The Joys of Being a Volunteer End of Life Companion

Wednesday 27^th September 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

With Mandy Preece from Macmillan Caring Locally

No one should face the end of their life alone. Macmillan Caring Locally has a team of specialist volunteer end of life companions who sit and support patients and their families. Unlike medical staff who may be very busy, or friends and family who may be overcome with emotion, the end of life companions help by listening to people come to terms with their death and enable them to find peace in their final moments. Mandy Preece, founder of the role, will be giving an uplifting and inspiring talk about the joys of sitting with people. She will share the laughter and the tears, and speak honestly about how sitting with the dying also helps the volunteers gain a deeper appreciation of their own lives. As one volunteer said, “I don’t worry as much. I live much more for the moment and I’ve learnt to truly respect people. It is simple, it’s all about listening.” Donations to Macmillan Caring Locally will be gratefully received.

“Join us to discover the joys of being an ‘End of Life Volunteer Companion”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed via its rear entrance in Gervis Road. The hotel has a small onsite car park, and roadside parking is also available in Gervis Road).

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Dorset Humanists ‘Jane Bannister Winter Appeal’

Our Jane Bannister Winter Appeal has raised thousands of pounds for local and national charities in previous years, and this year is in support of Michael House and Mosaic. Please give what you can to these two very worthwhile local charities.

The appeal is named in memory of Jane Bannister who was Chair of Dorset Humanists until 2009, and an active supporter of, and fundraiser for, several charities.

For full details of how you can donate to our 2016/2017 Winter Appeal please see our December bulletin.

http://dorset.humanist.org.uk/dorset/DH-Bulletin-December-2016.pdf

Mosaic is a Dorset-wide charity offering a pathway of support to bereaved children, young people and their families. They also work with young people who are facing the death of a loved one.

Mosaic provides individual, family and group support. Every child has the opportunity to attend our residential weekend programme where they can meet others and share their experiences. Dorset Humanists’ donation last year went specifically to support this wonderful residential weekend at Leeson House near Swanage.

The charity receives 30% Local Authority funding allocated to support for bereaved children in Dorset. All other money has to be raised through applications to The Big Lottery, Children in Need, charitable trust grants, fundraising, corporate sponsorship, individual support, and donations from local groups.

Michael House is more than just a hostel; it’s a home and our mission has always been to help anyone who is vulnerable. We are a dry house, offering supported accommodation to both male and female residents.

Michael’s Mission

· To provide emergency and longer-term accommodation to homeless people and provide related day services.

· To provide encouragement, advice and support to our clients in an environment which enables them to gain a greater sense of self-worth and to move towards a more independent life.

· To work in co-operation and a collaborative way with the relevant statutory agencies and with other voluntary organisations.

£250.00 will provide care and support for one homeless person for one month.

Homelessness has been a major problem in the Bournemouth area over the last twenty years and we always operate to full capacity. Official Rough Sleeper Counts, which tend to minimise the situation, are consistently in double figures. Soup kitchens have been crowded throughout this period. By providing respect, care, and support to all residents, we aim to restore self-esteem, assist with life skills, access further education, facilitate training for employment to enable individuals to rebuild their own lives and reintegrate back into the community. Michael House is a place where our residents feel “safe, warm and inspired”.

For full details of how you can donate to Dorset Humanists 2016/2017 Winter Appeal please see our December bulletin.

http://dorset.humanist.org.uk/dorset/DH-Bulletin-December-2016.pdf

Winter Charity Appeal 2015/2016

Our Jane Bannister Memorial Winter Appeal this year has been a great success. The final total raised was £1,494.88 which is a fantastic effort, and we would like to offer our sincere thanks to everyone who so generously donated. The money raised has been split equally between this year’s nominated local charities, Mosaic and New Forest Nightstop.

Dorset Humanists has raised thousands of pounds in previous years for worthwhile charities. The appeal is named in memory of Jane Bannister (1941-2013) who was Chair of Dorset Humanists until 2009.

David Warden, Chair of Dorset Humanists, said, “We feel privileged to be able to make a positive difference to the lives of young homeless people, and bereaved children and young people. Jane would have been proud to know we’ve continued her efforts to support worthy local charities”.

Mosaic is a Dorset-wide charity offering a pathway of support to bereaved children, young people and their families. It also works with young people who are facing the death of a loved one. It provides individual, family and group support. Every child has the opportunity to attend a residential weekend programme where they can meet others and share their experiences. The charity receives some Local Authority funding but all other money has to be raised from alternative sources including donations from local groups. A representative from Mosaic spoke about their work helping bereaved children and young people at our Saturday 9^th January meeting.

