A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues.
Q: I read that the Energy Price Cap is due to go up again in April. Does this mean my fuel bills will go up too? I can hardly afford them as it is!
A: You’re right, the Energy Price Cap rose by six per cent on 1 April 2025. This means a household with typical usage paying by Direct Debit will pay £1,849 a year, compared to £1,738 a year under the current Price Cap. But remember: the cap doesn’t limit how much you pay overall, it’s a cap on what you pay for each unit of gas and electricity that you use. So if you use more, you pay more. Citizens Advice research shows that nearly seven million people are now living in households that are in debt to their energy supplier. We’re particularly concerned about households with children, where more than half of those on low incomes are struggling to afford energy bills. The government is considering expanding the Warm Home Discount Scheme, meaning that a million more low income households would get support. These proposals were out for consultation in February and March but at time of writing nothing definite has been decided. If you are struggling to afford your energy bills, you should speak to your supplier as soon as possible. They are responsible for helping you come to a solution and agreeing a payment plan that works for both of you. If you’ve fallen behind on your bills, seek advice on managing debt. Energy bill debt is classed as a priority debt, so it’s important to get advice from an organisation like Citizens Advice or Stepchange, which offers free debt advice, as soon as you can.
Our frontline advisors can also help you understand what financial support you might be eligible for, depending on your situation. Additionally, you can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133.
Sunday 24 August 2025 | Canford School, Canford Magna, Dorset Sponsored by Daizun Investments
Canford School
One of Dorset’s most beloved summer events is on the move – and it’s bigger, bolder and more breathtaking than ever.
After three high-octane years at Clayesmore, Classic & Supercar Sunday is relocating to the magnificent grounds of Canford School, just outside Wimborne. The new venue offers even more room to breathe, more beautiful backdrops for your Instagram snaps – plus it brings the South West’s favourite motoring day out closer to fans in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.
“Canford is delighted to be hosting this prestigious and exciting event showcasing classic and supercars from across the country. We look forward to welcoming motor enthusiasts of all ages to the school and hope that everyone has a wonderful day.” – Ben Vessey, Headmaster, Canford School
Aperta events rev-off
Expect more than 600 iconic vehicles – from pristine vintage classics to jaw-dropping modern marvels – all gathered in one glorious setting. But it’s not just about the cars…
A full-throttle day out for the whole family
This isn’t your average car show – it’s an experience. A proper day out, with something for everyone:
🏎️ 600+ Classic & Supercars: Show-stopping vehicles, curated to impress.
🚗 Specialist Car Club Displays: Unique, rare collections.
✈️ Spitfire Flyover(TBC): A touch of British aviation heritage.
🎶 Live Entertainment: Music, performance and atmosphere all day.
🍔 Luxury Street Food & VIP Hospitality: Delicious options for every taste.
🎡 Family Zone: Games and activities for kids big and small.
With its rich heritage, sweeping lawns and convenient central location, Canford School is the perfect setting for this fast-growing celebration of cars and community.
“After three fantastic years at Clayesmore, we needed a venue that could keep up with the event’s growth. Canford offers the ideal combination of scale, prestige and accessibility — especially for our fans on the coast.” – Zander Miller, Aperta Events
This month Barry Cuff has chosen two postcards sent by the same ‘N’ from Bloxworth, a village just to the east of Bere Regis, in the early part of the 20th century.
Sent on 7th November 1905 to Mr W Simmons in Weymouth – William is listed as 19 in the 1901 census, so 25 when he received this postcard. Fred is his father – though possibly also his little brother, who is officially Frank on the census. Sadly we have no way of knowing who the sender ‘N’ is, apart from the fact they’re a swift walker! Presumably he took a train from Weymouth to Wareham, then walked the six miles home to Bloxworth in 90 minutes: ‘What, not up yet??? Never mind old boy, ?it me tell me. I arrived home safely, got home at 2.30, just hour & half walking from Wareham, not long was it, they were surprised to see me so soon. Dad at Dorchester for a few days rabbiting. All glad you are coming 16th. Just off to Misses Meeting at Morden. Ta ta. N (Please pass this card on to Fred, tell him this is The “Village Blacksmith’s”)
This card was sent 6th July, 1906, just eight months after the first. Frederick Simmons (first recipient Will’s father) was married to Elizabeth (Lizzie, clearly), and it seems that N is not related to the Simmons – he seems to be a friend of Will’s. Can we presume that the ‘old chap’ is N’s father? I cannot tell you how deeply thankful I am to you, for looking after my old chap so well. Yourself for seeing him safe ‘home’, Lizzie equally as much preparing a good supper. It’s always good to have a good wind up isn’t it? I wonder if it would be troubling Lizzie, when she is sending for her strawberries, to get my sister a couple of baskets. Will thought she was sending. We thought it no harm to ask. She will be seeing you next week. N.
