Month: February 2019

Shirley Newman, member of the Ferndown Blind Club committee, celebrates her 30th anniversary of volunteering at the club. Shirley is the first point of contact for many of the members that attend the club, volunteering her time to organise and welcome over 40 regular club attendees. Starting in February 1989 she has dedicated her time over the years, acting as treasurer, volunteer, organiser and now committee member, to support blind and visually impaired people in Ferndown. Shirley is hugely valued by Dorset Blind Association and the club members that she gives her time too and deserves recognition for her outstanding contribution to the community. We’d like to thank Shirley and celebrate her accomplishment.

Shirley began volunteering at the Ferndown Blind Club, after her Father lived with Glaucoma and attended a social club ran by Bournemouth Blind Society. Through a friend, Shirley began volunteering at the Ferndown Blind Club and got so much out of it that she stayed for a further thirty, fantastic years. Shirley has enjoyed volunteering her time to help members of the Ferndown club, she feels that they are a marvellous group of people and has made lifelong friends with the members, fellow volunteers as well as the staff at Dorset Blind Association.

We are teaming up with catering students at Bournemouth and Poole College to provide a unique Dining in The Dark experience at Escoffier Restaurant and Coastline Brassiere on Thursday 21st March. Our exclusive event is returning for its third year and offers an exciting opportunity to test the senses with an indulgent six-course meal in very low light conditions, which aims to simulate dining with a visual impairment.

Guests will be treated to a surprise six-course meal with the opportunity to enhance their dining experience by being completely blindfolded, to experience something near what it’s like for people with total sight loss.

The novel fundraiser was successful in its previous years, and has been brought back by Dorset Blind Association to celebrate its 100th year of serving the community.  

Gareth Owens, Community and Corporate Fundraiser said, ‘“Support from the local community is very important to us here at Dorset Blind Association and we are very grateful for the kind support of Bournemouth and Poole College and Escoffier Restaurant. Events like this give us a great chance to raise the profile of our charity within the local community, increasing the awareness of sight loss and also promoting fundraising opportunities.”

Tickets for this special event are £37.50 per person and should be booked in advance. Arrivals from 6:30pm to be seated by 7:00pm; the evening should finish by 9:30pm. Upon booking, please advise of any dietary requirements.

Book online now 

For more information or to book over the phone call Gareth on 01202 712864 or email gareth@dorsetblind.org.uk.