Julian Richards presents the world premiere of ‘Shaftesbury Abbey – The Movie’ Digging, Dirt, Drama and Discoveries – all will be revealed! The film explores King Alfred’s founding of Shaftesbury’s Saxon Burgh and the history of the Abbey; then follows the story of the SAVED project from geophysical survey to the 2019 season of excavation carried out by local schoolchildren and teams of volunteer archaeologists.
After the screening there will be time for chat and questions. Tickets: £12 Adults, £10 FoSA and Students, Bar open from 6.30pm
Hours Required: Part-time (ideally 21 hours per week term time, 12 hours per week holiday time – exact hours to be discussed and agreed at interview stage)
Rate of Pay: Competitive Salary
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract (potential to become permanent)
Milton Abbey is seeking an experienced groom to support our yard manager in the provision of care for our student liveries and loan horses. This role incorporates routine equine husbandry and yard maintenance, as well as grooming and preparing horses for ridden work.
There may be some riding available for the successful candidate, depending on experience.
The successful candidate will be required to undertake the following duties:
Mucking out/poo picking fields
Turning out and catching in
Grooming
Tacking up, untacking and after-care post-exercise
Stable yard and field maintenance e.g. sweeping, weeding
Performing health checks
Assisting with farrier/vet visits
We are looking for someone who will perform all duties to a high standard, has the ability work well as part of a team, with good communication skills.
The successful candidate must hold a British Horse Society Stage 2 Care (or equivalent) and a Level 3 BTEC Equine Management (or equivalent).
Further details may be obtained from our website or from HR on 01258 880484 or email [email protected].
Applications must be submitted on the School’s application form. interviews to take place in early January.
Milton Abbey School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The appointment will be the subject of an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Milton Abbey School are urgently in need of a School Farm Manager and Land Based Studies Technician.
Milton Abbey are looking to appoint a qualified and enthusiastic School Farm Manager to support the teaching and delivery of co-curricular activities in the Land Based Studies Department. The successful applicant will be responsible for the management and maintenance of the School Farm. A passion for high standards of animal welfare is essential and we are very interested in applicants with equine or shoot management expertise, although this is not essential.
The role is full time and all year round. The successful applicant will have experience of managing farm livestock and maintaining machinery. Qualifications in land-based subjects is an advantage, as is licenses for equipment like RTV and chainsaw.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Specific responsibilities include the following, although this list is by no means exhaustive:
The daily running of the School Farm including (but not exclusively):
the full responsibility for the care and feeding of all livestock and poultry, keeping welfare logs as required
administering veterinary medicines as required and keeping records for welfare purposes
ordering feed, bedding, veterinary items and consumables as required
ensuring the safe storage of farm machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals
working in line with budgetary constraints
To contribute to teaching lessons and the delivery of co-curricular activities as appropriate either through assisting and supervising practical work, work experience pupils or sharing technical knowledge. This may include the completion of witness statements.
Assisting teaching staff in preparation for practical lessons – preparing tools and materials, setting up tasks and clearing away at the end of the lesson.
To work with the pupils and staff in the Land Based Studies Department on practical environmental/estate skills work and shoot management work to meet the requirements of the management agreement with Forestry England and the academic curriculum.
Complying with relevant legislation and codes of practice in all respects.
To organise and facilitate the movement of livestock on and off the farm including the keeping of accurate records for audit purposes. Arranging the slaughter of livestock and the sale of farm produce.
To organise and facilitate the planting and growing of crops / vegetables including the keeping of accurate records for pupil assessment purposes. Arranging the preparation of crops / vegetables for sale, and the sale of farm produce.
To keep the School farm and stables facilities clean and tidy at all times.
To assist with visitor tours of the School Farm and Stables facilities as required. Provide support and liaison as required for department development projects.
To carry out paddock and infrastructure maintenance for the farm and stables and assist the Director of Land Based Studies in maintenance planning.
To be responsible for the planning and carrying out practical work surrounding the Land Based Studies areas of the School.
