East Dorset and New Forest Branch

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

Fundraisers

THIS Saturday 25th November - Our Christmas Fair. 10.30 am to 3.00pm at St Catherines Hall, Christchurch BH23 2RR

There will be the Grand Raffle (details below), gifts, home made cakes, crafts, decorations, tombola, cards, refreshments and more! Please come along to support us or buy a raffle ticket. If you would like more information please email Melanie at [email protected].

Grand Christmas Raffle

Tickets are now on sale - 1st Prize £150 John Lewis gift card, tickets just £1 each.  Tickets can be bought from our Just Giving raffle page - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/eastdorsetandnewforestmndraffle, then please email [email protected] with your name and amount of donation given.  The raffle will be drawn at the Christmas Fair on Saturday 25th November.  Thank you.

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/

Please come along to the Christmas Tree Festival at St Aldhelm's and admire our tree!

If you would like to know more about any of our events, please get in touch.

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:

30th November 2023 - Trinity Church, Charminster

Wednesday, 6th December 2023 - Christmas Lunch. The Salvation Army premises, 76 Palmerston Road, Bournemouth, BH1 4HT. If you would liker to attend please RSVP by 29th November 2023 to Kate [email protected] or to Val Spence [email protected] 

11th January 2024  -  The Spire (Hall 2B), High St, Poole, BH15 1DF.  

25th January 2024 - Trinity Church, Charminster

8th February 2024 - The Spire (Hall 2B)

29th February 2024 - Trinity Church, Charminster

14th March 2024 - The Spire (Hall 2A)

28th March 2024 - Methodist Church, Barton on Sea

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.  

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
• Media Coordinator - We are seeking a Media Coordinator to promote branch activities and events across social media and local media. This role would suit someone who has some experience of planning social media content and a keen interest in social networking.
• 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/