The Dolphin Centre in Poole is encouraging local small businesses and start-ups to trade at its Street Market.
The Dolphin Centre Poole
Introduced in September last year, the Dolphin Centre is encouraging applications from all Dorset makers and small businesses.
Based in the main mall area of the Dolphin, stalls can be booked for initial trials with single day stall hire currently available, encouraging online businesses that may be interested in exploring physical retail. Carmen Moore, Community Manager at the Dolphin Centre, said: “The Street Market is a way for The Dolphin to champion all the wonderful makers and small businesses here on our doorstep..”
A business that has been trading at the Street Market since its inception is &gooey, owned by Andreia Sousa. Specialising in brigadieros, a traditional Brazilian truffle, Andreia has highlighted how her time trading at the market has brought invaluable experience. &gooey originally exclusively sold its products through its website, before Andreia decided to take the plunge and book a weekly trading slot at the Dolphin.
Andreia said: “Nothing is better than face-to-face contact with our customers. The Dolphin Centre offers reasonable rent and everyone was super friendly. We met so many other businesses with amazing people behind them – they’ve have been so kind to share advice and support one another, which is a beautiful thing to see.”
The Dolphin Street Market is part of a wider initiative to breathe new life into Poole’s high street.
Trading hours for the markets are from 9am-5:30pm every Saturday and Sunday, and costs start from £20 per day.If you are interested in learning more about the markets, please contact carmen@ dolphinshoppingcentre.co.uk
In the last of their series on Trusts, family lawyer Clare Sanderson runs through the key reasons making a Trust may be right for your family.
Expert help on common domestic legal issues from the team at Porter Dodson LLP. Shutterstock
A Trust is a legal structure which distinguishes between the legal and beneficial ownership of an asset. The Trustees are the legal owners whilst one or more people receive the actual benefit. Trusts have been in existence for thousands of years – however they do still play an important role in modern day life. They are still frequently created by Will, or during a person’s lifetime. Trusts can also arise automatically by law and can be created by the Courts.
Although Trusts are often associated with tax and estate planning, they do not always need to be aimed at saving tax. There are a number of situations where Trusts can be particularly important:
To provide for a child or vulnerable beneficiary Due to their age or vulnerability some beneficiaries are unable to own assets themselves and therefore the Trustees hold the assets for their benefit. A Trust protects such beneficiaries against undue influence from other people, or against the beneficiary’s own immaturity. The Trust could end at a specified date, for example when the beneficiary turns 25, which is when they then take control of the assets, but for vulnerable or disabled beneficiaries it may continue for the beneficiary’s lifetime.
Asset protection
Placing assets into certain types of trusts can protect against creditors or marriage breakdown as the assets held do not belong to any particular beneficiary. Sometimes people gift their assets into trust but include themselves as one of the beneficiaries; these are known as “Settlor Interested” trusts which can have adverse tax implications so caution should always be taken. The assets are however technically outside of their ownership and therefore out of reach of potential third party claims.
Inheritance planning
Trusts can be used to ensure that a person’s wishes regarding the distribution of their assets after death are met, particularly where there are children from a previous relationship or family tensions.
Where assets are left outright to a particular person there is the risk that they may then pass to unintended recipients, if that person remarries or became bankrupt.
A Trust allows a beneficiary to benefit from an asset but with limited control, so they are not able to dispose of it.
A Trust can be extremely important in the right circumstances, provided the document creating it is drawn up correctly. Professional advice should always be sought to ensure that the right Trust is created, and to avoid any unintended tax consequences.
If you are interested in discussing your own situation, please contact Clare Sanderson on 01823 625818 or clare. [email protected]
A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips. This Month: energy companies going bust and ‘green scams’
Q: My New Year’s Resolution is to make my home more energy efficient, to help me save money and to help save the planet too. What steps can I take and what should I look out for?
A: Citizens Advice has found that in the South West, 65% of adults are thinking about making their 3. homes more energy efficient in the next 12 months but 36% said they have already been targeted by a ‘green scam’. Scammers have no qualms about playing on our need to do our bit for the environment, so if you’re thinking of making your home more energy efficient, take your time doing research, getting quotes and reading reviews. And as always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 4. Being scammed doesn’t just leave us out of pocket; it can leave us feeling very vulnerable, isolated and really knock our confidence. If you’ve been scammed, or are worried about how to spot a scam, our advisers are here to listen and help.
