Supporting Later Life
AGE CONCERN NORTH DORSET
Our Charity helps the elderly through various programs and initiatives, and we’d love for you to get involved with Age Concern North Dorset. We depend on your support in order to improve lives and make the world a better place for generations to come. Contact us today to learn all about volunteering and donating options.
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Mission Age Concern North Dorset provides over 50's with local support reducing rural isolation and enhancing health and wellbeing.
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What We Do
Advocating Change
Age Concern North Dorset provides valuable services for older people in Sturminster Newton and the surrounding villages. The activities we offer help to reduce social isolation and improve quality of life.
IT Service
If you have any IT problems or queries, do get in touch. We are able to assist one to one in your home.
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Please phone the office to enquire.
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Services
Our Exercise Classes are temporarily suspended, due to Coronavirus. For our Door -Step Service to local villages (shopping, prescription collection etc.) please call Kath on 07984744310. We are continuing to give Befriending support over the phone, wherever possible. Current Office Hours Mon, Wed, Fri 10am - 2pm and phones and emails are answered outside these times. Please call 01258 475582 or email with any query, big or small!
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We have restarted our Foot Clinics - bookings available! Also, appointments can be made, in our office, to support welfare benefit applications. Please give us a call.
Benefits and related advice
Our experienced Welfare Benefits Advisor can help with a variety of needs. These include information support for carers, debt advisory services and benefit entitlements such as Attendance Allowance, PIP (Personal Independence Payment) and Carers Allowance. All visits are held in confidence in your own home.
Telephone Advice Service
We have a large amount of knowledge about a great number of elderly related topics, so if you need some information, why not give the office a ring on 01258 475582. If we do not know the answer to your question we will find out and call you back.
Befriending/Friendship
A friendly service run by Age Concern Volunteers. All our helpers are interviewed, required to provide references and are DBS checked, so you can be assured that when you request a visit from us, you will be matched with someone who has been chosen very carefully. We can provide:
Regular visits if required
Help to access other services
Support and friendship through a difficult stage in life
A great link to the local community
Varied, enjoyable low level aerobic exercise classes provided by qualified instructor Sally-Ann on Tuesdays 10.45am-11.45am at the Sturminster Newton Leisure Centre. If you are recovering from an illness or need to be careful with exercise speak to Sally-Ann who will advise on appropriate exercises for your ability. This class is fun and different each week.
Exercise Classes
Foot Clinics
Please ring the office on 01258 475582 for appointments. Half hourly, fortnightly sessions held on Mondays. £25
Monday 'Drop - In'
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Please ring the office on 01258 475582, to be advised of current venue.
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Office Opening Hours
Drop in and say hello
Mon- Fri: 10am-2pm
Sat- Sun: Closed
Exciting Stuff is Happening
Upcoming Events
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EEVENTS:
Requesting Your Support
Every person has the chance to make a change for good — no matter how big or small. Whatever amount you can give, or time you are willing to dedicate, know that your contribution makes a difference in the lives of others. Your donation, together with those of our other supporters, brings us ever closer to our goals.
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Volunteer Your Time
Support Us
Do you have a little spare time? If so, we would love to welcome you as a volunteer!
Previous volunteering experience is not necessary, just a willingness to help older people and a good sense of humour.
There are different volunteering opportunities available and there is the chance to learn new skills.
If you would like to know more, please call 01258 475582 or email us via the contacts page.
One-Time Donations.
We would welcome any contribution
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Trustees required
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We are looking for two more Trustees to support the charity. We need local volunteers who can offer skills such as fundraising, marketing or events organising. This role is not accompanied by financial remuneration, but travel expenses may be claimed. Trustees are responsible for the governance of the charity and work to develop strategies to support its aims and objectives in accordance with its governing document and Charity Commission guidance.
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We are a small, friendly, independent charity. Please get in touch if you would like to know more.
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News:
We are now partners with Acorn Stairlifts. For more information, call our office on 01258 475582.
