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.

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

In 2026 we are celebrating a very special milestone, it is our branch 40th anniversary this year and will be marking this milestone with an event in the autumn.....watch this space for further details. 

We have a busy summer planned and would love your support by attending or helping us spread the word about our upcoming events. A list of events is detailed below but if you would like any more information, including how to help at our events, please do get in contact. 

• Sunday 5th July from 12 noon to 4pm - Broadstone Family Funday
• Sunday 19th July from 12 noon to 5pm - Wareham Carnival
• Wednesdays in August from 6pm to 9pm - Wareham Wednesdays 
• Saturday 22nd August from 10am to 12 noon - Summer Sale at Wareham Town Hall 
• Monday 31st August - Dorset Plane Pull (*TEAM MEMBERS WANTED*)

Past events

Our spring fundraising events were a success, raising both funds and awareness locally including: 

• Easter fairs at New Milton Community Centre and The Bridge, Milford on Sea raised £416
• BBQ on the Green in Sturminster Marshall raised £138 
• Race night at Broadstone Community Centre raised £860
• Car boot sale and Bournemouth Bobact match tombola raised £176

We also benefited from some generous third-party donations including: 

• AF Joy supported Easter fundraising with a hamper raffle and a tombola in store to celebrate 100 years of the shop raising £592
• Bournemouth Electric Bowls Club raised £2,200 bringing the total to an amazing £4,500 over the past 2 years
• Wareham Masons donated £400
• Ringwood Rotary donated £2,225

All of the funds raised really help to support us in being able to provide support and funds to local people impacted by MND. 

Our 2025 Walk to D'Feet event on 12th July was held at Upton Country Park from 1pm. Please see a group photograph from our fabulous day...

Donate

If you would like to donate to the branch please visit our Chair's 2026 fundraiser by clicking here.

To donate by cheque please make cheques payable to the ‘East Dorset and New Forest Branch MND Association” and send to 43 Strathmore Road, Bournemouth, BH9 3NT.

Fundraising

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/

BH Coastal Lottery

Please visit us and support us, using the link below, through the BH Coastal Lottery, where for a small donation - you could win £25,000!

Please click to enter the BH Coastal Lottery.

Support Meetings

Branch Support Meetings are open to anyone in the area living with or affected by MND. Dates, time and venues are listed below please note there are no meetings planned for August 2026.

Tuesday 7th July – 1pm to 3pm Bearwood Community Centre, BH11 7TF

Thursday 30th July – 10.30 am to 12.30pm  - Methodist Church, Barton on Sea, BH25 7PA

Tuesday 1st September – 1pm to 3pm Bearwood Community Centre, BH11 7TF

Thursday 24th September - 10.30 to 12.30pm - Trinity Church, Charminster, BH9 1RN 

Tuesday 6th October - 1pm to 3pm  Bearwood Community Centre, BH11 7TF

Thursday 29th October – 10.30 am to 12.30pm  - Methodist Church, Barton on Sea, BH25 7PA

Tuesday 3rd November – 1pm to 3pm Bearwood Community Centre, BH11 7TF

Thursday 26th November - 10.30 to 12.30pm - Trinity Church, Charminster, BH9 1RN 

Tuesday 1st November – 1pm to 3pm Bearwood Community Centre, BH11 7TF
 

Other News

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.

Please contact our Community Support Coordinator Andy on andy.graham@mndassociation.org or call 01604 800 631. 

Or for further details contact volunteering@mndassociation.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mndaedanf/