To keep the Land Based Studies store tidy and maintain and audit stocks of equipment necessary for delivering the BTEC courses. Ensure that all equipment, manual and motorised, is safe and suitable for use by pupils and staff and arrange servicing/repair as required.
Comply with relevant health and safety requirements and assist the Director of Land Based Studies by updating and keeping of records in the Land Based Studies Health and Safety files. This includes the legionella logbook for the Land Based Studies areas.
Provide basic instruction and training to all Land Based Studies pupils in the use of hand tools and motorised equipment such as strimmers and keep records of such training in the Land Based Studies Health and Safety files.
To attend department and School meetings and Inset days. These specifically include a weekly department meeting, the weekly full staff meeting and flagging plus any relevant Inset training sessions.
To occasionally provide cover, where deemed reasonable, for the management of the stables and care of the horses.
Where deemed reasonable, to assist the Estates team with wider estate management tasks.
Embark on Continuing Professional Development when the opportunity or need arises and attend Inset training for staff as directed by the Senior Deputy Head.
To carry out such other reasonable duties as might be directed by the Director of Land Based Studies, Deputy Head (Learning Development), the Senior Deputy Head or Head.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT:
This is a full time all year-round post to meet department and School requirements.
Appropriate training will be provided in support of Continued Professional Development.
Further details may be obtained from Milton Abbey on 01258 880484 or email [email protected].
Applications must be submitted on the School’s application form.
Interviews to be held early January.
Milton Abbey School is committed to safe guarding and promoting the welfare of children. The appointment will be the subject of an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Blandford law firm Blanchards Bailey LLP has had its place among the elite firms in the South West confirmed for the seventh successive year by the Legal 500, the UK’ independent guide to legal firms and solicitors.
The 2022 edition of The Legal 500 has endorsed the firm in six different practice areas, with 11 individual lawyers receiving recommendations and mentions. Blanchards Bailey has been listed in six categories:
In addition to the practice accolades, eleven members of the team were all individually recommended for their work. Blanchards Bailey Managing Partner Paul Dunlop said: “A huge thank you to our valued clients who took the trouble to participate in the Legal 500 interview process and agreed to be named – a sure sign of their confidence in the firm. “As a result we have been ranked alongside or above some much larger South West law firms. “The client’s feedback shows clearly our professionalism, exceptional expertise, clear communication skills and supportive nature.”
Alan Horne, Blanchards Bailey Partner and former CEO of the firm felt that the local community was a source of their own and their client’s ongoing success:
“We are proud to primarily employ local people and serve individual clients and businesses in the Dorset community. “The fact that we are thriving is indicative that many local businesses are also serving their communities and surviving these challenging times through a combination of customer service, loyal clients and the sheer will to succeed.” Blanchards Bailey are headquartered in Blandford with offices in Dorchester, Shaftesbury and Weymouth.
Five Bees require an executive assistant and property manager based near Sherborne in Dorset.
This position offers a variety of tasks and invites applicants who can offer a variety of skills including IT, sound admin skills and strong self management. Flexibility and long term vision and commitment are also key components.
Salary range £23 – £30K dependant on experience
For full job description and to apply please email [email protected]
It’s been a difficult time over the last couple of months; and there are still many challenges facing both consumers and businesses as we emerge from the pandemic, reflects Dorset Chamber’s CEO Ian Girling
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The last thing we needed as we return to normality was the fuel shortage, brought about by distribution problems due to a shortage of HGV drivers and then compounded by the panic buying that ensued. This situation was inevitable as soon as the transport minister Grant Shapps appeared on television to say “there is no need to panic buy” which I think was probably the worst thing he could have said; the impact of this was immediate with scenes reminiscent of the fuel crisis so many of us will remember, some 21 years ago. We are also now facing the unprecedented situation of second hand cars increasing in price due to a shortage in new cars, caused by post-lockdown demand and a shortage of semi- conductors. Autotrader are reporting that used car prices have increased an incredible 24% in the last 12 months, pushing the price of some used cars above the price of a new vehicle. It sometimes feels like we’ve entered the twilight zone.
Energy struggles
Both shortages of materials and rising prices continue to be a challenge for both consumers and businesses. It’s certainly a problem for the construction industry with huge increases in the costs of materials such as timber, and rising energy costs forcing up the very difficult to recruit and this rises to an incredible 92% in hospitality. In the third quarter, job vacancies here in Dorset reached highs not seen since costs of cement and bricks. Many building firms have told me this is a major challenge, and now a quote can only hold for a week at most given the continuing rise in prices. We are also seeing rocketing steel prices. The energy crisis is also a big concern for us as consumers and businesses, and these continued price rises will lead to further challenges in the economy. The inflation we are seeing will place financial pressure on us as consumers as the true value of our £ diminishes. This in turn will place wage pressure on businesses, another hurdle to overcome for many after the pandemic.
Recruitment woes
Businesses across most sectors are also facing huge challenges around recruitment. A recent national survey reported that on average 77% of firms looking for new people are finding it very difficult to recruit and this rises to an incredible 92% in hospitality. In the third quarter, job vacancies here in Dorset reached highs not seen since 2013 with 22,804 vacancies – a 35% increase on pre- pandemic level (January to March 2020), over 60% up on same period last year and 40% up on 2019. This is the last thing business needs as we try to re- open the economy.
A way forward
As I write this, it all seems a bit gloomy; and frankly we’ve all had enough of bad news. I haven’t even mentioned Brexit… However as we look forward it’s absolutely vital we see strong leadership in Westminster and Whitehall. We need a very clear forward path for our economy – and I don’t think this is evident at the moment. Nationally we are calling on Government for a clear road map for the recovery of our economy and it’s vital the Government focus on these issues that are affecting us all.
Battens Solicitors Debt Recovery Manager Angela Loveless has sometimely advice:
Rising food and energy prices, the end of Furlough and the cut to the £20 Universal Credit payment will put many households under severe financial pressure this winter.
Incomes have been hard hit since the beginning of the pandemic. For those in full time employment there was a fall in salary of 19% and for part time workers the fall was 35%. This meant that over a fifth of UK adults were unable to afford or pay for essential household items such as food, heating and lighting, as well as struggling to pay their mortgage or rent.
October also saw the withdrawal of the £20 a week increase to Universal Credit. 5.8 million people who had received UC will now see their incomes fall by £1,000 per year. This combined with increasing gas, fuel and food prices could push an estimated third of households into debt.
The debt trap
Many families turn to payday loan companies to survive, paying an extortionate amount of interest on their borrowings. Interest-free offers on credit cards seem appealing, but if the borrowing is not paid in full by the end of the agreed period then interest will be applied, resulting in mounting debt. ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ deals also exacerbate the problem.
Debt help
Before taking out credit, do your research. And ask yourself: do I really need this item? If it is an essential need, then before borrowing, speak to all of your creditors to see what they can do to help you – they have a duty to listen and are required to work with individuals to reach an amicable solution. If the household debt is completely out of control, with creditors not willing to work with you, you may consider applying for a Debt Relief Order, setting up an Individual Voluntary Arrangement or petitioning for your own bankruptcy. These steps may sound extreme and are not for everyone. There are pros and cons attached to these 3 options and those need to be looked at carefully before you take any action.
For further information contact [email protected] or call 01305 216221
Adam Scott from leading law firm Trethowans is being asked this question more and more, and it is not a straightforward one to answer.
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Can you afford to make the gift? The first thing to remember is not to forget about yourself. We are all living longer and before making any substantial gift it is important that you have enough set aside to cover any eventualities that life may throw at you. Sit down and make a budget, setting out all your annual expenses and your anticipated income; both now and in the future. Add a contingency and then ask can I really afford to make this gift?
Why are you making the gift?