New Forest Nightstop provides the only emergency overnight accommodation for homeless 16-24 year olds in the homes of trained and approved host households around the New Forest. Jude Todd, Manager of New Forest Nightstop  has previously led a presentation for Dorset Humanists on the plight of homeless people and her charity’s valuable work to help them.

Chair of Dorset Humanists David Warden is pictured presenting cheques to Jude Todd, Manager of New Forest NightStop (top right), and to Margaret Hannibal of Mosaic (bottom right).

December Bulletin

We're just a few days away from the donor matching deadline for our Jane Bannister Winter Appeal, so if you are considering making a donation please contact us quickly! Full details are inside this month's Bulletin. We are again supporting two excellent charities - New Forest Nightstop and Refuge - so anything you can give this festive season will be hugely appreciated. Dorset Humanists is now a registered charity so we can also claim back tax if you complete a Gift Aid form. Full details from our treasurer Simon Whitlock (He can also be contacted via the ‘Contact Dorset Humanists’ section in the right hand column of this website).

Inside you'll also find some fascinating views on Christmas - including a Christian acknowledgement that Christians adapted Christmas from the pagans’ festivals, rather than vice versa as some have tried to claim.

We hope to see you on Saturday 13th December for mince pies and mulled wine at our last meeting before Christmas and we wish you a happy, safe and peaceful festive season.

http://dorset.humanist.org.uk/dorset/DH-Bulletin-December-2014.pdf

David Warden
Chair, Dorset Humanists

New Forest Nightstop

Wednesday 24^th September 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

With New Forest Nightstop Coordinator, Jude Todd

At the age of sixteen, Jude Todd was sleeping on the streets or in derelict buildings. She suffered considerable personal abuse, was exposed to drink and drugs, and rummaged in bins or begged to get food. In this talk, she will be sharing her personal story of surviving two years of homelessness, and explain how this led her to create New Forest Nightstop which offers safe, free emergency accommodation to homeless young people. One of the most surprising aspects of this inspirational charity’s service is that volunteer families allow the homeless to stay with them in their own homes. Welcoming families, along with suitable advice and support, help ensure vulnerable young people in difficulty are able to recapture their potential and avoid falling into the downward spiral of long term homelessness. The support given by Nightstop not only raises young people's self-esteem but their chances for employment, training, health and housing are also much improved. Join us for an informative introduction to this charity’s vital work, interspersed with a selection of uplifting stories about those who’ve been helped by the charity.

“Join us to hear Jude’s personal story of life on the streets, and learn how an inspirational local charity is tackling youth homelessness”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

[Dorset Humanists’ Winter Appeal 2013/2014 raised £1727 which was split equally between the charities Refuge and New Forest Nightstop. Refuge provides a range of support services for women and children escaping domestic violence, and New Forest Nightstop offers emergency overnight accommodation for homeless 16-24 year olds].

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed via its rear entrance in Gervis Road. The hotel has a small onsite car park, and roadside parking is also available in Gervis Road).

Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Dorset Humanists help the homeless and victims of domestic abuse

Dorset Humanists’ Winter Appeal 2013/2014 raised £1727 to be split equally between the charities Refuge and New Forest Nightstop. Refuge provides a range of support services for women and children escaping domestic violence, and New Forest Nightstop offers emergency overnight accommodation for homeless 16-24 year olds.

Our group’s latest charity appeal was dedicated to the memory of Jane Bannister (1941-2013), a former Chair of Dorset Humanists, who sadly lost her brief battle with cancer in August last year. Jane was a keen supporter of both Refuge and New Forest Nightstop.

Paula McGoveney from Refuge said “We are enormously grateful, as our services have seen a 30% cut to their funding over the last year, and every penny raised is vital to help us fill that shortfall”. Jude Todd, from New Forest Nightstop, who experienced two years of homelessness herself when she was sixteen, said, “Thank you so much for the wonderful amount raised which will help bring safety to vulnerable young people from local communities”. “Our aim is to save them from reaching the streets and becoming victims there”. Jackie Hartless from Community First New Forest, the charity which manages New Forest Nightstop, recently visited us and gave an inspiring and informative talk about Nightstop and their work helping the homeless.