Citizens Advice in Dorset has five top tips to stay safe when making your home more energy efficient:
Do your research. Before you buy anything, check the company or website you’re using. Read reviews on different websites, ask for references, verify the company’s details using external sources, and read any terms and conditions.
Check certified schemes. When looking for a trader to use, check certified schemes that recommend traders, like TrustMark – the Government’s endorsed quality scheme. If yours is an older home or a listed property, make sure that the scheme is appropriate and that you have permission for the work to be carried out.
Get written quotes and a contract. Try to get quotes from at least three different contractors to help you decide if you’re getting a fair price. Once you’ve decided, always get a written contract before you give a contractor the go-ahead. If something goes wrong it can help get what you paid for, or at least get some of your money back.
Pay with a secure method. Credit cards offer the most protection, followed by PayPal or debit card. If you’re paying for large home improvement works, see if you can pay in stages, and avoid paying for costs up- front where possible.
Be suspicious. Scammers and rogue traders can be very smart. Take your time to make sure you’re happy with your decision – if someone pressures you or contacts you out of the blue, it’s most likely a scam.
If you’ve been scammed, talk to your bank or card company immediately if you’ve handed over any financial and sensitive information or made a payment. See Citizens Advice’s page on What to do if you’ve been scammed for more information.
To report a scam or ask for advice contact Citizens Advice consumer service. Offline scams, like telephone, post and doorstep, can be reported via the Citizens Advice consumer service or by calling 0808 223 1133. Report online scams to the dedicated Scams Action service either online or on 0808 250 5050.
Text scams can be reported to your mobile phone provider by forwarding it to 7726. You can also report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Q: I keep hearing on the radio that energy companies are going bust. I am worried about what will happen if my energy company goes bust. Will I still have gas and electricity or should I go and buy a dozen candles?
A: You’ll still have gas and electricity if your energy supplier goes out of business. There is a tried and tested safety net in place to ensure things keep running if a firm goes bust. If you can, take a meter reading, make a note of your account balance and keep hold of any bills. The gas and electricity regulator, Ofgem, will move you to a new supplier. This usually takes a few weeks. Don’t switch tariff or supplier until your account is moved to the new supplier. The Government is considering options to support customers if larger suppliers fail – but whatever happens any credit balance should be protected and you won’t lose your gas and electricity.
Are you prepared for this new year? Dorset Chamber’s CEO Ian Girling suggests a quick business re-think.
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I’d like to belatedly wish you a very happy and successful 2022 – and I hope that you had the opportunity for a break to relax. The Christmas period is always a good time to reflect and look at your plans for the future – to improve both your business, and the quality of your personal life. Here are 10 resolutions that you may want to consider in your business for the coming year:
1. Review your business plan. This isn’t just something you occasionally dust off for the bank manager. It should be a living relevant plan for your business giving you structure and direction. It should also include your financial forecast as well. Now is the ideal time to make sure you have direction for the year ahead.
2. Within this, it’s worth reviewing how you are embedding technology in your business. This should include your digital marketing and online presence, but also how your business is using technology to improve productivity and to better utilise resources.
3. This is a good time to review your employee policies to ensure they are legally up to date but also relevant. It’s a good idea to specifically look at your well- being and reward policies for your staff. A healthy and motivated team is the backbone of any business.
4. Plan your holidays. This may sound strange given you’ve possibly just had a break but planning a holiday provides a psychological boost; something to look forward to and work towards.
5. Be part of a business organisation or community. You’d expect me to say this, but I would recommend any business should be a part of a business organisation. You’ll find benefits for your business and importantly be part of a community of like- minded people which is a hugely important.
6. Undertake a customer survey and review what your competition are up to. Ask your customers about the value you deliver for them and also look for ways you can improve. It’s always good to have a look at your competition and see how you can strive to stay ahead. Even look at any best practice you can learn from them.
7. Look at how you can improve your work and life balance. Running a business can be stressful, and can place pressures on our time and life outside work. Take time to consider how you can improve this. It could be as simple as removing email from your phone, or making a conscious effort to leave work by a certain time each day.
