This October half-term, families across Dorset can enjoy an array of entertaining shows filled with puppetry, live music, and interactive activities, thanks to rural arts charity Artsreach. With mischievous goats, a playful puppy, and a cheeky magpie, there’s plenty to entertain!
The Goat Show In a countryside corner not too far away, goats are causing mayhem, stealing sandwiches and munching on flowers. Running Dog Theatre brings The Goat Show to Sixpenny Handley (01725 552812) at 2pm on Saturday, 26th October. It’s a fun-filled adventure with puppetry, storytelling, and music about goats, overcoming conflict, and competitive poo collecting! A week of goat-themed activities will also lead up to the show.
Oskar’s Amazing Adventure Fideri Fidera presents Oskar’s Amazing Adventure, the award-winning story of a fun-loving puppy seeking playmates in the snowy Alps. Suitable for ages 2-7, the show is packed with storytelling, clowning, puppetry, music, and song. Meet Oskar at Milborne St Andrew Village Hall (01258 839060) at 2pm on Monday, 28th October; Hinton Martell Village Hall (07476 020522) at 11am on Tuesday, 29th October; and Powerstock Hut (01308 485730) at 11am on Wednesday, 30th October. After each performance, a drama workshop inspired by themes of hibernation will be held – places are limited, so booking is essential.
Along Came a Magpie Scarlet Oak Theatre returns with Along Came a Magpie, a heart-warming adventure featuring puppetry, plants, and lots of pots! The gardener’s peaceful potting shed is turned upside down by a mischievous magpie. Find them in Buckland Newton (01300 345431) at 10:30am on Wednesday, 30th October, and Wootton Fitzpaine (01297 560948) at 10:30am on Thursday, 31st October. Each show is followed by a fun puppetry workshop – book your place early to avoid missing out.
For further details on all Artsreach events, please see the website – artsreach.co.uk
Fixed term contract: 1 January 2025 – 23 July 2025
Salary Range: MPS/UPS
The Headteacher and Governors are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and inspirationalYear 2 class teacher to join our team and provide maternity cover.
The successful candidate will:
• establish effective and trusting relationships with pupils, staff and parents
• have high expectations of all pupils’ learning and behaviour
• be passionate about teaching and learning
• have a thorough knowledge of the primary curriculum and a wide range of teaching strategies which will excite and engage all learners
• be committed to collaborative working and ongoing professional development
In return we can offer a warm and friendly school with hardworking and well-behaved children, dedicated and supportive staff and governors and opportunities for continualprofessional development.
Milborne Port Primary School is maintained by Somerset Council but will be joining the ACE Academy in Spring 2025. It serves a community of almost 3,000 and the number on roll is currently 148. In summer 2024, it was judged to be ‘Good’ by OFSTED.
Milborne Port Primary School and Somerset Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Visits to the school are welcome. Please telephone the school to arrange a visit.
All applications should be completed electronically and returned to [email protected]
A blondie is the brownie’s fairer sister: and while the texture can be similar, the delicious, caramel flavour of a blondie comes from soft brown sugar. In this recipe, I have used dried cherries because they bring a tiny amount of sourness to offset some of the sweetness. You can find these in some supermarkets (definitely Sainsburys and Waitrose) and in health food stores or online. These are wonderful with a cosy cup of tea when it’s cold and/or wet outside: perfect for our current autumn weather! – Heather
Pre-heat the oven to Gas 6/180º fan. Grease and line an 8” x 8” (20x20cm) baking tin.
In a saucepan, gently melt together the butter, sugar, salt and vanilla extract, and mix until smooth. Take the pan off the heat and mix in the two eggs.
Gently fold in the flour and then stir through the cherries.
Pour into your baking tin and bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes. When you move the tin, the middle shouldn’t ‘jiggle’ and the top should have lots of cracks.
Bournemouth’s biggest fireworks party is set to be louder and brighter than ever on Saturday, 2nd November, as Oasiss, one of the UK’s top Oasis tribute bands, headlines the live entertainment. Taking place at the Littledown Centre, Bournemouth Fireworks promises a triple display to light up the sky and plenty of music to get everyone in the party mood. ‘There’s no Definitely Maybe about it – we’re celebrating the Oasis reunion by sending a real Champagne Supernova into the sky from Bournemouth Fireworks!’ says event director Michael Callaghan. ‘And unlike the amazing fireworks, our prices are anything but dynamic. We’ve held our prices steady for the last three years.’ Early bird tickets are now on sale, with family tickets available for just £27 – a £7 saving on gate prices. Adult tickets are £8, children’s tickets are £4.50, and under-3s go free. Gates open at 5.30pm, and collection baskets will be available to support the event’s charity partner, the RNLI, celebrating its 200th anniversary. Three displays The night will have three fireworks displays: 7pm, 8pm and culminating in the famous White Knuckle display at 9pm, the biggest and loudest display in the south! Beyond the fireworks, there’s live entertainment from the amazing fire performers before the 7pm and 8pm displays, and an all-new live music arena. Firework displays at 7pm, 8pm, 9pm littledownfireworks.co.uk
Employ My Ability offers vocational training for students with learning disabilities and special educational needs. One of their students, Maddie Walters, spent her work experience with us, and now writes a regular column – Ed
It’s October and that can only mean one thing – Halloween is coming! In this month’s article I’m going to talk about some of the great for some scary fun!