Jennifer Morisetti has sparked a grassroots fashion movement in rural Dorset rebelling against fast fashion and our throwaway culture
Jennifer Morisetti – veteran, designer, builder, farmer, needle-woman … and founder of Hawkers Re-Creatives – image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
‘I joined the Navy and spent ten years there,’ says Jennifer Morisetti. ‘Not exactly the obvious route into sustainable fashion, is it?’ Jennifer is the founder of Defashion Dorset, a growing movement that’s tackling fast fashion at a grassroots level – right here in rural Dorset. From her home at Hawkers Farm, near East Stour, she’s building more than a brand. It’s a space for conversation, creativity … and quiet rebellion. ‘I grew up in Dorset – Dorchester, Parkstone, West Parley,’ Jennifer says. ‘When I married and left the Navy we decided to live in Dorset but in the north of the county.’ The farm itself is part of the story. ‘It was semi-derelict when we bought it. It had been a dairy farm, but wasn’t viable anymore. ‘So I began restoring it – the hedgerows, the orchard, the biodiversity. We’ve planted trees, reintroduced habitats, and installed a ground-source heat pump. That sense of regeneration, of making something live again, inevitably runs through everything I do.’ Including, of course, fashion.
All images: Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
A bundle of sari fabrics awaiting repurposing for Jennifer’s Wabi Sabey project: upcycled saris and redesigned clothes for sale – image Courtenay Hitchcock The BV
Defashion Dorset ‘I’ve always made my own clothes. When I was 14, I didn’t have money for new things, so I started cutting up old dresses. Granny’s Attic in Bournemouth was my favourite place – 1920s, 30s, 50s dresses … I’d repurpose them while I taught myself how to sew.’ During lockdown, Jennifer looked at the disused milking parlour on the farm and had an idea. ‘We were originally going to turn it into an events space – which it is, of course – but I thought, why not use it for workshops? I can teach other people to upcycle, to sew … just to think differently about clothes.’ That idea grew into Defashion Dorset, an event now in its third year. The term ‘defashion’ came from the group Fashion Act Now (FAN) of which Jennifer is a member: “Defashion is a transition to post-fashion clothing systems that are regenerative, local, fair and sufficient for the needs of communities.” – FAN
The barn is the home of Hawkers Re-Creatives, a hub for sustainable fashion. A free drop-in stitching group runs on Thursdays, from 10am to 12.30pm, when attendees can learn how to mend, make a skirt, upcycle a garment, embroider … or just enjoy the company of like-minded people
So what does Defashion Dorset actually look like? ‘It’s a two-day event here at the farm – Friday 16th and Saturday 17th May this year. There are talks, drop-in workshops, and selected exhibitors. One speaker is bringing knitwear made using wool from Tamarisk Farm in West Bexington alongside samples of cloth dyed using waste bark from Somerset orchards. It’s about using what we already have. Brigitte Kaltenbacher of Beekay Makes will be joining us on Sat 17th, talking about her project to grow flax and make a pair of jeans from the fibre. She will also be demonstrating how to make nettle fibre. That kind of local innovation is so exciting.’ Jennifer’s goal is simple: to inspire. ‘I want people to imagine a local clothing culture. Dorset farmers produce fleeces that often go unused. Why not make use of them? Wear more wool. Buy better. Buy local. Buy second-hand.’ But there’s a harder edge to her passion too – a concern about the scale of waste and its impact.
Jennifer with Lynne Franks (right), who was a guest speaker at DeFashion Dorset in 2024The barn is decorated with fabric crafts and art projects
Not a dumping ground ‘Over 100 billion garments are made every year. That’s more than the number of people on the planet. Most are made to fall apart. Only 30 per cent of clothes donated to charity shops are actually sold. The rest? Burned. Buried. Or shipped to Ghana to rot on a beach. We’ve got to stop that.’ Jennifer doesn’t just talk. She organises, recycles, and repurposes. ‘I’ve got piles of clothing sorted here – some will be going to Ukraine, some to a new charity shop in Shaftesbury, some to the Wardrobe Foundation. I’m happy to advise people where to send their clothes. I want to keep clothes out of landfill.’ Hawkers Re-Creatives holds a free weekly sewing session at Hawkers Farm – Thursday morning drop-ins where anyone can bring a project or learn something new. ‘There’s no fixed cost – just a donation if you can. We’ve got machines, overlockers, fabric, knitting needles, even a tabletop loom on the way. I just want people to use the space.’
