the Easter chicks hidden in the grounds and could win a chocolate prize. £1 per trail.

Highcliffe Castle Consultation

HOP OVER TO HIGHCLIFFE CASTLE THIS EASTER and HAVE YOUR SAY

Public consultation continues at Highcliffe Castle over the Easter holidays, as Castle staff seek the community’s opinion on proposals for further restoration, public use and grounds improvement. The Castle has been granted £2.9m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with a prerequisite that all plans are sustainable and meet with the approval of the general public, taking into account their needs and aspirations. 

The restoration project is entitled ‘The Phoenix Flies’, a reference to the fires which started the Castle's decline in the 1960s before repairs started to lift the Castle from the ashes in the mid 1980s.

Said David Hopkins, Highcliffe Castle Manager: “This will be a further stage of consultation aimed at not only the local Castle users but also our visitors from further afield. Easter is recognised as the beginning of the tourist year and is a time when we start to get increased numbers of visitors from not only all over the UK but also from around the world. The process is very simple and is part of the visitor experience. The proposals, including those for the grounds, will be on display and visitors are invited to comment on post-it notes.”

The consultation runs between Saturday 28th March and Monday 6th April. Although the public are invited to comment at any time, during this Easter period volunteers and staff will be available to explain proposals in more detail to those taking part and to answer specific questions.

The Castle will also be trialling family craft activities, intended to be incorporated into future programmes.

Explained David, “As part of the Phoenix Flies Project, we intend to restore and display our spectacular Medieval stained glass collection, within a dedicated training studio. To give our visitors a taste of this beautiful craft, we invite families to join us from Tuesday 7th to Thursday 9thApril, 11am-4pm, to have a go at painting their own glass designs.”

Details of the proposals for the future restoration and development of visitor attractions and displays can be found on the Castle’s website www.highcliffecastle.co.uk  END

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Kelly Mitchell, Activity & Learning Officer, 01425 278807

Email: feedback@highcliffecastle.co.uk