David Warden, Chair of Dorset Humanists, said, “We feel very privileged to be able to make a positive difference to the lives of young homeless people, and women and children who’ve suffered from domestic abuse”. “Jane would have been proud to know we’ve continued her efforts to support these worthy charities”.

Dorset Humanists is a Bournemouth-based community group for atheists and agnostics who want to make the world a better place.

If you wish to donate to either of the charities mentioned, they can be contacted as follows:

New Forest Nightstop Tel: 01425 478391 Email: nightstop@cfnf.org.uk

Refuge Tel: 020 7395 7713 Email: fundraising@refuge.org.uk

Dorset Humanists’ Winter Appeal

Last year, Dorset Humanists’ Winter Appeal raised £800 for the St Paul’s Shelter for homeless people in Bournemouth, and this year we are hoping to match or beat this sum in aid of two more local charities.

This year, we are supporting New Forest Night Stop and Refuge. Jane Bannister (1941-2013), a former Chair of Dorset Humanists, who sadly passed away this year, was very supportive of both these charities.

A member of Dorset Humanists has generously pledged to donate £400 if all other contributors together match this sum by 20th December. You can bring cash or cheques to our 14th December meeting or pledge your amount by contacting David Warden [ email: chairman(at)dorsethumanists.co.uk ]. Cheques should be made payable to Dorset Humanists (Winter Appeal) and can be passed to David Warden or our treasurer Dariusz Andersen.

New Forest Nightstop provides the only emergency overnight accommodation for homeless 16-24 year olds in the homes of trained and approved host households around the New Forest. The support given by Nightstop improves not only young people's self-esteem but also their life chances, and their outcomes for employment, training, health and housing are much improved. Nightstop is a unique and integral service in a multi-agency approach to youth homelessness.

http://www.newforestnightstop.org.uk/aboutus.html

Refuge is committed to a world where domestic violence is not tolerated and where women and children can live in safety. Refuge aims to empower women and children to rebuild their lives, free from violence and fear.

Refuge operates a three-pronged approach which involves:

• Providing a range of high quality services for abused women and children. Their national network of services supports women and children to regain control of their lives and move forwards in a positive way.
• Advocating for improvements to domestic violence policy and practice, and the implementation of legislation to meet the needs of abused women and children.
• Helping to prevent domestic violence through campaigning, education, training and research.

http://refuge.org.uk/who-we-are/

Please give generously and help us to support the work of these worthy charities.

December Bulletin

There are only a few days left to achieve our Winter Appeal target. The two local charities we have selected this year were of special concern to former Chair of Dorset Humanists, Jane Bannister, who sadly died a few months ago. Please let's have a really good push to raise funds for the homeless, and for women and children seeking refuge from domestic violence. If you can’t get to our event on Saturday please contact me or our treasurer Dariusz Andersen to contribute.

We currently have a vacancy on the committee. Please consider joining our friendly team if you have skills and enthusiasm to contribute to the continuing success of Dorset Humanists.

For more news, and details of forthcoming events, please read the Dorset Humanists December Bulletin.

http://dorset.humanist.org.uk/DH-Bulletin-December-2013.pdf

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Best wishes,
David Warden
Chair, Dorset Humanists

July Bulletin

In this month’s bulletin we have the latest news of a dramatic rescue bid for Humanist teacher Mahadevi, views about the Sunday Assembly (also known as ‘the atheist church’), how Dorset Humanists are planning to assist local RE teachers teaching non-religious worldviews, and our usual round-up of fantastic events.

We also include details of our booksale and coffee on Sunday 7th July where we’ll have a fantastic range of used books at bargain prices. All proceeds of the sale will be donated to our Indian School project or a cancer charity, according to your preference. 

http://dorset.humanist.org.uk/DH-Bulletin-July-2013.pdf

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Best wishes,
David Warden
Chair, Dorset Humanists

January Bulletin and Newsletter

Even if you know nothing about Terry Pratchett's 'Discworld' books, we recommend coming along to Professor Jack Cohen's talk on the ‘Science of Discworld’ this coming Saturday. 

Jack Cohen has spoken to us before and he's a very engaging and witty speaker, as well as an internationally-known expert on reproductive biology.  Nathanial Major, manager of the St Paul's Shelter for the homeless, which we supported with our recent Christmas Appeal, will also be giving us an update after the refreshment break. 

