Community Conversations launch across Dorset to strengthen partnership working and enable local decision-making

Dorset communities are being given a greater opportunity to shape the decisions, services and support that affect their daily lives through a new programme of Community Conversations. 

The first session, held in the Village Hall at Morden, near Wareham, brought together community organisations, town and parish councils, health partners and Dorset Council representatives. 

Those who attended brought valuable local knowledge and insight to discussions.  They talked about what makes their area unique, the strengths and challenges facing local communities, and how organisations can work together more effectively in the future so communities can have a greater influence over local decisions.

Poppy Connell works as a Service Development Manager at Help & Care, which provides a range of services supporting people’s health, wellbeing and independence across Dorset. She said: “This felt like an eye-opening opportunity for Dorset Council to gather insight and information from local groups and professionals who know the evolving needs of people living in their local communities.  

“I am really optimistic about how the discussions are going to translate into action and I look forward to being part of the next session later this year.”

The programme of Community Conversations will continue over the summer and autumn, bringing together organisations and local partners like elected ward councillors and town and parish councils who know their communities well to discuss local priorities, challenges and opportunities.

The events will take place across 13 local areas covering the whole Dorset Council area. The aim is to make sure communities have a stronger voice in shaping the services and support that matter most to them, with decisions made as locally as possible wherever appropriate.

The sessions have been deliberately designed to be informal, welcoming and collaborative. They provide an opportunity for local organisations, councils and partners to share insights from their communities and explore solutions together. 

Community groups attending the sessions will bring together the knowledge, experiences and priorities they hear from local people across the towns and villages they serve. Their contributions will help build a clearer picture of each area's needs and aspirations, identify opportunities for communities to have greater influence over the things that matter to them locally, and explore what a greater local role in shaping services, spaces and places could look like in practice.

Together, they will help ensure the voices and experiences of local communities are reflected in the discussions.
The conversations will focus on the strengths and ambitions of communities across Dorset. They will explore how Dorset Council can become a better and more effective partner, how organisations can work together more effectively, and how local voices can play a greater role in shaping decisions. 

Councillor Matt Bell, Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Public Health, Prevention and Communities, said:
"We know that the people and organisations who live and work in our communities understand local needs, strengths and opportunities better than anyone. Community Conversations are about listening to those voices and creating genuine opportunities for local people and organisations to influence the future of their area.

"These sessions are not about Dorset Council talking at communities. They are about bringing partners together around the same table, listening to different perspectives, and working collaboratively to find practical solutions. We want the conversations to be as open, honest and inclusive as possible.

"The community groups taking part work alongside local people every day and understand their communities well. Their knowledge and experience will help us better understand what matters most locally and how we can work differently to support strong, thriving communities across Dorset."

The first Community Conversations sessions are taking place throughout summer and autumn, with partners meeting in local clusters across the county. A second round of sessions later in the year will focus on turning ideas into practical improvements and actions. 

The ideas and themes that emerge will help inform future ways of working between Dorset Council, local partners and communities, and will be shared publicly as the programme progresses.

For more information about Community Conversations, including how community organisations can get involved, visit: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/community-conversations