There are of course any number of reasons that you may be considering gifting to your children, but I have outlined the two most common legal ones:
Gifting to save inheritance tax (IHT) Before making a gift with a view to saving IHT it is vital that you obtain professional advice. You need to be prepared that having made the gift you will not have the use of that asset anymore. This is very straightforward if you are gifting away ‘cash’ but when gifting property, perhaps an investment property or a holiday home, you must be satisfied that you cannot freely benefit from that property any longer. If you do, this will be classed as ‘a gift with reservation of benefit’ and for IHT purposes you will still be treated as owning the property and the value of it will form part of your estate when you die. However, once the gift has been made and assuming that you do not reserve any benefit in it, the asset will ‘fall out’ of your estate for IHT purposes after seven years.
When making a gift to save IHT it is also important to consider how you are going to make the gift; will it be an outright gift to a child?
What if they become bankrupt or get divorced? What if they squander that asset? Are they old enough to hold such an asset?
In these circumstances you may consider transferring the asset into trust. The advantage of using a trust rather than making an outright gift is that it is the trustees who control and own the asset and the trustees decide when the beneficiaries can utilise it. Importantly, you can be one of those trustees and therefore retain control. Trusts are often seen as being overly complicated but with the correct advice from an appropriate professional this need not be the case.
Gifting for capital protection
This is a very complex and controversial area, and there are many organisations that advertise products that promise protection against care home fees. But the simple fact is that no one can make such a promise, and you should be very careful when considering instructing an organisation who does. This is because the law states that if you deliberately deprive yourself of assets – which you would be by making a gift – with a view to avoiding the payment of care fees, then that gift can be declared void. When a financial assessment is carried out the asset which you have gifted would still be considered yours. That does not mean that there is not a place for making gifts, whether directly or in to trust, for the purposes of capital preservation but you need to be very clear on the reasons for doing this and your advisor should carefully discuss the options with you and the consequences of each of those options to enable you to make an informed decision. Gifting assets, for whatever reason, is an important part of family and wealth planning and along with making wills and lasting powers of attorney should be considered early on and reviewed regularly. The involvement of a suitably qualified and experienced professional will greatly assist in ensuring that you select the most suitable option for yourself and your family.
Simple mobility is a really important aspect of being healthy – but it is anarea often neglected in a regular exercise routine.
shutterstock – Mel Mitchell is a personal trainer, group exercise instructor & sports massage therapist based in Sturminster Newton.
I am definitely guilty of not giving mobility exercises the attention they deserve – and I 100% feel the benefits when I do! I would be the first to admit that it is often not until I have a stiff back that I realise I should incorporate a bit of mobility into my routine!
A full range of motion
Maintaining a full range of motion is important for so many reasons. Firstly, good mobility decreases your chance of injury. Any restricted movement in a joint can cause dysfunction, which in turn could lead to injury.
Having good mobility also gives us the potential to become stronger in the full range of motion. For example, if you have limited mobility within a squat, you will become strong but only within that limited motion, rather than in the full range of movement.
Working on good mobility first will then allow you to train and strengthen through all phases of the squat.
Quick and efficient
The beauty of mobility exercises is that they are
time efficient and easy to do. Even as little as 5-10 minutes per day can be massively beneficial, and will be enough to see real progress. Plus mobility exercises can be done almost anywhere – most can be done using just bodyweight or minimal equipment.
Cat Cow
One of my favourite mobility exercises is known as a spinal roll down (see video left), which I find massively beneficial for my back. Not only does it release tension but it also increases mobility in the back, neck and legs and leaves you feeling inches taller (which is always a bonus when you feel a little vertically challenged!). Spinal roll down is an easy exercise – simply rolling down, vertebrae by vertebrae, letting the head and arms hang. Another great exercise is known as the cat/cow (see video above) which helps relieve stiffness in the hip, back, shoulders and neck. This is performed on all fours, moving the spine from an arched position, lowering the belly button toward the ground, to rounding the back toward the ceiling.
Always happy to answer your questions – send them to me on [email protected]
