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Dorset Blind Association is delighted to receive a generous £1,500 donation from Care South’s Community Fund, which supports community groups and organisations that benefit Care South’s residents, care-at-home clients, and staff.

The donation recognises the important work DBA does in supporting visually impaired people, including residents in Care South homes, by providing guidance, equipment, and social connections to help them live independently and with confidence.

Phil Smith, Care South’s Director of Residential Care, and Charlotte Mitchell, Resident Activities and Lifestyle Lead, presented the award to Heather McCracken, DBA’s Community Support Worker for Bournemouth and Poole, and Sam Baker, Community Relations Officer, at Alexandra House care home in Poole.

Heather McCracken said:
“We are very grateful to Care South for this generous award. It will help us continue supporting people with visual impairments, providing vital services and connections. Seeing the positive impact on residents like Ann is wonderful, and we look forward to working together.”

Phil Smith added:
“We are delighted to support Dorset Blind Association through the Care South Community Fund, as their work is invaluable in ensuring that residents with visual impairments feel supported and empowered to live safely in our care homes. At Care South, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for all our residents, and partnerships like this help us enhance their quality of life.”

Alexandra House resident Ann, who is severely sight impaired, shared her experience:
“Dorset Blind Association has been marvellous over the past eight years, including when I was living at home and would join their book club and monthly meetings. I feel much safer living at Alexandra House than at home, as the flooring is level and there are rails for me to hold onto if I need them.”

About Care South and Alexandra House

Alexandra House care home provides residential, respite, and dementia care with a dedicated activities team who create a daily programme of events to bring residents together to socialise and build friendships.

Care South is a leading provider of high-quality residential and home care services across the South of England. As a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation, it operates care homes in Dorset, Devon, Somerset, and West Sussex, along with care-at-home services covering East and West Dorset, North East Somerset, and South Somerset.

Dorset Blind Association is incredibly grateful for this donation and looks forward to strengthening its partnership with Care South to continue improving the lives of visually impaired individuals in our community.

👉 To learn more about our work or get involved, visit www.dorsetblind.org.uk

We would like to thank the Christchurch Magdalen Trust for their invaluable support over the past year. Their generosity has made a significant difference in the lives of visually impaired residents in Christchurch by funding two essential initiatives: the Christchurch social club and the establishment of an Equipment Library.

The Trust provided £3,266 to help sustain our Christchurch social clubs, which have been a lifeline for local residents. The funding enabled us to cover transport and hire costs, ensuring that members could continue to access a welcoming space to connect, share experiences, and enjoy much-needed companionship. Feedback from members, like Sylvia Young, highlights the impact of the club:

“The club is a lifeline for me. I don’t get out much now, so being able to go to the club is a real highlight. I have made some great friends and found it helpful to talk to others who are struggling with similar things.”

In addition, the Trust awarded £5,000 to establish an Equipment Library, allowing members to borrow assistive devices such as magnifiers, lamps, and audiobook players. One recipient, Jan, shared how a Victor Stratus player has transformed her daily life:

“I use the player every day to listen to audiobooks. The buttons are easier to see, so I don’t accidentally skip chapters anymore. It’s made such a difference to me.”

Thanks to the Christchurch Magdalen Trust’s funding, we have been able to enhance independence, reduce isolation, and improve the quality of life for our members.

We are truly grateful for this partnership and the positive impact it has made in our community. We look forward to the possibility of working together again in the future to continue supporting Christchurch residents with sight loss.

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If you’d like to learn more about our Christchurch services or the Equipment Library, please contact us at 01202 712 865

We are delighted to announce that this year’s Dorset Blind Association Christmas Raffle raised a phenomenal £3,105 – a record-breaking total!

This incredible achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of local businesses, the dedication of our charity shops, and the support of everyone who bought tickets. Every pound raised will go directly towards our work supporting visually impaired people across Dorset.

Special thanks to local businesses

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the fantastic local businesses that donated prizes, making this year’s raffle such a success. Their generosity ensured we had an amazing selection of prizes that encouraged ticket sales:

• Eone watch, donated by Macrow & Sons Jewellers – Tactile watch worth £255
• Conker Spirit – Distillery tour
• Olive Tree, Bridport – Lunch for two
• Grosvenor Arms Hotel, Shaftesbury – Gift voucher
• Upwey Wishing Well – Afternoon tea for two
• Knoll House – cream tea for two
• The Cliff, Sunday roast for 2
• Russell-Cotes Museum – Family admission
• Southbourne Nails & Spa – Gift voucher
• Lulworth Castle – Family ticket
• Careys Secret Garden – Entry tickets
• Compton Acres – Family pass
• Nothe Fort – Family ticket
• Parkstone Chiropractic – sports massage
• Johnsons Cleaners, Canford Cliffs – 10% discount card
• Dorset Hamper Co – hamper
• The Cow Shed , Lytchett Matravers – cream tea
• The Barn Cafe, Lytchett Matravers – voucher
• Blandford Fashion Museum – Admission tickets
• Rick Stein, Sandbanks – 3-course meal for two with wine
• Bennetts Water Gardens, Weymouth – voucher
• Silk Nails, Ashley Cross – voucher
• Supermarkets; Waitrose, Tesco, Morrisons and Asda

We encourage everyone to support these amazing businesses – they truly help make our community a better place.

