August 2019 - Dorset Blind Association

Downton Abbey Premiere

Posted on 30 August 2019 by brownbooth

Arguably one of the most eagerly-awaited films of the year, Downton Abbey will be premiering in the UK on Friday September 13th. With Lord Fellowes, the film’s writer and creator, being one of Dorset Blind Association’s patrons, The Regent Centre have kindly allowed us to have a presence on opening night with an information stall and bucket collections held throughout the day.

As a delightful extra, Lord Fellowes has recorded a small video to precede each screening during the film’s run at the cinema, illustrating his support for DBA. An absolutely wonderful gesture to link in with a highly-anticipated film and also with The Regent Centre itself, which has always been so supportive of DBA in the past.

The film itself centers around a royal visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Downton: a storyline inspired by a trip they really took to Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire in 1912.

“I was looking for a storyline that affected everyone,” Lord Fellowes says. “We used to do that in the Christmas specials as well, where they went to Scotland — or wherever — and it would affect the servants as much as it would affect the family.”

We’re certainly excited to be a small part of it.

David’s VI Guide Story

Posted on 15 August 2019 by brownbooth

With our BRIGHT FOR SIGHT fun run coming up in a few weeks, this seems like a good time to talk about VI guides for runners. “What’s a VI guide?”, you may well ask…

Well, click here and David, who is one of our members, will bring you up to speed with HIS story…

Big Give Christmas Challenge

Posted on 5 August 2019 by brownbooth

It’s the BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE again!

Once again, Dorset Blind Association are enrolled in the annual BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE campaign to help support our key Dorset social clubs for visually impaired people. This year, we’re hoping to reach a target of £10,000 and we’re asking for your help in the Pledging stage, where we hope to reach a target of £2,500 by August 30th.

During this stage, charities like us secure Pledges over the summer window. These funds are then boosted by funds from a Big Give Online Champion who contributes a matched amount, thereby doubling the pledge monies.

To Pledge, you register on the website via this link:

Pledge to Dorset Blind Association’s BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE campaign!

and then we will contact you after the campaign ends to take the actual money – no monies are actually donated by you until this time.

Without the generosity of our supporters, DBA simply wouldn’t be able to exist as a charity so it’s hugely important to us that campaigns such as this are successful year-on-year as they make up a sizeable percentage of our fundraising strategy.

With your help, we can do this!