The In Jolly Good Company Almanac 2025

This year really has flown by, filled with so many warm and jolly moments. Choosing just a handful of memories to share in this Almanac hasn’t been easy. Our heartfelt thanks go to the artists, musicians, yoga and dance teachers, and actors who shared their skills and creativity, making each Jolly Day such a special experience. Behind the scenes, a dedicated team worked hard to make it all happen, and we’re deeply grateful for the care and joy they bring to our guests every day. So, pop the kettle on, settle in, and enjoy this little trip down memory lane.

Without the support of our main funder the National Lottery, we would not still be up and running. This year we benefited from additional support from Dorset Council, Dorset Community Foundation, Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Charitable Foundation, Fine Family Foundation, NHS Charities Together, Valentine Trust, Talbot Village Trust and Ferndown and Parley Rotary CIO and as well as Tesco, Waitrose, Dorset Tea, Niwaki and Lush. We have been helped enormously by Shoreline IT who have fundraised for us and Luke Ballard who has undertaken some huge running challenges on our behalf. All these organisations and people value the support we are providing in our communities, and we are so grateful to them all and I heartily apologise if I have forgotten anyone who has helped us this year!

January

Instant Panto continues to be a big hit with our Jolly guests. Liz Reeve and I are both long-time members of the Dorset-based theatre company Word and Action and introduced our groups to the fun of Instant Theatre, inviting everyone to create their own short plays and bring them to life together. The results were imaginative, unexpected and often very funny. Instant Panto gives people complete freedom, with no scripts, no pressure and no wrong ideas. All participation is optional, which helps everyone feel comfortable joining in at their own pace. It’s been especially lovely to see how much guests living with memory issues enjoy this format, where imagination leads the way and every contribution is welcomed. It’s a real pleasure to support our guests as they explore their creativity and share laughter through theatre.

Throughout the winter, Anni and our Jolly Vollys made the most of any fair weather we were blessed with to prepare the allotment for the year ahead. New storage boxes were added and installed by Duncan, along with some much-needed tools, while Fiona and Brian mulched the paths using kindly donated mulch from Brian Hennessey of Treeworks.

We are over the moon to have been able to offer delicious, nutritious Jolly Lunches again for the fourth year running. They are prepared by The Friendly Food Club and delivered by our wonderful ‘dinner lady’, Kate Sheridan. We’re grateful to the Community Kitchen at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne for letting us use their space, and to George from The Friendly Food Club for creating such tasty meals. A huge thank you goes to Kate, who delivered the meals through rain, cold and even floods, always taking time to stop for a friendly chat with each recipient. For many people, these visits are something they really look forward to, especially if they haven’t seen anyone else that day. The Jolly Friendly Lunch Delivery Service continues to be a much-needed service.

To celebrate Burns Night, we had a jolly delicious fusion lunch at our Wimborne St Giles Jolly Day, prepared by The Friendly Food Club. We enjoyed Balmoral Chicken (stuffed with haggis and wrapped in streaky bacon) served with neeps and tatties, kale and a single malt whiskey cream sauce. Dessert was Italian panettone bread and butter pudding and custard – yum! Alan piped in the Haggis which was delivered on a silver platter by George. Alan then recited 'To a Haggis' before the main course was served. After lunch one of our lovely guests, John, read us one of Robert Burns' poems. We think he did him proud!

February

We enjoyed an afternoon of singing at Shaftesbury’s Snowdrop Festival, held in collaboration with Melodies Remembered – a fun sociable group for people living with dementia and memory loss and their carers. The session took place at Shaftesbury Town Hall. The Madding Crowd provided the music, creating a lively and uplifting atmosphere, with plenty of familiar songs to sing along to. The event was open to all and supported by generous donations, with tea and cake, a much-loved Jolly staple, enjoyed by many.

Our Jolly Blandford guests love nothing better than a jolly good sing-along, and they weren't disappointed this month when we were joined by Caroline Pugh. Caroline played film tunes from Mary Poppins, Oliver and James Bond to celebrate the recent BAFTAS and the upcoming Oscars. Later, some of our guests got up to boogie to some dance tunes from the '60s.

Quizzes are always a popular part of our Jolly Days, and our Shaftesbury guests really embraced Bill’s fabulous quiz. The room was full of concentration, laughter and friendly competition as everyone got involved and worked together to answer the questions. Guests were completely engrossed, enjoying both the challenge and the shared experience, and it made for a relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable time for all.

We were very happy to welcome Two’s Company to our Wimborne St Giles Jolly Day for the first time, and they quickly won over our guests. Jacqui and Julia shared a wonderful repertoire of well-loved songs that encouraged everyone to join in. Their warm delivery and thoughtful song choices went down a storm, bringing a real sense of jollity to the afternoon.

March

Kate delivered the last Jolly Meal Delivery for this year. One lovely recipient showed her some fabulous photos of what she’d be missing this summer when his famous lilies bloom in his Cranborne Garden. Kate told us she also loved seeing the stunning tulips at Chris’s house and chatting with her. Chris told her how much she had appreciated the lunches throughout the winter.

We enjoyed a fun St Patrick’s Day celebration at Jolly Wimborne St Giles, complete with a surprise appearance from St Patrick himself (aka George from The Friendly Food Club), who entertained us with tales of chasing the snakes from Ireland. The Friendly Food Club prepared a special Irish-inspired lunch of sausage and colcannon mash, complete with a splash of Guinness in the gravy. Claire’s shamrock-green dessert went down a treat, along with homemade leprechaun shortbread that was almost too cute to eat. Sue and Kate kept everyone engaged with Irish-themed quiz questions, and we finished the day with a cheerful sing-along with firm favourites, Colin and Clara, better known as ‘Bit of a Tonic’.

It was so lovely to welcome everyone back to our Step Outside Gardening Group for the first time this year. And what a gloriously sunny day it was, too! We had a great turnout and everyone had a wonderful time catching up with each other, digging, planting and sowing seeds. There were delicious homemade scones baked by Sarah and served with clotted cream and strawberry jam, washed down with a good old cuppa.

We also welcomed Gary Jarman from Pageant Productions to our allotment this month. Gary has created a film about us, which is now on our website for you to enjoy, grab a cuppa and take a look – you may even spot yourself! Gary also visited several of our Jolly Days to interview guests and staff in order for the film to capture everything that makes the Jollies so wonderful. We hope you love it as much as we do!

The episode of The Family Carer Podcast with Bluebird Care West Dorset that I recorded went live this month. I talked about the impact that loneliness and isolation can have on people's physical and mental well-being and how creative activities can help alleviate some of the issues. I also discussed the benefits for the well-being of the family carer.

April

We were delighted to welcome Lance and Archie from Eco Sustainable Solutions in Christchurch to our Step Outside allotment. They dropped off a load of free compost that they kindly donated to us. By adding it to our beds, it gave them a real boost. Compost gives better drainage, adds nutrients, improves moisture retention, and strengthens the soil structure – the perfect recipe for happy, healthy plants (and it even helps protect against erosion!). Eco is a family-run business, and they are pioneers in organic recycling in Dorset.

A jolly creative time was had at our Wimborne Jolly Day, making experimental art with Max and me. We used pouring acrylic paint as it's lovely and fluid and can be moved around on the paper easily. Using inflated balloons blown up to the size of a grapefruit (so they were still soft enough to be used sensitively) and straws, we let our imaginations run wild with our creations, taking inspiration from the beautiful flowers Anni placed on the tables. Each piece of artwork was vibrant, eye-catching and 100% original.

Our Jolly West Moors guests enjoyed competing in some good old 'village fete' games. The brilliant idea was suggested by lovely guests Shirley and Ken. Shirley brought in her Skittles game and gave us all a demonstration before we got stuck in. Other games included Paper Cup Tower knock down, Bean Bag Toss and Quoits. Everyone enjoyed the challenges and had several attempts at each activity. It was great fun, and the jolly spectators cheered everyone on with huge support and enthusiasm.

What a jolly busy and productive time we had at our Step Outside Gardening Group. Duncan began clearing and moving our new allotment space while Sue helped sow squash and courgettes at the sowing table. David sowed sweetcorn and French beans and Anne and Gerry planted the peas, which had germinated from the last sowing while Diane planted turnips and early beetroot and Anne and Fiona harvested kale and purple sprouting broccoli. Gerry, David and Diane sowed the second early Charlotte potatoes while Duncan and Brian harvested leeks, and Max planted sweet peas and other flowers. Phew! After all that hard work, we all thoroughly enjoyed a sit down, a cuppa with a slice of delicious homemade cake and a jolly good chinwag.

May

Our Wimborne Jolly guests enjoyed a fascinating talk from Jolly Volly Nonny, who shared her experiences of visiting RedTribe, a Maasai charity in Kenya, with a group from her church. She spoke about the changing traditional way of life for the Maasai people and how RedTribe supports the community in the Loita Hills through education, sustainable resources and income-generating projects, while helping to preserve their cultural identity. Nonny explained how a small beadwork project has grown into a successful enterprise supporting dozens of women and funding education for girls and the training of female teachers. She also shared handmade jewellery from the project. It was a moving and humbling talk that sparked interest and conversation, and guests appreciated learning more about the positive impact of RedTribe’s work.

Our allotment was looking particularly wonderful this month, and that's down to Anni, our volunteers and the lovely guests who come along and get stuck in. Our Step Outside Gardening Group is a great afternoon out and no experience of gardening is needed to join in. Some guests like to sit and chat, whilst others harvest vegetables and pick flowers. As well as gardening, we often offer art, crafts, live music, storytelling and gentle yoga. Oh, and we supply tea and posh biscuits – and sometimes homemade cakes or scones – yum!

Local long-distance runner Luke Ballard took on his toughest running challenge to date, the 56km Ultralight Trail Snowdonia to raise money for In Jolly Good Company. It’s a demanding race that tested him to the limit when he ran it last year for the first time. With experience behind him, he finished the challenge stronger. finishing in 11 hours, 30 minutes and raising £2,370! We are so grateful to fundraisers like Luke, without them we really wouldn’t be able to keep the Jollies on the road.

To celebrate VE Day, our Blandford guests enjoyed a lively session with the wonderful singer Susan Old. Susan has a fabulous way with our guests and always manages to tempt them onto the dance floor to join her for a song and a boogie. With VE Day celebrations fresh in our minds, the songs felt especially meaningful, and it was lovely to see the joy on people’s faces and the friendships that continue to grow through sharing music together.

June

Volunteers Week is in June and the perfect opportunity to celebrate our wonderful ‘Jolly Vollys’ who give so much to In Jolly Good Company. There isn’t room to mention them all here, but they are all very much appreciated. Fiona (pictured), has supported us for many years, especially at our Step Outside allotment. She not only helps during the gardening sessions but also quietly keeps everything watered and thriving in between. Brian has been a steady presence at the allotments for years, keeping everything shipshape with tireless energy, fuelled by plenty of tea, and always doing so with style. We’re equally grateful for Jan, whose colourful presence and warm spirit light up the room. A former nurse with a deep understanding of dementia, Jan brings creativity, care and enthusiasm to everything she does, whether it’s Instant Panto or supporting guests at our Jolly Days. We truly couldn’t do what we do without volunteers like Fiona, Brian and Jan, we’re so thankful for each and every one of our Jolly Vollys.