8. Look at your environmental policy – do you even have one? Businesses are facing increasing pressure to do the right thing for our environment and this is something every business owner needs to be considering.
9. Learn a new skill. It’s never too late to sharpen up your business skills. There are a huge amount of courses around, many free, to help you improve your skills in business.
10. Finally, if you don’t already, get involved with a charitable cause. This is a great thing to do and encouraging your employees and even allowing time off for volunteering is hugely motivational and also develops their skills.
Nicholas Hely Hutchinson explains that art must share an artist’s emotion, and provides some sage advice for young artists trying to find their voice. Interview by Edwina Baines.
In the studio with Nicholas Hely Hutchinson image: Edwina Baines
Artist Nicholas Hely Hutchinson’s inspiration is fired during walks with his two lurchers, Olive and Martha, around the beautiful Dorset coast and countryside. His paintings are easily identifiable. He observes and sketches the changing rhythms of the seasons.
‘Little things inspire me and I try to capture those moments. Sometimes it happens when you least expect it because it touches you, because it’s poetic.
‘Before coming back to the studio, I might do a sketch to get the composition and to remember the colours. I don’t make any initial marks but use large brushes to under-paint the canvas. When this is dry, I use rags and brushes to build up the layers of paint. Slowly I move from larger to smaller brushes, I use fine sables, to create details. I want the viewer to share the same feeling I felt in that moment: a smattering of winter snow, a covering of frost, a bluebell wood in Spring – or the vulnerability of a little bird in the landscape.’
I was told I’d be bored!
Nicholas studied at St Martin’s School of Art and Bristol Polytechnic, where the emphasis was not only on technique but also on the History of Art.
This latter gave him much of the rigour for his work. At the start of his career, he was told that once he had got over the initial excitement of being a full-time artist, he would be bored by the time he got to forty. However, he told me: ‘I wake up most mornings thinking about painting. It’s constantly exciting. I haven’t got bored yet!
In his studio, Nicholas shared a painting currently underway image: Edwina Baines
‘The trouble is, I have too many ideas and not enough time to get them all down. That was one of the good things about lockdown, it did provide more time. There are always distractions – but I’m very disciplined. I treat it like a job – but not a job I don’t want to go to. It’s a bit like an itch. I want to be in the studio. I just potter along! On a good day I work all day, walk Olive and Martha the lurchers in the afternoon and then carry on until about seven.
‘You have to have the discipline and the passion – but if you want to have a family life you have to do a juggling act.’
Break the rules
Nicholas likes to have a clear idea of how his finished painting should look and he suggests that amateur artists should follow this rule. Not that he is keen on some of the established ways: “Personally I always think there aren’t rules to painting. I’ve never quite understood why these rules exist. For example, you are discouraged from using black. “Most people who are learning want to get things‘ right’ but it is more important to know what the painting should look like. I try to get the essence of the thing, a fleeting moment in time, rather than trying to paint just what is there. After a certain period of time, you will find your voice. I tend to use the same limited palette of perhaps 10 colours and I use a warm and cold version of each.’
Nicholas chatted to Edwina in his home studio, surrounded by recent worksImage: Edwina Baines
He continued: ‘A painting can create a mood with the colours you use or the thickness of the paint.
‘That’s what I find most interesting. Essentially, I’m a landscape painter – but I never feel that tells the whole story. When you look at Van Gogh, you can see his excitement about nature. It’s a passion that he gets that into the painting – and we can still see that. Or we can look at Graham Sutherland’s paintings before the War. They are dark and gloomy with a sense of foreboding. Artists can convey the way they feel about things in a painting – and the observer can sense that.’
In an Autumn Wood’ – one of Nicholas Hely Hutchinson’s digital works
Some of the paintings show a clear passion for the sea, especially when the weather is not always benign. ‘A stormy sea is such an interesting subject for a painter,’ Nicholas remarked. The exhilaration of Portland Bill often provides this drama and the different forces of nature are beautifully portrayed in some of his works.
Nicholas also showed me some digital artwork created on his iPad.
‘You can get such wonderful textures using the software. It’s such a good medium. I tend to complete some on holiday when it is easy to carry the iPad around. You can even do these paintings on the plane and you can use all the colours without the mess.
