THERE will be another opportunity for people in Dorchester to try something new as a popular skills sharing event returns.

The Try This... project was run in the county town for the first time last year and, after proving a resounding success, organisers are hoping for a repeat performance this time round.

The initiative will run from Saturday, September 27 to Saturday, October 4 and will see a range of free evening and lunchtime activities on offer around the town every day for people to get involved in.

The exact nature of the workshops will depend on the interests and skills of the local people who get involved and the team behind the event is keen to hear from anyone who has a skill to share.

The project was the brainchild of 19-year-old student Hettie Burn, who wanted to encourage people of all ages to share their skills, talents and ideas with some workshops involving core life skills and others purely social sessions for fun.

Co-ordinator of the Dorchester Area Community Partnership, Pauline Trimming, said: “A lot of hard work goes into organising Try This... and I’m looking forward to being able to try new activities with friends and local people.”

The project has also been supported by organisations such as the Partnership of Older Peoples Projects (POPP) and West Dorset District Council.

POPP champion for Dorchester, Justin English, said: “The success of the 2013 project clearly identified that we all have a vast array of knowledge and skills to share across the town.”

District council community development officer, Emma Scott, added: “I am really happy to be involved in this project again.

“Last year we ran 36 activities during the week on subjects as diverse as how to start researching your family history to a beginners’ guide to poultry keeping.

“Over 250 people attended the sessions and gave us some fantastic feedback which is why we are keen to run the project again.”

Local resident Susan Blake was full of praise for last year’s event and said she was looking forward to getting involved again this year.

She said: “Try This... was a wonderful opportunity to sign up for very different things.

“I am looking forward to trying more things this autumn.”

To find out more about getting involved in the event, offering to share a skill or providing a venue for events search for Dorchester Try This on Facebook, email enquiries@dorchestertrythis.org.uk or follow @dorchestertry. org.uk on Twitter.