Busy Week January 2026

Hi readers, it’s Kerry and Emily here, still with lots going on this month.

A big piece of news for people in Dorset is the new council budget. What stands out for us, is around 60% of it is allocated to care and support for older people, vulnerable adults and children.

This shows just how much our community relies on care and support services to stay safe, healthy and well. It also shows why it’s so important that this money is spent in the right way and gets to the people who need it most.

Talking about health and care, we both went to a Health Action Group (HAG) meeting recently. It’s a meeting we go to regularly as part of our People First Dorset work. HAG brings people together to help improve health services for people with a learning disability and complex needs, and to make sure our voices are listened to.

The meeting was held on Zoom, and as usual there was a lot to think about. We talked about things like care for people who are in mental health hospitals far away from home, getting invited to cancer screening, and having annual health checks. These conversations help us understand what is working well and what still needs to change. They also help us plan what we will focus on in the months ahead.

Being part of meetings like this reminds us why we do what we do. It is really important to speak up and share our views. Our voices matter, not just for ourselves, but for people who may not be able to speak up. By sharing our experiences and saying what life is really like, we can help professionals understand what needs to improve. When we use our voices together, we can help make a difference for everyone.

The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff