About Us

This project was developed by Volunteer Centre Dorset, Weymouth Area Development Trust, Age UK North, South and West Dorset, and #HelpAndKindness, and is being continued into 2024 by WADT and #HelpAndKindness.

Here are the objectives for the Weymouth Information Shop.

Benefits for Weymouth

• Bridging gaps by creating an inclusive place for help, welcome and support for all children, young people, parents, carers, families, older adults where information, signposting or support can be given in an informal setting
• Providing residents and visitors to Weymouth with information about local services and businesses
• Signposting and facilitating access to community services e.g. Citizens Advice, First Point, Age UK, Food Banks, Tumbledown, etc.
• Helping reduce reliance on statutory provision by signposting to community services and support
• Helping people to access support sooner so they don’t reach crisis point, as well as linking to crisis services if needed
• Helping people contact services and / or accompanying them to access support where needed
• Giving people a place to talk; air concerns, share ideas, and reflect on the needs and strengths of the community together

How we do this...

• Develop a home base that encourages partnership working
• Offer a front door to local voluntary and community sector services
• Focus on the needs for the residents and visitors of Weymouth a place based approach
• Become a place where services from voluntary and community sector, as well as statutory services, can hot-desk and have 'day clinics'
• Host services that want to develop new connections to the community, and build awareness and project engagement
• Support a hub of positive work, with a strength based approach discovering and promoting strengths within our people and community
• Test and try different models of working and engagement with the community and between partners in Weymouth

Partners

The project has been supported by:

• #HelpAndKindness
• Weymouth Area Development Trust
• Age UK North South and West Dorset
• Volunteer Centre Dorset
• Dorset Council
• Dorset NHS Clinical Commissioning Group
• Public Health Dorset
• Weymouth Town Council
• Weymouth BID