As well as all the usual news and views in this edition of the Bulletin, we have comment on the Census results for Bournemouth and Poole, a new President for the BHA, a report on 'Humanist Support for Prisoners',  Holocaust Memorial Day, and booking details for a Humanists’ Chinese feast and our Darwin Day event. 

All good wishes for 2013 and we look forward to seeing you soon

David Warden
Chair, Dorset Humanists

Click here to view details of our forthcoming and recent events.

Humanist Support for Prisoners

(Article from Dorset Humanists January 2013 Bulletin)

At Dorset Humanists December 2012 meeting in Bournemouth, Probation Officer Amy Walden gave us a unique insight into the needs of non-religious prisoners and how these are being met by a pilot project offering Humanist support.

The proportion of non-religious prisoners, 31%, is in line with society in general yet there is an assumption that their emotional and psychological needs can be Christian chaplains. For example, when a prisoners family member is seriously ill or has died, it is always a chaplain who delivers the news. Not all prisoners are allowed to attend the funeral; they are offered time to sit in the chapel instead, and for prayers to be said and the chaplain is there to provide emotional support.

But not all non-religious people feel comfortable talking to a religious person for advice. There is a void in this area and no guidance given, as if atheism is a taboo and not important. Some questions and needs of non-religious people require a non-religious person to deal with them - for example bereavement and making sense of the world.

Amy explained that a non-religious chaplain or Humanist adviser can give non-religious prisoners a voice and redress the imbalance of provision for religious and non-religious prisoners. Non-religious prisoners find it helpful to be able to talk to a Humanist adviser who can provide guidance, help and support through difficult times, particularly bereavement. They also find it helpful to attend atheist meetings to discuss their views, beliefs and opinions with like-minded people, and to support each other.

A Humanist adviser can facilitate acknowledgement and acceptance that non-religious beliefs are also a 'norm' and give advice on how to deal with situations appropriately when a religious person challenges atheist views.

Despite fierce opposition from the prison chaplain, trained Humanist advisors now have a regular presence at Winchester prison and they have been able to provide emotional support through difficult times, philosophical discussion, advice on dealing with bereavement and an alternative to visiting the chapel at the time of a funeral. Special occasions have included Darwin Day when prisoners learnt about Darwin's life and his theory of evolution, and International Day Against Homophobia with speakers from Hampshire County Council's support group for gay, lesbian and transgender employees.

What prisoners are saying about the Humanist support at Winchester prison: 
"The Humanist discussion group has given me a better understanding of other cultures and religions. It is nice to be able to have a proper conversation with someone. It is also helping me with confidence, talking to people about subjects I would not normally discuss. I think it's a really good idea as you can really open up and be yourself without being judged by others on your opinions."

"This is better than AA!" (Alcoholics Anonymous)

"It's invigorating to have the opportunity for stimulating conversation with other like-minded people that doesn't revolve around criminality and sentencing."

"I didn't know we came from fish!" (after Darwin Day)

"The chocolate cake has been the highlight of my sentence!" (also after Darwin Day).

Dorset Humanists raised £100 for this project which is sponsored by the British Humanist Association

Humanists’ help for homeless

(copied from Bournemouth Evening Echo of 31st December 2011)

Dorset Humanists’ Christmas Appeal has raised £800 for the St Paul’s Shelter for homeless people in Bournemouth. The shelter provides emergency short-term accommodation and access to a range of medical facilities, housing advice, education and training. During the coldest months, St Paul’s also runs the life-saving ‘Winter Watch’ service which provides much needed shelter, warmth and food for people who are sleeping rough.

The appeal was launched after Nathanial Major, manager of the shelter, gave an inspiring talk to Dorset Humanists at the Green House Hotel. Mr Major said, “I am extremely grateful towards the Dorset Humanists for such a generous donation over the Christmas period”. “ This money will be put towards our Winter Watch service as well as helping towards days out with our residents for which we receive no formal funding”. David Warden, Chair of Dorset Humanists, said “A key element of Humanism lies in helping some of the most disadvantaged members of society – we feel privileged to support the shelter in this way, especially at Christmas”.

Dorset Humanists is a community group for atheists and agnostics who want to make the world a better place.

Photo Caption: “GIFT: David Warden (left) hands a cheque for £800 to Nathanial Major, manager of the St Paul’s Shelter”

Humanist Support for Prisoners

Saturday 8^th December 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

A presentation by Amy Walden, Probation Officer HMP Winchester

Religious prisoners are able to practice their religion whilst in custody, providing them with much needed emotional and moral support from chaplains, time out of their cells, and a chance to form a network of friends. But what if you are not religious?

