Welcome to the East Dorset and New Forest Branch

The East Dorset and New Forest Branch is run entirely by volunteers and aims to provide the best possible support to local people with MND, their families, and carers.

group of people walking

About us

Welcome to the East Dorset and New Forest Branch of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association.

Formed in 1986 and run by our great band of volunteers, many of whom have extensive personal experience of the disease, we are here for people suspected of or living with MND and for anybody affected by MND in the East Dorset area (BH postcodes). This includes the following areas: Bournemouth, Broadstone, Christchurch, Ferndown, New Milton, Poole, Ringwood, Swanage, Verwood, Wareham and Wimborne.

We do the following:

  • We raise funds and provide funding, primarily through our grants programme
  • We provide information and updates through our Facebook group, website and newsletters
  • We provide information about care and support options in the local area, this includes linking to our network of Support Volunteers and to professionals
  • We provide support for people living with or affected by MND, primarily through our regular support meetings

Upcoming events

The fundraising team met in February and the following dates are confirmed for this year. Please get in touch if you are able to support these. We will keep you up to date on any other events too. 

  • 8th June - Wimborne Folk Festival  - this is usually in June but awaiting confirmation of dates
  • 17th August - Wareham Summer Sale at Wareham town hall
  • 26th August  - Dorset Plane Pull
  • 9th November - Christmas Fair, St Catherine's Hall, Christchurch

 

Fundraising

Past Events

A big thank you to everyone who supported the Art Exhibition at Upton House during February. Dawn, Cliff and Graham raised a fantastic total of over £3,700 and raised awareness of the MND Association at the same time. A great start to 2024 fundraising. 

The Quiz night on the 1st March was also a great success raising over £530 for the branch. Well done to our winning team and thanks to everyone who came along or kindly donated raffle prizes. 

 

Easyfundraising

Do you shop online? Easyfundraising is just that, easy fundraising! Over 7000 shops and brands (including Amazon, Argus, John Lewis, Tesco, Trainline & Marks and Spencer) donate a small percentage of your purchase to us.  You just need to sign up to EasyFundraising choosing 'MNDA East Dorset and New Forest' as your cause and start your shopping by following the link to your preferred shop on the EasyFundraising page.  Once you have got to the retailer page everything is as normal, including the prices!

Follow the link below to sign up.

www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/mndaeastdorsetnewforest/

 

National 3 Peaks Challenge - August 2024

Local resident, Thomas Ayton-Robinson, is fundraising for our branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and he'd really appreciate your support.   
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, Just Giving send your money directly to Motor Neurone Disease Association, who then pass it on down to the branch so we can use it to support local people living with MND.  You can donate to his JustGiving page by clicking here https://www.justgiving.com/page/thomas-ayton-robinson-1701493328833?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fthomas-ayton-robinson-1701493328833&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=pfp-email

JustGiving sends your donation straight to Motor Neurone Disease Association and automatically reclaims Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more.  


Thank you for your support - Any amount, however small, will help him to help us.  Good luck Tom!

 

Support Meetings

Branch Support Meetings are open to anyone in the area living with or affected by MND. We have three regular venues and you are assured of a warm welcome.

Poole - The Spire (Hall 2A or 2B), High Street, Poole, BH15 1DF. There is a car park behind The Spire and there is a lift up to the first floor.

Barton on Sea - Methodist Church, Barton on Sea, BH25 7PA

Charminster - Trinity Church, Sutton Road, Charminster, BH9 1RN

 

Meetings take place on Thursdays between 10.30am-12.30pm on the following dates:

11th April 2024 - The Spire (Hall 2A)

25th April 2024 - Trinity Church, Charminster

9th May 2024 - The Spire (Hall 2A)

30th May 2024 - Methodist Church, Barton on Sea

13th June 2024 - The Spire (Hall 2B)

27th June 2024 - Annual Outing details TBC

11th July 2024  - The Spire (Hall 2A)

25th July 2024 - Methodist Church, Barton on Sea

12th September 2024 - The Spire (Hall 2B)

26th September 2024 - Trinity Church, Charminster

10th October 2024 - The Spire (Hall 2B)

31st October 2024 - Methodist Church, Barton on Sea

14th  November 2024 - The Spire (Hall 2B)

28th November 2024 - Trinity Church, Charminster

December 2024 - Christmas get together TBC

26th October at Methodist Church, Cliffe Road, Barton on Sea, BH25 7PA.  

 

Other News

The East Dorset & New Forest branch invites you to attend our AGM on 20th April at Canford Magna Parish Church Hall, Wimborne, BH21 3AF.

Refreshments will be served at 10.30 with the meeting commencing at 11am and due to run until 12.30. 

We are delighted to be welcoming Sian Guest, Public Affairs Manager at the MND Association as a speaker. 

 If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Kate on [email protected] or 07541 778448.

Andy Graham will be returning to the role of Area Support Co-ordinator covering our area from the 1st April

We are looking for a new dry storage facility in the local area to store our branch gazebos, tables, bric a brac, toys, books etc. If you might be able to help us with this please get in touch.

 

Would you like to help?

Have you ever considered volunteering with us? We would love to hear from anyone who is interested in getting involved. Here’s a few ways you could help:

  • Supporting people living with or affected by MND
  • Fundraising - If you could spare time to help at any of our fundraising events we are always glad of extra support.

If you have an interest in any of the above, please contact the branch via Kate on [email protected]. 

 Or for further details contact [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mndaedanf/