Could your community group help Dorset Families?

Anyone involved in voluntary or community groups in Dorset is being invited to help deliver the best support for families within communities through partnership working, with more information being presented at an induction session on 30 September.

Dorset Council was selected last year by the Government to be one of only three pathfinder organisations to design major reforms to children's services, from family help to the edge of care, and to make sure these changes work well for families. This programme is known as Families First for Children (FFC).

Dorset's Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly has partnered with Dorset Council in the development of the Family First for Children Pathfinder programme in Dorset. Together they are shaping the future of community support for Families in the Dorset Council area.

A session to find out more, which is open to anyone who is part of a voluntary or community group, is being held at the Dorford Centre in Dorchester on Monday 30 September from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.

The Assembly will be facilitating the involvement and contribution of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in this programme, bringing together the innovation, creativity, and local expertise of the VCS as a vital foundation for the success of this work.

Jon Sloper spoke on behalf of Dorset’s Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly. He said: “We will be providing the support that voluntary and community groups need to make this really work for Dorset families.

“There is a huge amount of local expertise in the voluntary community sector and we are keen to use that, along with their innovation and creativity, to support families in the places where they live.

“We are looking for anyone involved in community groups that connect with families, such as toddler groups, food banks or youth groups to come and find out more at this session.”

This is just one part of a much wider programme of once in a generation changes that Dorset Council is leading to reshape social care for families.

Clare Sutton, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Skills for Dorset Council, said: “We are working to maintain and improve the lives of residents in Dorset from our youngest to our oldest and making sure that those who are disadvantaged are given the support they need.

“We think the Pathfinder will help us to reduce health and social care inequalities in the future and we really welcome the support of our community and voluntary sector in this.”

You can book your place for the session on 30 September via this link Families First for Children Pathfinder VCS Induction