Dorset Chamber has launched an initiative to offer respectful and confidential support from peers. The scheme, Got Your 6 – shortened to GU6 – is named after a term used by World War II fighter pilots, who protected the “backs” of fellow pilots in the vulnerable rear “six o’clock” position. Several chamber board directors, ambassadors and members, as well as chief executive Ian Girling, have qualified as mental health first aiders thanks to Ouch Training and are ready to become GU6 “champions”. The initiative is being supported by law firm Lester Aldridge. GU6 was developed by past president and board member Liz Willingham, who feels business leaders are often forgotten in conversations about mental health.
Caron Khan, president of Dorset Chamber THE new president of Dorset Chamber has saluted the county’s “bold and brave businesses” at a historic annual general meeting. Caron Khan took the chain of office when the chamber held its AGM virtually for the first time, with nearly 70 members present via Zoom. The new president, a communications specialist who runs the Caron Khan Consultancy in Bournemouth, said: “The chamber’s place in the Dorset business community is more important than ever and its reputation has never been stronger. “There will be further challenges for businesses but there is now a glimmer of light at the end of a very dark tunnel as the Covid lockdown eases and vaccination programme rolls out.
FERNDOWN Community Coronavirus Support (FCCS) team has delivered plants, hampers and presents to elderly and vulnerable people over the Christmas period. The FCCS group is dedicated to spreading the Christmas cheer to everyone, especially those who have isolated alone this year. With the help of businesses, local organisations and the general public the group have organised multiple charitable projects to share some Christmas joy. Group leader Hannah Hobbs said: “Ferndown Community and Coronavirus Support started as a simple Facebook page about a week before lock down 1, and it quickly snowballed into a much larger and necessarily more organised community group.