Our aim is simple - to ensure that everything we do makes life better for people with sight loss and their families...
”We so enjoy each others company, we are such a good match”
Read Joan’s and her volunteer Brenda’s story along with others in our Home Visiting/Testimonials page.
Latest News -
Click on the title links below for our Latest UpdatesDorset Man with Sight Loss Featured on Saints and Scroungers
Chris Ford and Carol Jenkins (in centre at the back) pictured with other members of the Dorset Blind Association Group which meets at the Lighthouse in Poole.
Chris Ford, who lost his sight in a random brutal attack, is shown putting his life back together with the help of local services. The programme, which aired recently on BBC 1, features Dom Littlewood exploring Chris's long road back to reclaiming his life after his sudden loss of sight with initial help from Poole Adult Social Services who then referred him on to the Dorset Blind Association.
Chris’s attacker was sentenced to seven months and served only half of that, but Chris will live with the consequences of the attack for the rest of his life. Thanks to Chris's strength of will and the persistence of Carol Jenkins, DBA Home Support Coordinator, Chris developed the confidence to get around using a white cane and began meeting others living with sight loss at one of the many groups sponsored by Dorset Blind Association. Carol was also able to help Chris and his family get the help they needed from the DPW and other benefits to which they were entitled and that has helped them keep their home and family afloat.
As Chris’s confidence grew he was introduced to Poole Sailability and through them was able to take up his passion for sailing again. This demonstrates what can be achieved with the right sort of assistance – assistance that is tailored to the needs of each individual to help them make the most of their life.
The Dorset Blind Association (reg. no. 1140321) works across Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset to help people with sight loss lead full, independent, healthy and socially active lives. The charity focuses on delivering practical services directly into the community to make sure that these are as accessible as possible to the individual and their family. While the sight loss condition itself sadly cannot be cured, the charity works to stop that sight loss from causing or leading to other physical or mental health problems.
The programme will soon be available on the DBA website and you can find out more about the Dorset Blind Association on their website and by liking their page on Facebook. You will find the Dorset Blind Association working at locations all around Dorset but their offices are located at 17 Bournemouth Rd, Lower Parkstone, Poole Dorset BH14 0EF, Tel: 01202 712860, Web Site: www.dorsetblind.org.uk, email: info@dorsetblind.org.uk
Christmas Raffle 2011 raises £1795
The Mayor is pictured below John Andrews one of the Directors of DBA together with a fellow musician.
A further £124 was raised in bucket collections on the day.
The lucky winners and their prizes were:-
MR PLUMBLEY, LUXURY FOOD HAMPER
MR HAYNES, BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE
MRS ROSE, LUXURY BOX OF CHOCOLATES
MRS MITCHELL, £10 HALL & WOODHOUSE
MRS JENKINS, HAMPER OF CHOCOLATES
MR JONES, CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
MR & MRS BUCKMAN, DBA VEGETABLE BOX
Thank you all for your support.
Officially Opened by Mayor
The Mayor made a short speech, was welcomed by Jonathan, and Judy conducted the introductions. Over 30 members and volunteers enjoyed meeting the Mayor and Mayoress who stayed for over an hour chatting and looking at specialist equipment on display. Entertainment was provided by the Midas Touch Duo who performed a wide selection of lively songs.
We can provide transport to the club to members living in Bournemouth and anyone interested in attending should contact Judy on 07748212009 or the office on 01202 712864 for more information
The photo shows The Mayor chatting to some members of the club.
Quiz evening at the Haven Hotel with Julian Fellowes
The evening was a tremendous success and the auction and raffle alone generated over £3100.
The evening was also supported by generous sponsorship from Humphries Kirk Solicitors and music provided by our very own John Andrews’ Gemini Jazz band.
Our special thanks go to John and Diana Andrews for putting together such a splendid evening and of course our hosts for giving up their time to support us. The money raised by the event will be used to support our Help Desk service at the Bournemouth Hospital Eye Unit and our efforts to set up a similar service at the Royal Eye Infirmary at Dorchester Hospital.
The photo above shows Lord & Lady Fellowes with John Andrews, Chairman of DBA.
Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11 – a year of further progress
The Report and accounts show a year of further pleasing progress for the Dorset Blind Association and the consolidation of all of the service developments of recent years.
All existing services have been maintained, improvements have continued to be made and through the course of the year we have helped even more visually impaired people than ever before.
We also have now the most active volunteers ever in the charity’s history and we continue to be massively in their debt and so very grateful for all the hard work and effort that they continue to put in helping our members.
And last, but certainly not least, we had a good year financially, not only achieving the holy grail of “break even”, but we also achieved a modest but incredibly useful surplus for the year.
New Sight Equipment Vehicles
These are replacing the two Renault Scenic’s which had been used for this role previously. They were showing real signs of wear and tear, courtesy of the incredible number of visits they had been making to help people and the consequent high mileage being done by them.
The new vehicles are bigger, so able to carry out even more equipment.
They carry our name, logo and contact details to publicise the charity around Dorset so if you see them going about their daily work please give Dave or Martin a friendly wave.
Highcliffe Castle Jazz Event
Hengistbury Hundred Charity Run
Details of our past events and news can be viewed here.
Upcoming Events -
SUNDAY 29th April (10am-4pm)Lulworth Castle, Nr Wareham, Dorset
Admission: £2.50 in support of Dorset Blind Association
Volunteers needed to help out on the day! Please contact Lorraine on 07989 671 908 if you are interested.
Please click HERE for more dates for your diary.
More information on our services and the organisation is available by navigating this website.
Without the ongoing support and goodwill we receive from individuals, charitable trusts, companies and other organisations we would not be able to develop and deliver our essential range of services. All donations, however big or small, help us to make a real, positive difference to the lives of visually impaired people in Dorset. Please see our fundraising pages for more information.
We welcome any comments or observations about the content or accessibility of our website as this helps us to improve it.
Dorset Blind Association
Registered Charity Number 1140321 Registered Company Number 7435564
Please click HERE to view our PRIVACY STATEMENT