And Jennifer’s calling for some more help. ‘I’d love to run after-school clubs, or get more groups using this place. But I simply can’t do it all myself. Volunteers would be so welcome.’ So what’s next? ‘I’d love to see more hubs like this across the country. There’s already a national Sustainable Fashion Week – Amelia Twine, who organises it, is speaking here in May. Last year, I ran satellite events across Dorset: clothes swaps in Sherborne, Shaftesbury, Sturminster … films and talks … It was full on – but brilliant.’ And for those further afield? ‘Start your own hub! Look up Sustainable Fashion Week. Check the Sustainable Dorset website – there’s a really useful textile hub on there, with lots of listings. Join in. It’s growing.’ For Jennifer, this is more than fashion. ‘It’s about change – the way we think, the way we live. And we can all start with what we wear.’
As well as the workshops and events, Jennifer runs the ‘Wear Me Out’ clothing library of occasion clothes, with a variety of outfits for weddings, parties and special occasions, including handbags and hats
celebrating the selection of four young players for the prestigious Dorset Cricket Talent Pathway. Max Moore (U10s), Jayden Keulemans (U12s), Lucas Bradford (U15/U16s), and Marina Pool (Girls U13s) will represent the county this summer. Marina makes history as the club’s first junior girl selected for the pathway – Head of Junior Cricket, Tim Bradford, says: ‘Their hard work has paid off, they fully deserve this opportunity. Marina’s success shows we’re heading in the right direction, and we hope it encourages more girls to give cricket a go.’ The club’s junior section has grown rapidly since restarting eight years ago with just six players. Today, more than 70 children attend Friday evening sessions. Shaftesbury CC’s All Stars Cricket returns in 2025 for ages 5–8, starting Friday 23rd May. Junior training (ages 5–15) begins Friday 18th April. To to get involved, email Tim on shaftesburycricket@outlook.com.
Shrinking Easter eggs, three buses and a chocolate artist in Wimborne It’s April, the Easter chocolate’s out (if you can still afford it), and Dorset Council has launched a ‘visionary’ transport plan that gives North Dorset… three Saturday buses. Hurrah?
From grumbles and glorious letters to chocolate-making wizardry, this first episode of the month is warm, witty and quietly furious in all the right places. (just hit play below to listen)
Editor’s Letter
Editor Laura Hitchcock reflects on The BV’s national award shortlist nod, the return of the Glanville foals, and a must-read piece by George Hosford on the collapse of the SFI scheme. “George writes with a barely contained fury that’s impossible to ignore – and entirely justified.”
Letters to the Editor: From Walkers to Farmers
This month’s postbag takes in the White Hart Link, elderly drivers, and the ever-divisive meat tax debate. ✅ Readers heap praise on the Dorset Insider ✅ Farmers ask not to be demonised for raising livestock ✅ Environmentalists say it’s time to face the facts ✅ A walker wonders why Blandford and Sturminster are skipped by a local trail ✅ Margaret F from Milborne Port concurs with last month’s letter writer on the risk of elderly relatives driving longer than they should – but fears there’s no easy solution: “Until we fix rural transport, we’ll keep having quiet crises on country roads.”
The Grumbler: Three Buses and a Vague Promise
This month’s writer of our anonymous column isn’t buying the glossy headlines around Dorset Council’s new transport plan. “North Dorset gets the long-awaited return of three Saturday services. No weekday buses. No evening buses. No progress. Urban voters see improvements. Rural ones see spin.” This is rural Dorset’s reality – a county divided by postcode and prioritisation.
Chocolate from Dorset
The Little House’s Easter Egg this year
Dan Crossman and Anna Rakasa of The Little House artisan chocolatiers in Wimborne share the realities of running a luxury business in a time of cocoa chaos. “Three years ago, we paid £70 for 10kg of chocolate. Now it’s £170.” – Dan “We matched flavours and colours to women in history – a chocolate homage.” – Anna
From flavour alchemy to corporate commissions in bespoke colours, this duo are flying the flag for creative, sustainable Dorset chocolate – one beautiful Bon Bon at a time. “We pause production in summer – our workshop isn’t air conditioned, and chocolate is fussy.”
These stories are all based on pieces from April’s BV, available to read here. News, farming, art, food, politics, wildlife, letters, horses – and photography that’ll make you pause.
The BV: Best Regional Publication in the UK (ACE Awards) and Regional News Site of the Year (Press Gazette) 2024. Free to read, packed with Dorset, and impossible to put down.
