Recent Members’ Activities

Since April we have visited the Castletown D-Day Centre in Portland followed by cream tea at Harbour Heights Hotel. We have met at Compton Abbas Airfield café for lunch, sadly no planes that day due to poor weather conditions. In August we met for a fish & chip lunch on Poole Quay followed by a wonderful boat trip around the harbour and islands, getting close up to the millionaire mansions on Sandbanks. Unfortunately, the Poole to Wareham trip was cancelled in July due to strong winds.

Back in May we met on West Bexington beach for an early evening BBQ. Helen brought her camper van and supplied us with hot drinks and we lit some disposable BBQ’s on the beach and cooked scallops, burgers, sausages, onions and shared salad, nibbles and cake. In July we met in the New Forest and did the same followed by a walk through the arboretum and Mr Whippy ice cream!

On several occasions we have enjoyed the opportunity to meet at Holton Lee. You can sit in the bird hides, take a stroll around the relaxing woodlands with plenty of areas to rest or just sit with a drink and take in the outside experience. Poole Sailability have accommodated us during the summer for a couple of taster sessions.

In the west of the County, members have joined the Chesil Sailability group on a Tuesday evening. Another wonderful opportunity to get out on the water and, like Poole Sailability, do as little or as much as you choose.

Every month we meet at Branksome at the Community Artisan Studio. Members have worked with pastels, made felt purse and felt bowls, Dorset Buttons and Collagraph Printing.

At the Armchair Activities in Bridport and Bournemouth we have played games, learnt to crotchet and make Iris Cards and more recently watched The Greatest Showman in the cinema room at Meyrick Rise Care Home. Kingston Lacy are expanding on the Kitchen Gardens which means all the allotment plots will be moved in the autumn. We have made the most of our raised plots, as they are falling apart, and look forward to the new season. Our harvest included beetroot, dwarf beans, peas, onions, shallots, strawberries, broad beans and courgettes. At the end of August, we attended the AGM and picnic. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon where we could chat with other allotment holders and get updates on the changes ahead. We entered the competition and won best pair of onions again.

ME Awareness Week – The quiz night and Garden Party raised nearly £600 which Barclays have matched. The heavens opened and the Garden Party moved to indoors. However, it was well supported and we took £113 for tea and cakes and we made £116 for sale of plants. The grand raffle which I carried through most of May and the quiz night collected over £350. Many thanks to members for their contributions and to Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s for their donations to the raffle.

As outlined by the government and the NHS we continue to promote the ‘Five Steps to Wellbeing’ – CONNECT, BE ACTIVE, KEEP LEARNING, BE MINDFUL AND GIVE TO OTHER

Self-Care Coordinator