A big thank you to Parkstone Eyecare and our charity shops

A special mention goes to Parkstone Eyecare, who sold an impressive £314 worth of raffle tickets on our behalf – a significant contribution to our total. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our cause!

We also want to thank all eight of our charity shops in Bridport, Broadstone, Christchurch, Ferndown, Parkstone, Portland, Southbourne, and Weymouth for their efforts in selling tickets. Your hard work makes a world of difference.

Your Support Matters

From everyone at Dorset Blind Association, thank you for making this year’s Christmas Raffle such a success. Together, we’re helping to provide vital support and services for people living with sight loss in Dorset. 💛

Stay tuned for more updates on how your contributions are making an impact, and we look forward to your continued support in the future!

Join our passionate team as a Community Support Worker at Dorset Blind Association.

We’re looking for a dedicated and compassionate Community Support Worker to join our team at Dorset Blind Association. This part-time role offers a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of visually impaired people aged 65+ in the West Dorset/Weymouth area.

About the Role

As a Community Support Worker, you will:

• Visit members in their homes to assess their needs.
• Organise and run social clubs and outings to help combat isolation.
• Recruit and manage volunteers to support our services.

This role is remote, but access to reliable own reliable transport is essential.

What We Offer

• Salary: £19,635 (subject to a pay review in April 2025).
• The chance to work as part of a passionate team making a real impact.

How to Apply

Send your CV and a covering letter explaining why you’re the perfect fit to leah@dorsetblind.org.uk.

For a full job description, see below.

Closing Date

24th January 2025

Together, we can make a difference.

The Dorset Blind Association was delighted to welcome Ferndown Town Mayor, Terry Cordery, the Town Clerk, Liz Bishop, along with Jane Benton, Projects, Events, and HR Officer for Ferndown Town Council, to our Ferndown Social Club this week. The occasion was to honour the extraordinary fundraising efforts of Margaret Gilbert, one of DBA’s long-standing members, who raised over £500 to support the club. Despite being visually impaired herself, Margaret has dedicated her time to creating beautiful hand-made cards and jewellery and selling them to help cover the running costs of the club.

The special guests presented Margaret with a bouquet of flowers as a token of appreciation for her valuable contribution. The visit also provided an opportunity for the Mayor and Town Council members to meet with the club’s attendees, learn more about our vital services, and witness first-hand the supportive and welcoming community our amazing Ferndown volunteers have created.

The Ferndown Social Club is one of over 20 social groups run by the Dorset Blind Association each month. The Ferndown group meets fortnightly and offers its visually impaired members a chance to meet regularly, share experiences, and find support. These gatherings are essential for combatting loneliness and ensuring their members remain connected to their community.

Many of our members also face mobility challenges that prevent them from attending without support. Therefore, we offer transportation services to help them reach the club. We are urgently seeking volunteer drivers to join the dedicated team in Ferndown which meets fortnightly, to ensure that all members can continue to benefit from this important service.

If you’re interested in volunteering and making a difference to the lives of visually impaired people in your community, please get in touch with us at gemma@dorsetblind.org.uk

Your time and support could be the key to helping their members maintain their independence and stay connected with the community.

We’re excited to announce that the 9th Annual Dorset Blind Association Motor Show will take place on Sunday, May 18th, 2025, at the stunning Lulworth Castle.

With over 6,000 attendees last year and raising almost £30,000, this event has become a key date in Dorset’s calendar, showcasing incredible cars while raising much-needed funds to support the visually impaired in our community.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details about this unforgettable day! Whether you’re a car enthusiast, exhibitor, or simply looking for a fantastic family day out, you won’t want to miss it!

We are thrilled to announce that thanks to a generous £36,000 grant from Dorset Freemasons, the Dorset Blind Association will be able to provide essential support and services to over 500 blind and visually impaired individuals across Dorset.

This funding will help us continue our mission to relieve loneliness and social isolation by supporting over 20 social and activity clubs for older blind individuals. These clubs are vital for creating a safe and supportive environment where members can connect, share experiences, and build friendships. The grant will cover venue hire, transport, and entertainment costs, ensuring our clubs can thrive for the next three years.

Our CEO, Jonathan Holyhead, shared, “We’re immensely grateful to Dorset Freemasons for their generous support. This grant will allow us to relieve the loneliness and isolation that is all too common among blind and visually impaired people. Our charity provides help and support in ways that make a real, positive difference in those people’s lives.”

Stephen James from Dorset Freemasons added, “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help the Dorset Blind Association with their hugely important project among visually impaired people from our community. Sadly, loneliness and isolation are all too common among people who have lost their sight, and it’s great that this wonderful charity is able to organize regular social activities and entertainment for them on a long-term basis.”

At Dorset Blind Association, we are committed to providing lifelong, tailored support to our members, ensuring they stay happy and healthy despite the challenges of sight loss. This grant is a testament to the power of community support and the incredible difference it can make in people’s lives.