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Acorn Stairlifts
"Age is only a number"
William James
Our History
The charity has its origins in 'The Voluntary Old People’s Welfare Committee' established in Sturminster Newton in 1938. In 1948, following the creation of the welfare state, local and then central government began to help fund its work.
In 1971, many of these committees changed their name to Age Concern. They maintained their independence with their own constitution and board of trustees, whilst retaining a unified image. The change also enabled them to structure their services to the needs of older people living within their community.
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In 2010, Help the Aged and Age Concern England merged to form Age UK. Larger Age Concern groups converted to Age UK partners, while smaller ones such as Age Concern North Dorset were invited to become 'Friends'.
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As a 'Friend' of Age UK, Age Concern North Dorset needs to meet high quality standards in the services that we provide. We report to our funders about the benefits and increased quality of life our service users’ experience. This shows in our annual evaluation of services.
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We aim to be the leading charity working with older people in North Dorset.
Meet the Team
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Our team is dedicated to the mission of helping those in need in the Sturminster area. Get to know the people who make Age Concern North Dorset what it is. Our team is an unbelievable source of information and we are ready to share our events, activities, and the ways for you to get involved.
Dianne Cooper
Chairwoman
Dianne joined Age Concern in the Autumn of 2013. She has extensive knowledge of the voluntary sector having initiated the North Dorset Outreach for the Volunteer Centre. Prior to moving to Dorset, Dianne set up and ran the first volunteer scheme for the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, assisted in the creation of a friends of Kew organisation and as promotions executive for the friends, ran and promoted a large number of events for Kew and the friends organisation. Dianne was a Rotarian during her working life and when she moved to Dorset transferred from the Kew Gardens Rotary Club to Blandford Forum and became the first lady president of the club in 2005. In her retirement she enjoys walking her Jack Russell terrier, visiting gardens and gardening.
Derek Gwynne
Treasurer
Derek joined Age Concern in 2015 and maintains the Charity's accounting records, as Treasurer.
Derek is a Chartered Accountant who trained with KPMG in London, qualifying in 1979. He spent most of his career working in corporate lending with a US corporation, latterly as Finance Director.
In his spare time, Derek enjoys being with his family, is a keen gardener and also enjoys fly fishing.
Frances Pearce
Trustee
Frances joined Age Concern North Dorset Board of Trustees in 2011 and is the project lead/coordinator for Befriending and Bereavement Support Services.
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Frances worked in both the private and public sectors in a career spanning 40 years. As a senior local government manager/head of service she experienced the full range of challenges associated with strategic planning, financial management, project management, change management, people management and performance monitoring.
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In addition to being professionally qualified in both Information Technology and project management, Frances holds a Diploma in Person Centred Counselling and is a Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. For many years Frances has worked on a voluntary basis in London and more recently in Dorset providing substance misuse counselling and support for vulnerable adults with alcohol/drug problems.
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Outside interests: travelling, history, art and walking - especially in the wonderful Dorset countryside.
Trustee
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Kath Oxlee
Welfare Benefits Advisor
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Kath has worked in financial and business management roles for over 30 years. Previously based in the Home Counties, Kath moved to Dorset with her family over a decade ago to enjoy the peace & quiet!
A keen crafter, Kath spends her spare time making and creating and often attends local craft fairs and markets.
When not crafting or working, Kath loves to be outside walking her aging Springer Spaniel (who often forgets that he is no longer a pup).
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Gina Nelson
Office and Services Support Manager
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Gina has over 30 years experience in library management in Scotland, London and Dorset.
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Public and private sector posts include those in banking, publishing and most recently serving schools across the county.
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Outside interests are reading, dog walking, watching all sport and opening garden for charity.
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Contact Us
Get in touch with Age Concern North Dorset to discover more about our work or to ask any questions.
Age Concern North Dorset
Stour Connect
Stour View Close
Sturminster Newton
Dorset
DT10 1JF
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01258 475582