Bonfire on a Summer Night’ – one of Nicholas Hely Hutchinson’s digital works
Sometimes I turn these images into paintings. I often wonder what Turner would have made of this technology. I bet he would have loved it!’
I had the privilege of being shown the dining-room mural Nicholas painted between 1993 -1995, soon after the family had moved into their current house.
Nicholas shared his dining room mural with Edwina (accompanied by one of his lurchers)
As well as favourite local locations, it includes images of several of his pets and even the Cerne Abbas Giant. The mural covered the doors, walls and even the ceiling of the room and I’m sure would look beautiful on a candlelit evening. A real labour of love.
The prestigious Portland Gallery in London has represented Nicholas’ work for many years and another successful one-man show was held recently. A peek at the gallery’s website will convey how few of his paintings remain unsold:
It has been widely reported that the new ‘no fault divorce’ will change the landscape of getting divorced, but what does that mean? Lesley Powell of Battens Solicitors investigates.
Currently, in order to petition for divorce in England and Wales, you have to prove that your relationship has irretrievably broken down – based on a number of factors, the most common of which are adultery or unreasonable behaviour.
You must provide reasons as to what behaviour was unreasonable. In situations where couples have ‘fallen out of love’ this can cause a high degree of animosity, picking apart a relationship for reasons that are simply needed for a form. The coming changes mean that parties will now be able to make a joint application for a divorce, preventing assigning blame in a situation where there is none.
Terminology
The language around divorce is also going to change. It will no longer be a ‘petition’, but an ‘application’, and the person who applies, will be an applicant. There will also no longer be a decree nisi and a decree absolute, but instead a conditional order and a final order respectively. These language changes are done with an aim of neutralising the tone and bringing it in line with other family proceedings.
Applications
No evidence will be required for the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship, just a signed statement that the relationship has broken down. In a joint application, this will be unchallengeable, as you will have both agreed that the marriage has broken down. The ability to defend a no fault application will also be removed, and replaced with the ability to contest only on very limited grounds:
• Jurisdiction • The marriage did not exist • Fraud • Lack of procedural compliance
This allows for cases where there are true issues of law that could impact the validity of a divorce to be dealt with appropriately. Cross applying, where both parties independently apply for a divorce, will also be removed. In instances where two applications are made, the divorce will become disputed instead, as it will be assumed the parties do not agree.
Timescales
The legislation is further introducing new timelines, with a 20 week window to permit reflection after issue of proceedings and before the conditional order can be made. This allows for a chance for reconciliation, but also a chance for agreement of practical arrangements for the future. The period between the new conditional order being issued, and the ability to apply for a final order (previously the decree absolute) will remain at 6 weeks.
What Next?
Seeking legal advice on the breakdown of a relationship is always advised, especially in situations where there are children or joint property. A solicitor can highlight issues that you may not have noticed, and support you with communication between you and your partner at this difficult time.
For more information contact Lesley Powell at Battens Solicitors on 01935 846089 [email protected]
The distances between us and the stars are simply mind-blowing and beautiful, says our astronomer Rob Nolan.
Christmas and New Year were mild, and wet.
This is not ideal for astronomy. In fact we had only one or two clear nights throughout December. However I did manage to capture a real favourite of mine, and one of the first objects I captured when I started this hobby, the Orion Nebula (M42, also known as The Hunter). This is part of one of the most dominating constellations in the winter night sky.
It is a diffuse nebula situated in the Milky Way, south of Orion’s Belt in the constellation of Orion and it is one of the brightest nebulae in the night sky.
It is 1,344 light-years away and is the closest region of massive star formation to Earth. At an estimated 24 light-years across, it has a mass of about 2,000 times that of our Sun.
The Orion Nebula is one of the most scrutinised and photographed objects in the night sky and is among the most intensely studied celestial features.
The Orion Nebula (M42, also known as The Hunter)
A clue to life’s beginning
The nebula has revealed much about the process of how stars and planetary systems are formed from collapsing clouds of gas and dust.
The core of the Orion nebula (The Trapezium cluster) is extremely difficult to expose without blowing out the details due to the extremely bright stars. Many shots you see of Orion simply have a white, blown- out core. There’s also so much surrounding gas and nebulosity; space really isn’t just black and empty!