Ghost Hunting Ghost hunting is an experience where you can go, usually with a group of people and a guide, and hunt for ghosts in a stately home or castle. Two companies that offer ghost hunts in Dorset are Haunted Happenings and Ghost Hunt Events – both have upcoming events in Dorchester at the Shire Hall and Dorchester Prison, Nothe Fort, the Rifles Museum in Salisbury and Merley House in Wimborne. They tend to book up quickly.
There are some fun local ghostly events happening this month: Haunted Harbour Tour, Weymouth takes you on a trip to the darker side of history. Saxon massacres, the Black Death, murders, mysteries and secret tunnels will all be discovered. Many dates still available for 2024 – including Halloween itself, October 31st! – £11
Ghost Hunt at Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne Built in the 16th century, will you experience the reported disembodied footsteps or even see items moving mysteriously by themselves? Saturday 26th October, 8.30pm £33
Ghost Hunt at Shire Hall Courthouse, Dorchester 19th October 2024 8pm until 2am, £46
And if an organised event isn’t your thing, Dorset has plenty of properties said to be haunted which would be fun for a walk as dark closes in: Knowlton Church, near Wimborne Corfe Castle, near Wareham Tyneham – Dorset’s ghost village, near Kimmeridge Happy haunted Halloween!
Welcome to the first October episode of the BV Podcast! In this episode, hosts Jenny Devitt and Terry Bennett cover key stories from Dorset.
After this month’s letter from editor Laura Hitchcock, we hear the most recent political columns discuss the economic challenges facing Dorset pensioners and farmers, with MP Edward Morello calling for urgent changes. Ken Huggins explores the issue of electoral reform and political donations.
We also hear from Gary Jackson, who talks about the need for more affordable housing, and Simon Hoare MP, who shares his thoughts on the role of the state and citizen responsibility.
Jenny chats with BV journalist and author Rachael Rowe about her new book, The Science Lover’s Guide to London. Rachael shares intriguing stories about lesser-known scientific wonders in the capital (and its connections to Dorset), including a revolving door shaped like DNA and that the first plastic ever made was in Hackney. As Rachael puts it, “There’s science hidden around every corner – you just have to look for it!”
Our readers also get involved in this episode, with the month’s letters to the editor. We hear from a passionate farmer defending the future of Dorset’s wildlife, and a frustrated resident sharing concerns about dangerous traffic on local roads. One reader wonders if it’s time to raise the alarm over a potential threat to our sycamore trees.
These interviews were based on articles found in October’s BV, which can be read here … grab a coffee and jump in to the Dorset-ness. News, opinion, people, wildlife, art, farming, what’s on, horses … and frankly stunning photography. Did we mention it’s FREE?Why wouldn’t you take a look?!
(We’re proudly 100% digital, so the only way to read us is right here online.)
The BV is Dorset’s go-to digital magazine – this year named ‘Best Regional Publication in the UK’ (ACE Awards) and ‘Regional News Site of the Year’ (Press Gazette). Brimming with Dorset’s people and places, it’s too good to miss!
Step back in time with our ‘Then and Now’ feature, where vintage postcards from the Barry Cuff Collection meet modern-day reality. Explore the past and present on the same page, and see the evolution of familiar local places. ‘Now’ images by Courtenay Hitchcock
The Street is largely unchanged, though hedges have replaced the perimeter stone walls. The single storey building with the tall chimney is just about still visible, too. The angle is changed as the street is wider and straighter than it once wasThe church is still there – just no longer visible from the road! The iron railing is still present today – it’s apparent how much lower the road level used to be.
In his 1937 Shell Guide to Dorset, Michael Pitt-Rivers is rather unimpressed with Motcombe: ‘A sprawl of cottages, some old but mostly new. A large symmetrical church (St Mary) built … in 1848. Dark trees without; cream-wash and pitchpine within. A few dim medieval features incorporated. One brownish stained glass window.’ The ‘dark trees without’ theme remains to this day, obviously! Motcombe House, now Port Regis Boys’ School, was built in 1893 by Sir Ernest George for Lord Stalbridge in an Elizabethan manner with red brick and a Tudor-style tower.