Amy Walden is the inspiration behind a positive new pilot project offering equivalent support to non-religious prisoners. In this presentation she considers the inequalities faced by the non-religious in prison, and explains how the British Humanist Association and HM Prison Service are seeking to address them. Despite considerable initial opposition, the pilot is proving to be a great success and it is hoped it will be rolled out across the prison estate.

Join us to learn about this exciting new pilot project aiming to transform the lives of Britain’s non-religious prisoners

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Hope for the Homeless

Wednesday 28^th November 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

As we head into another cold winter, imagine losing the safety and sanctuary of your home. Try to imagine walking bitterly cold streets, searching for a safe place to lay your head, while desperately trying to figure out where your next meal is coming from.

In our presentation and discussion, Hostel Manager, Nathanial Major will explain the spiral of events that can lead people from all walks of life into homelessness, and how agencies like St Paul’s Hostel can help.

Run by social action charity BCHA, St Paul’s Hostel in Bournemouth helps the homeless get off the streets and back on the road to independence.

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Creating a Better World for Animals and People

Saturday 8^th September 2.00pm
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown, Bournemouth BH9 1TW

A presentation by John Berry from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

IFAW works to improve the welfare of animals by reducing commercial exploitation, protecting wildlife habitats, and promoting conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people.

John will focus on three key projects in Southern Africa and India, as well as providing an overview of the group’s other activities around the world that include relocating animals in natural disasters, and protecting endangered species from poachers.

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

If you can help us promote this event by displaying an A4 poster, please download a copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF copy.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Dorset Humanists’ Charity Book Sale Raises £220 for East African Famine Relief

Early on Monday morning, a team of volunteers from Dorset Humanists set off for Christchurch Market with our collection of donated books and CDs to set up a stall to raise money for UNICEF’s and Oxfam’s famine relief funds.

We are pleased to report that sales from books and CDs, along with some cash donations, raised a total of £220 which will be split equally between UNICEF and OXFAM.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us by donating cash, books and CDs, and all those who bought items from us. We’d also like to thank everyone who gave up their time to help organise the event and run the stall.

If you weren’t able to support the charity book sale, you can still help by donating directly to one of the many famine relief appeals.

The easiest way is by text message:  To donate £5 by mobile, TEXT 70000 with the word HELP in your message.

Otherwise, to donate via the Disasters Emergency Committee, call 0370 60 60 900, or visit any bank or building society and ask to pay into the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal account.

And here’s the link to the DEC’s secure donations page which allows you to gift aid your donation and increase its value by 25%:

https://www.donate.bt.com/DEC/dec_form_eaca.html?p_form_id=DEC01

East African Crisis Appeal Book Sale

Monday 1st August 8.30am to 4.00pm Christchurch Market

Dorset Humanists will be holding a Charity Book Sale at Christchurch Market to raise money for the East Africa Disaster Fund. 

Please come along and buy a book or two to help raise urgently needed disaster relief funding. 

You can also donate good condition 'ready to sell' books at the stall to further assist the fundraising.

Also, if you are able to spare an hour or two to help run the stall, please send me an email at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk, or contact Jane to discuss details.

URGENT: East Africa Crisis Appeal

 

 

 

Why we need to help:

•         In some areas the drought is the worst in 60 years according to an analysis by FEWSNET.

•         More than 10 million people have been affected across a wide area of East Africa.

•         Acute malnutrition (GAM) has reached 37% in some parts of north east Kenya, double the 15 % emergency threshold.

•         Child refugees from Somalia are dying of causes related to malnutrition either during the journey or very shortly after arrival.

•         Prices of essential food items have skyrocketed, in some cases more than doubling as the price of the cattle that people are selling to buy grain falls sharply.

•         The number of refugees fleeing from Somalia has increased significantly with 1,700 a day arriving in Ethiopia and 1,400 a day arriving in Dadaab in Kenya.

 

How we can help:

 

The easiest way is by text message:  To donate £5 by mobile, TEXT 70000 with the word HELP in your message.

Otherwise, to donate via the Disasters Emergency Committee, call 0370 60 60 900, or visit any bank or building society and ask to pay into the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal account.

And here’s the link to the DEC’s secure donations page which allows you to gift aid your donation and increase its value by 25%:

https://www.donate.bt.com/DEC/dec_form_eaca.html?p_form_id=DEC01

Thank you for helping!