It was wonderful to see such a great turnout, with Wimborne Football Club filled to the rafters for a quiz evening hosted by Helen and Darren of Shoreline IT. They opened the event by introducing In Jolly Good Company and sharing our film, marking the first of two fundraising events organised and hosted by them to raise much-needed funds for us. The quiz itself was fast-paced and competitive, with close scores and a dramatic tie-breaker. A popular raffle and a lively auction followed, with plenty of enthusiastic bidding, especially for the football season tickets and a golf day at Ashley Wood. It was a fun and memorable evening that raised valuable funds for our work.

We received a very special visit from the new Mayor of Blandford Forum, Councillor Hugo Mieville, at our Jolly Blandford Jolly Day, along with the Council Town Clerk, Linda Scott-Giles. Hugo has recently been elected as Chairman and Town Mayor for 2025/2026, representing the Langton St Leonards Ward. He's been serving as a councillor since May 2011 and was also the Mayor in 2023/2024. Hugo and Linda spent time chatting to our guests and joined in with the fun. What a special afternoon!

Our Wimborne St Giles Jolly Days include a delicious lunch from The Friendly Food Club. This month we enjoyed fish (with a vegetarian option) in a lemon and green olive sauce, new potatoes, green beans and roasted cherry tomatoes, followed by a refreshing Eton Mess for dessert. Eileen (pictured), another one of our Jolly Vollys, is a familiar face to many guests. She helps everyone feel comfortable and is always ready to lend a hand, whether that’s serving food, chatting with guests or tidying up afterwards. She has a great sense of what needs doing and quietly gets on with it.

July

Our Jolly Wimborne and Blandford guests both enjoyed visits from Sarah Pugh, a professional musician. Sarah played the oboe and recorders for us, treating us to a range of music, including classical, opera, medieval songs, and West End show tunes. Sarah also gave a fascinating talk about the oboe, explaining how it works and how to make reeds, as well as sharing the history of the recorder.

We were very grateful to Knoll Gardens Foundation for inviting In Jolly Good Company guests to enjoy exclusive access at Knoll Gardens which proved to be very popular. Neil Lucas, Director of Knoll Gardens, and Rowena Jecock, Chair of the Knoll Gardens Foundation Trustees, accompanied us on a special walk around the gardens and told us about the wonderful plants and wildlife. Afterwards, we were free to wander through the gardens.

Local photographer Clare Johnson joined us at our Step Outside Gardening Group plots to take some photos of us as we worked as part of her Outdoor Stories project. Clare is a visual storyteller whose work centres on people, place and community. With a warm and thoughtful approach, she captures real moments and meaningful stories, often exploring the connection between people and the natural world.

Connor of Absolute Music in Bournemouth spent time helping us to find the right amp and microphone to help our guests hear each other and enjoy more music, which plays a special role at our Jolly Days and is always enjoyed by our guests. Whether it’s singing along, tapping feet or simply listening, music helps lift spirits, spark memories and bring people together. It can be especially supportive for those living with dementia, offering comfort, familiarity and a sense of connection, while also supporting overall wellbeing. Music creates shared moments of joy and helps make our Jolly Days feel welcoming, lively and full of life.

August

We were delighted that our Jolly Tea in Wimborne St Giles village hall was such a great success, raising £1,480. This was made possible by a brilliant team of volunteers, makers, bakers, stallholders and everyone who came along, ate cake and gave so generously. The total raised was the equivalent of 150 Jolly lunches prepared by The Friendly Food Club, something we know our guests will very much enjoy.

Our Wimborne Jolly guests were treated to a visit from the Millstream Theatre Company, who performed their cabaret Hat’s It!. The show blended humour, music and dance with thoughtful reflections on everyday challenges, and sparked plenty of conversation with the cast afterwards. We were pleased to donate our takings that day to Millstream to support their important work, alongside their evening fundraising performance at the Museum of East Dorset.