This image was taken using my new 350mm Refractor Telescope, meaning those of you with a DSLR or mirror-less camera and telephoto lens can also take a snap of the nebula using short exposures of 10 seconds or fewer if using a static tripod.
The Night Sky, January 2022 – what to see this month:
The new year began with a spectacular Quadrantid meteor shower which peaked on the 3rd and 4th of January, happily coinciding with the first clear nights of the month – hopefully you had the heads-up from my BV Facebook Post and got outside to see them. It was absolutely fascinating! The Orion Constellation dominates the sky at this time of year, making it the perfect image of the month for me. The Orion Nebula is easily visible to the unaided eye, but using binoculars you’ll be able to make out luminous clouds of gas. Look for the fuzzy patch below the three distinctive stars making up Orion’s Belt. The Earth reached Perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 4th January at 6.54 am precisely. At that time we were a mere 147 million km away from our local star.
Evening turns to morning
At the beginning of the Month, Venus appeared as the Evening Star, but since the 9th January, after passing between us and the Sun, Venus now appears as the Morning Star as you look to the south-east around 7am. Mercury continues to be visible low in the evening sky, fading as it reached its greatest separation from the Sun on January 7th. Saturn has been in Capricornus this month, low in the sky towards the south-west setting around 6pm, but will disappear from view shortly, now we’re in the middle of the month. Jupiter lies to the upper left of these planets early in the evening, setting around 9 pm. Look to the far side of Aquarius to see Neptune setting below the horizon around 9.30 pm, closely followed by Uranus residing in Pisces, setting later at 2am.
Mars will rise early morning at 6 am – look to the south-east as it moves from near Antares to Ophiuchus and Sagittarius as the month continues. This next event is time specific: between 5:20 and 6:50 am on January 26th, look to the constellation Lebra to see the Moon pass in front of the double star known as Zubenelgenubi. At the end of the month, on the 29th of January, the Crescent Moon lies to the right of Venus, with Mars in between before dawn.
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Estate Team in this newly created role working 37.5 hours per week, all year round.
The successful candidate will work alongside the Head of Estates to ensure the smooth operation of the department which encompasses maintenance, grounds and gardens. Responsibilities will include developing and progressing maintenance schedules, providing project support and co-ordination of day to day reactive maintenance. The post holder may be expected to participate in ‘hands on’ maintenance tasks themselves when required and they will form part of the department rota to provide weekend support and call out duties.
We are looking for someone with relevant experience within the building, maintenance or grounds & gardens industry, and a good understanding of multiple trades. It is essential for the successful candidate to have good leadership and managerial skills and experience.
In addition to a competitive salary, we can offer a non-contributory pension scheme, 30 days annual leave and membership of our Sports Centre.
For further information and an application form, please go to:
Clayesmore is committed to the safeguarding and promotion of children’s and young people’s welfare and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Due to the growth of our service provision, we are now recruiting additional Adult Social Care Support Workers.
Working Hrs: Full or Part Time Considered – includes evening and alternating weekend working on a two week rolling rota. Plus sleep-ins, also on a rota. No split shifts.
£9.90 per hour (From £20,592.00 per year)
£72 paid if you do a sleep shift
32 days annual holiday (inclusive of Bank Holidays) – pro-rata for part-time staff.
Key tasks:
To work in supported living and day service environments, promoting independence and enriching the lives of those who use the service.
To deliver person centred care and promote independent living skills in a supported living environment, day opportunities and respite setting.
To support service users to access activities and opportunities that promote and build work-based skills.
To support service users with accessing chosen activities that promote positive outcomes.
To record and provide written reports on support provided to service users, including achievements they have made.
To ensure service users needs are met and supported at all times, as per their care and support plan.
To support the senior team in implementing care and support plans and informing changes as necessary.
To promote and adhere to Employ My Ability’s Health and Safety at Work policy and procedures.
To fulfil requirements of Employ My Ability’s appraisal and support and development systems, supporting effective practice.
To carry out such other duties as may be required by the Social Care Department and Employ My Ability Partners.
Click here to download the application form and then please apply by sending it to [email protected]