Valerie passed away peacefullt at The Hayes Care Home, Sherborne. Wife of the late Gordon Phillips, a dearly loved mum, nanny and great nanny, who will be missed by all who knew her.
The Funeral Service will be at Sedgemoor Crematorium on Thursday 31st October at 11am.
Family flowers only, donations for The Alzheimer’s Society may be sent to the Funeral Directors, Crescent Funeral Services, Bow Street, Langport, Somerset, TA10 9PQ.
As good as it sounds, managing a medical practice brings unique financial difficulties that can be overwhelming for those lacking specific knowledge. This article will analyse the specific financial problems characteristic of medical practices in the area of Dorset and how essential healthcare accounting is for local medical practitioners.
You will find out about certain areas of medical accountants’ activities, the need to get sound healthcare sector-specific expert advice, and the effect the choice of an accountant can exert on the efficiency and viability of a practice.
The Importance of Healthcare Accounting for Medical Practices
Healthcare accounting is not only about accounting but also about understanding and addressing medical care providers’ real and unique financial issues. Such accountants are useful to the medical sector as their services are geared towards the medical sector, enabling the practice of providing patient care while maintaining sound economic health.
Issues related to healthcare clients, such as differences in reimbursement rates from various insurance companies, strict regulatory compliance, and specific tax requirements, require a type of professional that general accountants may not possess.
By grasping the nuances of healthcare accounting, medical professionals can navigate these challenges more effectively. With specialised accounting for doctors and medical professionals, practices can enhance their financial performance, improving patient care. Thoughtful financial management can foster better cash flow, ensuring practices can cover operational costs and invest in critical services without delay.
Incorporating healthcare accounting enables practices in Dorset to improve their financial toils and set an excellent foundation for endurance in a competitive landscape.
Challenges Medical Practices in Dorset Face Without Expert Accounting
Without specialised accounting, medical practices often encounter several financial obstacles. Cash flow problems can stem from delayed insurance reimbursements or missed billing opportunities, adversely affecting a practice’s ability to offer continuous care. Moreover, poor financial practices may also result in legal noncompliance, which may lead to sanctions imposed by future tax authorities or social oversight bodies, a big healthcare problem.
Deficient financial management has a knock-on effect on a range of issues, including staffing and availability of patients. In business practices, if a practice cannot contain the stores of its funds, it might have to either downsize its activities or close its doors. Hiring a specialist medical accountant team can reduce these concerns; with proper financial management and control, the problems with compliance and pressure on the practice can be less invasive.
Understanding these pressures facilitates medical practitioners to reach out for relevant assistance and helps them concentrate on providing the best care to patients without the burden of any financial violation.
Key Services Offered by Medical Accountants
Medical accountants can offer several medical accounting services suited to the diverse needs of a medical practice, facility or organisation. One of the services, tax management, is where accountants have specialists. With the relevant medical practice accounting for taxes, they can lower their tax exposure while avoiding legal transgressions.
Also important for the immediate future outward look is strategic and budgetary assistance. A medical practice accounting team will be able to develop strategies that will assist the practice in the short term and growth plans with a long-term orientation.
Numerous regulations govern the healthcare sector, and having a knowledgeable accounting partner can significantly impact a practice’s success. They can guide medical practices through intricate compliance requirements, ensuring operations adhere to UK Health and Social Care guidelines. This support can create a strong foundation for medical partnership businesses and contribute to a stable operating environment.
Choosing the Right Healthcare Accountant for Dorset Practices
Choosing the right healthcare accountant enables a medical practice to exceed its targets. Some of the most important issues are:
Industry Background: Having a healthcare accountant with vast experience in their field of work is greatly beneficial. The financial suffering encountered by the majority of medical practices will become a lesson learnt, making their financial know-how more focused.
Local Knowledge: A financial advisor who is well-informed on the healthcare policies and the market in Dorset is very beneficial to the practice since it improves the relevance of the financial strategy and its effectiveness to the practice.
Reputation and Trust: It is advisable to begin by looking for accountants held in high regard by fellow professionals. Word of mouth and a professional portfolio of services are among the best ways of locating a suitable professional for an individual medical accountant.
Services Offered: Make it a point for the accountant to work on different aspects of the firm’s tax and financial management strategies. This way, all parts of your financial well-being will be addressed.
How Healthcare Accounting Helps Sustain Medical Practices in the Long Run
The advantages associated with healthcare accounting are not just limited to financial management in the short term. With efficient accounting, medical practices can streamline operations while cutting unnecessary expenses. Keeping a close eye on the financial standing helps practices identify weaknesses and take the right action for future growth.
As the healthcare landscape changes continuously, so does the practice environment, including changes in regulations and patient access. This is where a financial consultant comes in, and their key responsibilities include helping the practices adapt to constant changes through proper planning and financial insight.
