New Corporate Partner at Porter Dodson

UK Top 200 law firm Porter Dodson, which has five offices in Dorset, has appointed David Culshaw as Corporate Partner.

David returned to the South West in 2014 and joined Porter Dodson four years later.

He has extensive experience with business clients across all sectors, particularly in the rural, food and drink, professional services and manufacturing sectors.

His key focus is working with owner managed businesses, small to medium sized businesses as well as start-up and growth enterprises and their investors and funders.

Evelyn Adfield, pictured left, Partner and Head of Corporate Commercial, said: “Since joining the firm, David has made a key contribution to the continued growth of corporate commercial work handled by the team.

“He builds lasting relationships with clients by understanding each firm’s sector and business needs, meeting and exceeding his clients’ expectations.

“David is a popular team member and will be an asset to the partnership.”

Managing Partner Rob Fox, pictured right, added: “Having demonstrated both his technical expertise and ability to bring high quality work to the firm, David was an obvious candidate for progression.

“Having worked through a Career Development Programme, David has shown that he adds considerable value to the team, the office and wider firm.”

Porter Dodson employs nearly 200 people at its eight offices across the South West and has a number of vacancies for skilled and motivated lawyers and support staff.

Its Dorset offices are in Bridport, Dorchester, Poundbury, Sherborne and Sturminster Newton.

• porterdodson.co.uk

+++

It’s in their jeans! Care home does Denim for Dementia

A care home in Broadstone has inspired its community to raise awareness of dementia – and raised hundreds of pounds for a good cause into the bargain.

Care UK’s The Potteries, on York Road, encouraged people to jump into their jeans for Denim for Dementia, an initiative organised by the Alzheimer’s Society.

Denim for Dementia takes place during the Alzheimer’s Society’s annual Dementia Action Week, a national event that inspires the public to come together to take action to improve the lives of people living with dementia.

Encouraged by Caroline Hearne, Customer Relations Manager at The Potteries, eight local shops got involved.

They filled their windows with dungarees, jeans and denim jackets, to create eye catching displays for Denim for Dementia.

The home also hosted a raffle and a bake sale, raising £330 for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Residents got involved too, wearing denim on the day and creating their own forget-me-not flowers made out of denim to wear in support of the good cause.

Zita Turner, Home Manager, said: “We have a wonderful community around us and it’s great to see the Denim for Dementia displays in the windows on the high street.

“Caroline has done a wonderful job in engaging with local people for a cause close to our hearts.

“Here at the Potteries, we care for people living with dementia every day, and understand the importance of supporting fantastic charities like the Alzheimer’s Society. ”

Every three minutes, someone in the UK develops dementia and there’s currently no cure.

Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity that campaigns for change, funds research to find a cure and supports people living with dementia today.

• careuk.com/the-potteries

+++

JTYAF dig deep to help school’s gardening project

A school’s gardening project has been given a boost by the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF).

The foundation has helped West Moors Middle School to buy a polytunnel.

Dr Deborah Craddock, Headteacher, with school Eco Lead, Kerry Willis, and students at West Moors Middle School.

An opening ceremony gave the students the opportunity to thank the JTYAF and Ferndown and Parley Rotary Club which also helped make the project possible by funding the raised beds.

They presented a poem, ‘The Little Plant’ by Kate L. Brown, with comments from Year 7 students including:

• Amy – “There are so many health benefits associated with gardening and being outdoors. We feel incredibly lucky to have this wonderful opportunity for all of us to share and benefit.”
• Sarah – “The polytunnel and raised beds help us to focus on the gardening tasks whether it’s potting, weeding, pruning, watering, harvesting or chopping, rather than worry about the pandemic or spend too long on technology. This project will help us to ‘live in the moment’, respect nature and our environment, and not take so many things for granted. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”
• Maddie – “We want to thank the kindness and generosity of the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation and the Ferndown and Parley Rotary Club who helped to make this project possible to support us. We also want to thank our Governors, Mr Brooks and Mr Cox, our caretaker, Mr Mein and all the staff and their families who spent their time constructing this wonderful Eco area. We can’t wait to use the fruit and vegetables that we grow in cookery lessons, developing life skills that will stand us in good stead in the future.”

Pete Thornton, pictured left, Chair of the Trustees at JTYAF, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the emotional health and wellbeing of our young people and we are proud to support this project.

“The mental health benefits of regular gardening are proven and will provide a fabulous positive focus for the children.”

• jtyaf.org