Sam Everard, founder and CEO of Bournemouth-based charity SAMEE, has been named in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100, celebrating the UK’s most influential disabled individuals. SAMEE supports disabled people to explore self-employment, helping to bridge the disability employment gap.
Living with Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), Sam founded SAMEE eight years ago, providing mentoring and guidance to empower disabled individuals. Recognised as a Disability Confident Leader level 3 charity, SAMEE is the first in Dorset to achieve this status.
Sam also chairs the Government’s South West Regional Stakeholder Network, working on disability policy, and is completing a PhD at Bournemouth University on self-employment for
neurodivergent people.
‘I’m humbled to be included – but most proud of the disabled community I represent,’ Sam said.’Our work proves disabled people can achieve success with the right support.’
samee.co.uk

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Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance claimed four prestigious accolades at the 2024 Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence. Organised by Air Ambulances UK and sponsored by Kwik Fit, the event celebrated outstanding contributions to the air ambulance community.
Four individuals from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance were honoured for their exceptional achievements:

Laura Bland – Critical Care Doctor of the Year
Dr Laura Bland’s leadership in pre-hospital emergency medicine has significantly enhanced patient care and clinical standards. She has led regional campaigns, raised nearly £40,000 through a direct mail initiative, and influenced countless lives through her passion and dedication.

Neil Bizzell – Critical Care Practitioner of the Year
Specialist Practitioner Neil has delivered 24 education events this year, often voluntarily, helping improve critical care delivery. His outreach efforts, including life-saving training for ambulance crews, highlight his commitment to advancing patient care.

Tom Budgett – Charity Supporter of the Year
A commercial aviation law expert, Tom has provided pro bono legal support to air ambulance charities, achieving substantial savings that directly benefit their missions.

Gillian Bryce – Lifetime Achievement Award
With over 30 years in emergency medicine, Gillian has been pivotal in developing paramedic training, merging ambulance services, and in 2000 in establishing Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
This national recognition reflects the dedication and excellence of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance in delivering life-saving care across the region. Congratulations to all the winners!

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A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues.

Q: ‘I’ve struggled with my money this year and have already spent too much on Christmas. I also recently got caught out by a free trial on an app that rolled into a paid subscription. It feels like every month I end up in my overdraft. How can I keep track of my spending better?’

A: It can be difficult to stay on top of things like online subscriptions but there are steps you can take to be more in control of your money.
Firstly, draw up a budget. Remember to include all of your general spending, and any bills you have to pay. Be realistic about what you’ll need for essentials like food and travel. If your income fluctuates, use bank statements, pay slips, benefit award letters or your Universal Credit journal to plan your budget each month. Your bank should be able to tell you what regular payments you have.
If you find subscriptions you don’t want, contact the company in question to cancel them. In future, before signing up to anything, make sure you know what you’ll get, for how long and what it’ll cost. If you do use any free trials, set a reminder a week before the free period ends so you’ve time to cancel it if you want to. Keep evidence of any subscription cancellations in case you need the proof in the future.
If you’ve been relying on your overdraft this year, or you have turned to credit cards or Buy-Now-Pay-Later, it’s understandable if this worries you. Always prioritise paying your rent, mortgage, council tax and energy bills first, because not paying these has the most serious consequences. If you’re having trouble managing your debts and paying bills, get some free debt advice, either from Citizens Advice or from another reputable and free debt advice provider such as Stepchange or National Debtline.
The Citizens Advice website has an income checker where you can see if you’re getting all you’re entitled to, such as benefits or grants. Everyone’s circumstances are different when it comes to managing personal finances: make sure you are in charge of yours.

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Cricket Dorset Ltd and Bryanston School have announced a three-year partnership to provide a training centre for Dorset Cricket’s Emerging Players Programme (EPP). The agreement secures the use of Bryanston’s top-class facilities, including state-of-the-art sports halls, a training room, and classroom spaces to support the development of young cricket talent.
Ben Skipworth, Managing Director of Cricket Dorset Ltd, said, ‘We’re delighted to have cemented our partnership with Bryanston. Their facilities offer our players an excellent environment to develop their skills and follow in the footsteps of Scott Currie and Joseph Eckland.’
The Dorset Cricket Talent Pathway continues to thrive, with four graduates currently on Hampshire CCC staff, and others in Hampshire and Southern Vipers programmes. Rory McCann, Director of Sport at Bryanston, added, ‘We share Dorset Cricket’s commitment to nurturing talent and are proud to support players from across the county in our cutting-edge facilities.’

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