Dorset residents facing periods of uncertainty, short-term illness or life crises such as mental health challenges or bereavement, are being given a helping hand through a new network of support from the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
The Dorset Integrated Prevention Partnership (DIPPs) network is a collaborative partnership of five organisations working together to deliver a wide range of support to help residents who may not be eligible for formal support from Adult Social Care. The five – Help and Kindness, The You Trust, The Lantern Trust, Volunteer Centre Dorset, and Shelter – are bringing their expertise to ensure people receive the best possible support.
The DIPPs partnership offers a variety of services to meet different needs:
- Practical Help: Assistance with shopping, collecting prescriptions, pet care, gardening, domestic tasks, driving to appointments, basic odd jobs, moving furniture, and meal preparation.
- Companionship: Befriending services, companionship for social activities, and respite services for caregivers.
- Complex Needs Support: Benefits and debt advice, housing support, education and employment assistance, and help with physical and emotional wellbeing.
Provider Highlights
- The You Trust: Offers a “Home from Hospital” service, social reablement, and crisis support in the community.
- The Lantern Trust and Hope House Wellbeing Centre: Runs a drop-in community resource centre in Weymouth, offering group workshops and peer support.
- Volunteer Centre Dorset: Provides a volunteer-led response service for urgent and ongoing support.
- Shelter: Operates the ‘Housing First’ initiative to help people with multiple and complex needs who have sustained or repeated periods of homelessness and unemployment, to find and maintain accommodation.
- Help and Kindness: Supports individuals with home support, shopping, domestic tasks, companionship, and more.
Councillor Steve Robinson, Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, said “This partnership is testament to the power of communities working together and fits beautifully within the principles of the Council’s ‘Communities for All’ work”
“I’d like to thank them all and recognise that, simply by working together and pooling resources and expertise, these brilliant organisations are making such a significant difference in the lives of Dorset residents, helping them stay independent and in control of the things that happen to them.”
