Author: brownbooth

Dear friends,

We want to update everyone on the impact of the coronavirus situation on our work and services.

The health and well-being of our members, volunteers and staff are always our first priority so we have taken the following measures in suspending all of our clubs, activity groups and face-to-face community support services until further notice.

We have also closed all of our regional charity shops (Christchurch, Ferndown, Southbourne and Parkstone). All shops will be displaying posters explaining our position, with accompanying phone numbers for all points of contact whilst they are closed. If you have any donations for the shops, we would ask that you please hold on to them if you can until we re-open. Support from the community is vital for us to keep going as a charity and we value this immensely

Our office remains open until further notice and through the office and our community support workers we are continuing to offer telephone support, information, advice and guidance. We are also organising to make as many calls to our members as possible, just so people hear a friendly voice and know that we still care very much about them.

We are continuing to monitor the situation and promise to resume all our activities and normal services as soon as it is safe to do so. In the interim, we will still be displaying updates, stories and information on our social media sites, notably Facebook, for you to keep up with all DBA goings-on and announcements.

We hope that everyone manages to keep safe and well during these difficult and challenging times.

The task of running a local charity brings a huge number of challenges, but it also brings moments of joy and pleasure. Every so often, we’re caught off guard by an unexpected moment of magic which only goes to remind us that the work of Dorset Blind Association is valued by people in the community who don’t benefit directly from our services, but who nevertheless recognise the importance and value of the service we provide in the community, and the lives we change for the better.

This week we were overwhelmed to receive a gift of £20,000 from the Alan Miller Charitable Trust, by way of his friends Gerry and Pauline. By all accounts, Alan was a man who saw the value in supporting groups and initiatives which make a real difference to the lives of people in Dorset, and through his friendship with one of our members, he recognised the value of the work this charity does throughout Dorset.

Indeed, Alan’s influence isn’t limited to DBA, and his legacy is already making a huge difference in the wider community, funding, amongst others: a wheelchair-friendly nature trail on Brownsea Island; eye scanners, microscopes and incubators; and an end-of-life garden at Bournemouth Hospital.

Thank you, Alan. And thank you, Gerry and Pauline. This gift will make it possible for us to continue offering our services throughout what is a vast and sprawling county, and ensure we can offer our members the same quality of help and support they count on us to provide.

A great day out/in yesterday with a few thrills and spills (and the odd ‘hole in one’) for some of our members with some crazy golf antics in Bournemouth. Thanks to Moira for organising, everyone who turned up to help and the lovely staff at Mr Mulligans, Bournemouth for accommodating us.

It’s back – AND BIGGER THAN EVER!

Dorset Blind Association’s prestigious Motor Show returns to Lulworth Castle for its 6th year on Sunday 3rd May and it’s set to be bigger than ever before!

Welcoming over 3,500 attendees in 2019, this family day out promises to be a fantastic day for all ages; with a 20 mile motor tour around the beautiful Dorset countryside, Castle Showground with vehicle display of over 200 cars, local stall holders, kids area plus live entertainment.

The Castle Showground will be open to the public for FREE from 11:00am until 4:00pm! Come along and view the fantastic motors that will be on display in the Castle Showground, potter around the stalls selling local produce and goods, enjoy a variety of delicious food stalls, catering for vegetarians and vegans, and enjoy entertainment by a local musicians and big bands! There is also a kids area with bouncy castle, face painting and activities!

This event is in aid of Dorset Blind Association and all funds raised supports those living with slight loss in your local area to live a full and happy life.

Dorset Tour and Showground (information for vehicle owners):

ADVANCED BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL AS THERE ARE LIMITED PLACES

– Entry is £10.00pp (Incl. tour entry and route sheet, bacon bap and hot drink, Showground entry, entry to the Castle, PLUS 1 FREE raffle ticket).

– Tour registration is open from 9:00am in the Lulworth Castle car park, for a 10:30am set off. The tour will then cover approx. 20 miles around the Dorset countryside – arriving back at the Lulworth Estate at approximately 11:00 / 11:30am.

– Raffle: drawn at 3:00pm on Sunday 3rd May. Our fantastic prizes will be announced very soon!

For more information, please email events@dorsetblind.org.uk or call on 01202 712865

Now, whilst Santa is generally VERY GOOD at delivering presents that suit us down to a tee, sometimes the old boy can leave us with a large, ornate wooden seahorse that might be better off with someone else…

If this is the case for you, you could certainly do worse than to donate it to one of our FOUR magnificent charity shops where it will not only go to someone who has been looking for it for ages, but the money they spend on it will go towards supporting our services about the county – WIN-WIN!