Month: March 2019

Our Dining in The Dark event, held at Escoffier Restaurant and Coastline Brassiere on Thursday 21st March was a hugely successful evening, raising nearly £2000! The successful event was run in association with Bournemouth and Poole College.

 

Our 42 guests were welcomed to a dimly lit room, to approximate something similar to what it is like to live with a visual impairment, with the added option of being completely blindfolded throughout their meal: effectively to simulate blindness.

 

The catering students at the college cooked a surprise six-course meal, with the onus on the diners to try and discern what it was they were eating using their sense of taste, smell and touch. We were also lucky enough to be joined by the BBC’s Sarah Farmer, who interviewed some of our guests and also tried out the dining experience for herself, for a piece on the following day’s South Today. Watch the video here:

 

 

We would like to thank all of our guests, the fantastic staff and the amazing students at Escoffier who made the night such a huge success!

Click here to see the photographs from the night!

The fantastic volunteers at the Ferndown Blind Club, that dedicate their time to support over 40 visually impaired people by running the fortnightly social club, providing and organising transport, organising entertainment and holding a raffle are to be celebrated for their fantastic achievement of long standing voluntary service. 

Shelley Newman, the longest volunteer at the club, celebrated 30 years in February and was awarded a hotel stay, thanks to Room to Reward, and her Certificate of Long Service for her fantastic achievement and dedication to the Ferndown Blind Club. Read more about Shirley’s voluntary service here.

Other long standing volunteers, including; Beryl Balinas celebrating 25 years, Eric Collingwood celebrating 15 years and Elizabeth Holt celebrating 10 years were awarded their Certificate of Long Service by Jonathan Holyhead, CEO of Dorset Blind Association.

We’d like to thank all of our volunteers that dedicate their time to support visually impaired people across Dorset and celebrate their outstanding contribution to the local community. Our long standing volunteers are a vital part of Dorset Blind Association that are hugely appreciated by everyone at DBA.

Elizabeth Holt

Beryl Balinas

Eric Collingwood

On Sunday 12th May,  we invite owners of classic & sports cars, motorbikes and all types of motor vehicles to join this years exclusive Lulworth Castle Motor Show.

The show promises to be a fantastic day out for all, kicking off with a 20 mile classic and sports car tour across the Dorset countryside from the Lulworth Estate.  The car enthusiasts will take to the roads of Dorset at 10:30am before arriving back at the beautiful Castle showground, which will be open free of charge to the general public from 11:00am. Alongside the showground will be a family fun day offering stalls, live performances, kids fun area and a wide selection of catering options.

The impressive show is extremely exclusive, particularly being the only Motor Show held within Lulworth Castle grounds, making the event hugely popular among car owners and is always very quick to sell out. Last year, the fantastic event was attended by over 150 cars and 2000 general public attendees, raising a phenomenal £5000 for the charity.

Mrs Olivia Akam who drives A 1964 Morris Minor Convertible says, “This really is a splendid and well thought out event. We love that we can relax by our cars in such a beautiful setting. The run out for the Classics is through beautiful countryside and the event provides so much for so many… a great family day out and for a great cause. I look forward to polishing the car for this one!”

Do you own a classic, sports or other motor vehicle and would like to be part of the Dorset tour and showground display? Entry is only £10 per person which includes tour entry and route information, showground display, bacon roll and hot drink at registration, exclusive entry to Lulworth Castle plus one free raffle ticket. Registration is from 9:00am.

Be in with a chance to win a weekend test drive of the latest BMW, plus a tour for two around the Mini Factory in Oxford! Raffle tickets £1 each or £5 for a book of 5, to be purchased on the day. The raffle will be drawn at 3pm on Sunday 12th May. Terms and conditions apply.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for local businesses wanting to support the event and promote their services.

For more information about the Lulworth Castle Motor Show, please call 01202 712864, email fundraising@dorsetblind.org.uk or go to https://lulworthmotorshow19.eventbrite.co.uk to enter.