New information centre opens in Weymouth and it's not just for tourists
Weymouth Information Shop will help tourists AND residents find what the need
Last updated 26th May 2022
The new Weymouth Information Shop (aka WIS) is being officially opened today - but it's not just for tourists.
The centre is painting itself as a service for locals and visitors alike to help them find exactly what they're looking for in the town.
That might be a map to find local attractions, asking for support as an unpaid carer.
Chris Wilson, CEO of Weymouth Area Development Trust said:
“We really wanted to make a wide-range of local information, help, advice, services, clubs and community groups more accessible by bringing them onto the high street. We have created a single ‘front door’ for the community that is welcoming for everyone – you can even just pop in for a friendly chat and a cuppa. We know that many people still like to speak to someone face-to-face, and that it can be hard asking for help, particularly if you don’t know what is available.”
The concept for the project came about through the collaborative work being done by the project partners – Age UK NSW Dorset, #HelpAndKindness, Volunteer Centre Dorset and the Weymouth Area Development Trust. These partners had already been working together with the statutory, voluntary, community and charity sectors, but wondered if having a public-facing, collaborative base would work and benefit the community.
The WIS brings together a wide range of sectors, and being a generic ‘information shop’, nobody would know if someone was wanting a map to find local attractions, was asking for support as an unpaid carer, looking for a local singing club, or someone was worried about the cost of living and how to pay their gas bill.
But the staff are not just signposting people, handing out brochures or writing a phone number on a piece of paper. Where possible, they are also supporting with a warm handover into other services, making a phone call, or email with an introduction, so people know they will be helped and don’t have to repeat their story.
The project has been funded for six months to pilot the model and see if it is a useful space for the public and the sectors that are represented. Grant funding has been raised from a range of partners including the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Dorset Council, Public Health Dorset, Weymouth BID, Weymouth Town Council and Volunteer Centre Dorset.
There is already interest in the future of this project and speculation that this could be extended in Weymouth or rolled-out in other locations, as there is a real need for a hub for so many services, including a mental health, and tourism.