About Us

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Our Purpose

A network of community groups and individuals working together for a shared vision of a clean, green, sustainable Dorset - taking action together.

Our Story

We make connections!

Dorset CAN works to inform, help and encourage families, businesses and individuals across the county to 'do their bit' to reduce their carbon footprint and minimise our contribution to the climate and nature crisis. We also work to engage with and encourage Dorset Council and BCP Council to 'do their bit' to make this happen.

We act as an umbrella organisation to all the many affiliated climate and eco orientated groups across Dorset, providing support where needed. Linking likeminded groups together our Network is always growing and getting stronger.

Find out about our current campaigns, events across Dorset, Action Teams, recent newsletters, updates, ideas, case studies, examples and contacts.

Above all, please join us - it's free and you don't have to take an active part. The more members we have, the louder our voice is and the more we can achieve. Stronger together!

Our Focus

Mission

Our mission is to build and sustain an open, accessible and flexible network and alliance which puts climate and ecological awareness at the heart of all decision-making.

We hope to provide a voice for all who care about these issues; inform, educate and support people throughout the county; and serve as a hub for information, engagement and action.

We act as a positive partner and critical friend of Dorset and BCP Councils.

Our Core Values

Solution-Focused - we will have a positive, practical approach.

Leading by example - to create a mass movement we need to lead by example individually and collectively.

Openness, Humility and Respect - to be open, welcoming and respectful of others; be flexible enough to change; be enquiring, always learning and open to debate; and to listen to one another with respect and humility.

Community

Our community of groups, families and individuals aims to share ideas, expertise and practical action to support communities to reduce their impact on the environment and develop resilience.

We aim to encourage and support town and parish councils, wider community networks and the business sector to work together to develop better community collaboration and resilience as we promote our vision for Dorset.

Meet Us

Dorset CAN

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Andrew Carey

Motivated to provide lively updates, news, events and activities to inspire more community and council action on the climate crisis. Optimistic for a cleaner, greener, fairer vision of our future Dorset.

dorsetcan.news@gmail.com

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Belinda Bawden

One of the original four co-founders of Dorset CAN, my professional background was in transport policy, marketing in transnational business and then in education. I have travelled widely and lived overseas before moving to the South West to bring up my daughters. As a geographer, I have always been interested in how we interact with our natural environment but became so concerned about the lack of political will to tackle the climate and ecological crises that I joined my local town council in 2019 then was elected to Dorset Council in a by-election in 2022. I have the Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management, am a member of IEMA and a certified Carbon Literacy trainer. I'm convinced that community action, supported by Dorset Council and proactive town and parish councils, can and should be engaging everyone to share ideas and action for a cleaner, greener, fairer future in Dorset and beyond.

dorsetcan@gmail.com

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Tracee Cossey

I have a background of press and public relations work starting off in environment and transport. I am also a teacher and a complementary therapist. I have a passion for environmental projects and social media. Motivated to always be amid the action and particularly keen on climatic justice.

Traceecossey@gmail.com

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Vicki Elcoate

Dedicated to action for the love of nature. I'm a journalist by training and have worked in the environmental voluntary sector at a senior level for over 30 years. Taking care of our environment is about taking care of ourselves - if we don't we are sawing off the branch we're sitting on. We are literally on the brink of environmental chaos and we must do everything we can to stop that from happening.

dorsetcan@gmail.com

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Giles Watts

I came to eco-activism late in my career having worked for may years as a geophysicist in the Energy Industry. The science is clear that global warming is taking place but I guess I thought that a bit more CO2 in the atmosphere would help plants to grow and that a bit of extra warmth would not do too much harm. I now know how wrong I was. The loss of the biodiversity is shocking and the speed at which changes are happening is having a brutal impact on the whole world. It is now up to all of us to do something, however small, to address the issues and to try to protect the planet from the worst impacts of human expansion and climate change. Each one of us really can all make a difference - especially at a local level.

wattsgft@gmail.com

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Julie Leah

I've had a lifelong interest in wildlife and my work as a gardener allows me to be in contact with nature daily. I am particularly keen to help link and connect others to understanding the importance of why and how they can help to protect and restore the environment. I feel this is one of the key roles of Dorset CAN.

dorsetcan@gmail.com

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Jenny Morisetti

With a keen interest in traditional buildings and after several years as an interior designer I moved on to project manage the retrofitting and renovating of old buildings and qualified as an Energy Efficiency Retrofit Adviser. Passionate about fashion of the sustainable variety, I save garments from landfill by re-designing and repairing them and passing on my skills at Hawkers Re-Creatives, Stour Provost.

info@creatinghealthyhomes.com

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Sandra Reeve

I am a movement teacher, therapist and supervisor. I joined DorsetCAN because I wanted to learn more about the effects of climate change and to find out how I could lobby and take action to protect and support my community and our beautiful environment. Determined to make a difference in a climate and nature emergency.

imoveintolife@gmail.com

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Alexandra Stephen

I have a keen interest in protecting our county having grown up here, I hold a deep love for the countryside, the nature and wildlife in it and our wonderful coastline. My background is in Operation and Resources Management along with Project Management experience. A born organiser and systems person I am DorsetCANS Coordinator working behind the scenes helping our Network grow, keeping us organised and focused. My love is walking and exploring our beautiful county.

dorsetcan@gmail.com

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Helen Sumbler

I have a keen interest in transport, being a 4th generation railway worker, and I have spent my professional career as a Railway Signal Engineer. I believe that changing the way we move around is key to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions - did you know that transport accounts for around a third of UK / Dorset Council carbon emissions? I am keen to do what I can to help reduce this, while improving access to public transport and safe active travel not just for recreation and tourism but as a viable alternative to private cars for travel to work and education. Travelling to our future destinations in a sustainable way! Co-ordinating, motivating and inspiring expertise, collaboration and community energy.

helensplanetpurbeck@gmail.com

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Colin Tracy

I love and am endlessly curious about the natural world and have been for as long as l remember. I see, and feel acutely, the destruction we humans have caused and recognise that l have a responsibility and duty to leave the planet in a better state for the next generation. I am a photographer, painter and gardener always wanting to see and express the beauty of our interconnected world.

dorsetcan@gmail.com

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Rob Waitt

Rob has been a supporter of environmental issues all his life but it was the birth of his son that energised him into doing something about it. He is driven by the questions his son will ask in the future "Dad why didn''t you do anything knowing what you knew!" Rob was attracted to Dorset CAN''s mission of bringing the whole of Dorset together to take positive action to address Climate Change locally. By being part of the Dorset CAN, Rob feels he can leave a positive legacy for his son and community and be able to say to his son "I did something".

robwplanetpurbeck@gmail.com

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Sam Wilberforce

I have been interested and concerned about the environment for many years,. After I retired I did an MSc in Green Economy at Bournemouth. I am an active member of Sustainable Bridport (formerly Transition Town Bridport) and am particularly interested in renewable energy. I have helped organise Open Greener Homes for nine years and I have learnt much about making buildings sustainable. We were lucky enough to build a near-passive house in Bridport using the learnings from other eco-homes, with timber frame and mostly sustainable materials. As a keen if lazy walker I really appreciate the natural world and consider it central to our continued existence.

dorsetcan@gmail.com

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Henry Lovegrove

I’ve been a long term eco activist, as the writing has been on the wall for a very long time. For the sake of future and current human and animal life we need action to address the ongoing climate and ecological catastrophe now. Professionally I was an accountant for 40 years, retiring in 2014, and simultaneously ran a smallholding most of this time. I maintain accounts or perform external examinations for numerous charitable bodies.

dorsetcan@gmail.com

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