George William Lewis Jr refuses to be pigeonholed. A novelist, fashion muse and actor, the Dominican born (but Florida raised) artist slips between his various pursuits with consummate ease. But it is his work as solo artist Twin Shadow which really stands out. Through his five previous LP’s, Lewis Jr has cycled through electro-indie pop, gospel, soul, minimalist pop, RnB and experimental pop in a manner at times thrilling but often chaotic. His sixth album Georgie, however, is the first time he has settled into a sound and a mood with its own distinct identity, and in doing so has produced one of the years finest records so far. The experimentalism is still there, but it is restrained and contained in such a way that it serves the songs rather than defining them. From the first bars of opening track Totally Blue, the stripped-back arrangement of traditional church organ and modern auto-tuned vocals creates a soundscape which manages to feel both familiar and new. Elsewhere, Good Times features a lead electric bass reminiscent of the opening of 9-9 (from R.E.M.’s 1983 debut Murmur), Geor(g.i.e.) reinforces its classic 1980’s credentials by making tasteful use of an effect best describe as ‘stretched cassette tape’, and Headless Hero employs a Paper Kites-esque guitar arpeggio against clashing synths to excellent effect. While at times the lyrics here offer little more than standard pop fare (“But how come when I’m thinking of you now it’s only the good times”, “As soon as you leave me and I’m out of time will you do it tenderly”, “You know the cost, we know the reasons why, oh why”), they are delivered with such conviction, and with such beautiful melody, that this does little to lower the enjoyment of listening through such a rewarding set of songs. 4/5 stars.
Matthew Ambrose presents Under The Radar on Tuesday evening at 7pm on Abbey104. Broadcasting on 104.7FM and online at abbey104.com.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance celebrated its 25th anniversary on 21st March. In that time, they have flown more than 29,000 missions and saved countless lives. To honour this important milestone, and to show my gratitude for the dedicated service of their members, volunteers, and supporters, I have laid down an Early Day Motion in Parliament so that the whole House can recognise their hard work. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance survives entirely thanks to the support and donations from our community. However, demand for their help now outstrips the amount they raise each year. Last year they were called out 3,000 times, compared with 800 missions in 2016. If we are to keep this vital and life-saving service, we will need to help them raise more money going forward. I will do everything I can to help. This week also marked another milestone as I submitted my 400th written question. Being a Liberal Democrat and having campaigned hard on the issue it will come as no surprise that the question was about sewage! In this case, I asked what the Department for the Environment was doing about sewage discharge at Lyme Regis and Charmouth. Depressingly, despite what we all know about the amount of sewage in our rivers and beaches, I discovered the Environment Agency is not currently pursuing any enforcement action against the water companies in the Lyme and Charmouth area. It’s something I will be raising with the Environment Agency. My last act before heading to the Liberal Democrat autumn conference in Harrogate was to speak in the debate on protections for coastal communities. West Dorset is proudly home to the world-famous Jurassic Coast. However, like many coastal and rural communities, we are often overlooked by London governments and suffer from gross under-funding compared with urban areas. One of the proposals we are lobbying the Government about is the appointment of a dedicated Minister for Coastal Communities to help ensure a better deal for areas such as ours, and to address the funding imbalance so that we can get the vital services we need. Edward Morello MP for West Dorset
For a small rural town, Sturminster Newton is attracting some seriously big literary hitters. This June, Damien Lewis, Tracy Chevalier, and Natasha Solomons are among the headline acts for the Sturminster Newton Literary Festival – a ten-day celebration (6th to 15th June) of books, words, ideas, and community. Now in its sixth year, Stur LitFest continues to grow, with a packed 2025 programme including over 20 events, from scenic walks and author talks to a writing competition and cultural activities celebrating both local and international voices. There’s international flair too – the festival will be part of a UK book launch by Australian writers Jonathan and Christine Hainsworth, whose research has uncovered the story of Susanna Ashley-Cooper, 4th Countess of Shaftesbury, who championed the original (and uncut!) Shakespeare plays in the 1740s.
Other programme highlights for 2025 include:
Damien Lewis, military historian and author of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare bringing to life daring SAS escapes
Internationally acclaimed author (and North Dorset resident) Tracy Chevalier on Venetian glassmakers and Sturminster artist and suffragette Mary Lowndes
Adventurer Jessica Hepburn, the first woman to run the London Marathon, climb Everest and swim the Channel
Rachel McLean and Tess Burnett, award-winning crime writers with a West Country twist (Rachael will be discussing How to Find a Dorset Location to Dump a Body, which is always useful to know)
Greg Duncan on his family’s links to the French Resistance
Lorraine Gibson delving into the glitzy fashion of Elvis Presley in what would have been his 90th year
The programme also honours local legends Hardy, Barnes and Young, celebrates new writers, and includes a special event aimed at welcoming the local Bulgarian community. Tickets and full programme: sturlitfest.com
