Dorset Blind Association

23/06/2026

Stay safe in this hot weather!

We hope you're managing to cope in this extreme weather. The current hot weather can affect everyone, but it can be particularly challenging for people living with sight loss, older adults and those with underlying health conditions.

Remember to:
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day
- Keep your home as cool as possible by closing curtains and blinds
- Wear a hat, sunglasses and suitable clothing when outdoors
- Seek shade where possible, especially between 11am and 3pm
- Check in on friends, neighbours and family members who may need extra support

Read the UK Health Security Agency's advice on staying safe in hot weather:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beat-the-heat-hot-weather-advice/beat-the-heat-staying-safe-in-hot-weather

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23/06/2026

DBA Christchurch Shop

We’re pleased to invite you to a special week focusing on our Visual Impairment (VI) equipment and aids at our ChWe’re pleased to invite you to a special week focusing on our Visual Impairment (VI) equipment and aids at our Chhristchurch shop.

From Monday 6th – Saturday 11th July, we’ll be showcasing a wide range of refurbished low-vision and daily living aids, all available at discounted prices, with plenty of opportunity to try items out in-store and get practical advice.

This is a great opportunity for anyone living with sight loss, their families, or professionals supporting visually impaired people to explore what equipment can help with independence and day-to-day living.

Dorset Blind Association Christchurch Shop
📍 Saxon Square Shopping Centre, Christchurch, BH23 1QA
🕘 Opening hours: 9:30am – 4:30pm (Monday – Saturday)
📞 Phone: 07570 425690

Erica, our Resources Coordinator, will be in the shop on Tuesday 7th July to provide specialist support and guidance

Did you know?

All of our shops hold a core range of commonly used VI equipment. If you can’t find what you need, just speak to a member of staff and we can usually arrange for items to be sent in.

Please do share this with anyone who may benefit — we’d love to see you during the week.

22/06/2026

Have your say – National Glaucoma Patient Voices Survey

Our friends at Glaucoma UK are launching the UK's largest ever survey of people living with glaucoma or those under regular monitoring for the condition.

The survey aims to better understand the realities of living with glaucoma, from diagnosis and treatment to the impact on daily life, independence and wellbeing. The findings will help shape future research, services and national policy.

If you have glaucoma, your experience matters. The survey is open throughout July and August, and we'd encourage anyone eligible to take part.

Find out more and to be notified when the survey goes live, click here:
https://glaucoma.uk/national-patient-voices-survey/

Please share this post with anyone who may be interested.

Be part of change: Glaucoma UK’s National Patient Voices Survey Glaucoma patients are experts through experience. Together, our collective voices can

20/06/2026

We’re down at Haskins Garden Centre in Ferndown today. Pop down and say hi if you’re stocking up on your garden essentials!

19/06/2026

A sell-out success for our first DBA Blandford fashion show!

What an incredible evening. Our very first DBA Blandford Fashion Show at the Blandford Constitutional Club was a complete sell-out, with a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish. Thanks to everyone's generosity, including our successful raffle, our DBA Blandford shop raised an amazing £654!

Guests enjoyed a glass of Prosecco on arrival, nibbles during the interval, and a fabulous catwalk showcasing everything from daywear and holiday outfits to evening and occasion wear - all available in our shop at amazing prices.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a success, especially our wonderful volunteer models Flo, Ellie, Sandy, Richard, Lin and Arthur, and to Jo, Ian, Dave and Baz for setting up the displays and event space.

Special thanks also to Carol, our brilliant Blandford shop manager and Velleta, our wonderful Community Support worker for organising such a brilliant event.

Huge thanks to Blandford Constitutional Club for hosting such a great evening for us! Pop in to our shop to find these and many more fabulous items:

DBA Bland ford shop: Unit 1, Greyhound House, 2 Market Place, Blandford Forum DT11 7EB

19/06/2026

What a fantastic four weeks with The Friendly Food Club!

Yesterday marked the final session of our four week cooking course with The Friendly Food Club, and what a brilliant experience it's been!

Our members thoroughly enjoyed learning new skills, building confidence in the kitchen and, of course, creating some delicious dishes along the way. To help them continue their cooking journey at home, each participant also received a free cooking appliance!

A huge thank you to Andrea and the whole Friendly Food Club team for their support, guidance and for making every session so enjoyable.

We're also incredibly grateful to our members, whose valuable feedback will help make future cooking sessions even more accessible for others.

18/06/2026

Sharing support and raising awareness in Blandford

We were delighted to be invited by Delia Nicholson, House Manager at Stourgate McCarthy Stone in Blandford, to give a talk about Dorset Blind Association and the support we provide.

It was a great turnout, with residents and some of our members joining us. Velleta, our Community Support Worker, spoke about DBA's services, while Duncan, our Mobile Equipment Resource Coordinator, showcased a range of assistive equipment to help people live more independently.

There were plenty of questions afterwards, with attendees enjoying the chance to explore the equipment and take away information.

A big thank you to Delia for the invitation and for hosting us so warmly. We love opportunities like these to connect with our local communities and help ensure that anyone living with sight loss knows that support is available.

17/06/2026

Donations needed – DBA Sherborne Shop!

Our Sherborne shop is looking for donations to help keep our rails full this summer!

We're grateful for all good-quality donations, but we're especially in need of:
Summer dresses
Summer tops
Skirts
Men's casual summer jackets

If you're having a wardrobe clear-out, we'd love to give your pre-loved items a new home while raising vital funds to support people living with sight loss across Dorset.

📍 DBA Sherborne Shop, 79 Cheap Street, Sherborne DT9 3BA
🕤 Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday | 9:30am – 4:30pm
📞 Shop: 07484 515 071
📧 [email protected]

Can't get your donations to us? We can arrange collections from Sherborne and the surrounding areas. To arrange please call/email:

📞 07570 425900
📧 [email protected]

Every donation makes a difference. Thank you for your continued support!

17/06/2026

Do you have sight loss and live in Sturminster Newton? Come along for a coffee and a chat!

If you're living with sight loss in the Sturminster Newton area, why not join Dorset Blind Association for our friendly monthly coffee morning?

It's a relaxed, informal get-together where you can meet others with similar experiences, share a chat over a coffee and find out more about the support and activities available through DBA.

📅 2nd Thursday of every month
🕙 10:00am – 12:00pm
📍 The Exchange, Sturminster Newton (upstairs café)

For more information, please contact Leah on 07789 997620 or [email protected]

Please share with anyone who may benefit from coming along.