Another exciting moment this month was the arrival of our new polytunnel at the allotment. Built by Simon and Scott from First Tunnels Polytunnels, it was assembled with care, good humour and plenty of friendly banter. The polytunnel means we can now raise all our seedlings and flowers on-site. Until now, Anni had taken trays of seeds home to her own polytunnel and grown the flowers there before returning them to the allotment, so this is a big and welcome change. The idea for the polytunnel came about after a meeting between Anni and Hayley, the National Trust’s Head Gardener, who also oversees the allotments. Anni proposed using the vacant plot next to ours to grow cut flowers and to create a small wildlife pond, as well as having a polytunnel for undercover work and planting prep. We were delighted when the National Trust kindly agreed to all these plans, and we’re over the moon to now have the polytunnel in place. It’s a fantastic addition for our guests and volunteers and will make a real difference to our Step Outside sessions going forward.

Luke Ballard ran his second fundraising challenge this month. He ran solo across Dorset, from Lyme Regis to Tollard Royal – more than 100km – up and down the ten highest hills! He completed the 18-hour effort with support from friends along the way. His partner, Rachel, kept us all updated via WhatsApp and organised a wonderful welcome at the finish. It was a pleasure to be there to meet him and celebrate such a huge achievement. Luke’s determination and the support behind him will help us continue bringing people together at our Jolly Days across Dorset.

September

Most of our Jolly groups, including the Step Outside Gardening Group, enjoyed a visit from Dr Natalie Djohari from Bournemouth University and community arts lecturer Casey Brett, who were joined by their daughters. Together they introduced Waiting Well, a creative project inviting people to make collage postcards exploring the activities and moments that help them stay well while living with or supporting someone with memory loss. Guests, volunteers and staff all took part, creating thoughtful postcards and sharing personal reflections on the back about themselves and their time at Jolly sessions. The project, which focuses on wellbeing rather than diagnosis, will help inform future research and may be shared in an exhibition, making it a meaningful and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

We had a lovely morning in Shaftesbury when Allan, one of our Jolly guests, shared memories from his remarkable career, including 30 years as a fireman with Brighton and Lewes Fire Brigade and later work in fire safety for Brighton & Hove Council. Allan told us about the surprise he received on his retirement, which included a vintage fire engine tour and a return to the station where he first started. He also spoke about some of the more serious moments he witnessed during his service. We love to hear about the fascinating lives of our guests and find out what they were doing before we met them.

A charity cricket match, organised by Darren and Helen from Shoreline IT to raise much-needed funds for In Jolly Good Company was a great success. Four teams took part, representing Shoreline IT, The Green Man, DMW Architects and a mixed team of Bristolians and Wimbornians aptly named “Brimborne”, creating a great atmosphere on and off the pitch. The day was made possible by the generosity and support of so many people. Our thanks go to Colehill Sports & Social Club for hosting, The Green Man Wimborne for raising over £250 through raffle ticket sales, Savvy Sunflower for donating their profits, and AE Insurance Brokers (Romsey) for providing wonderful raffle prizes. A special mention also goes to Steve Matthews, whose lively auctioneering helped boost the total raised. It was a warm, community-spirited event and a fantastic example of what can be achieved when people come together for a good cause.

October

Without the Jolly Volly mighty team of 26 highly skilled people, we certainly couldn’t run any of our Jolly Days to the high standard we know and love and keep everyone safe at the same time. Which is why I decided to nominate each and every one of them for the Volunteer Team of the Year award. On Friday, 3rd October, I travelled to Dorchester with Jan Robson, Pat Stansby and Nonny Harlow who volunteer at our Jolly Museum Group in Wimborne. They were there to represent the whole team. We enjoyed a delicious ploughman’s supper and drinks whilst clapping and cheering all the other inspiring people in the room. And then, finally, it was the turn of our team to have their amazing work recognised. A proud moment for us all. Without them we couldn’t support the over 150 people per month that we do.

What a proud and jolly moment this was for us all when a beautiful portrait of our guest, Shirley, taken by the talented June, another of our lovely guests from our Jolly West Moors group, was selected as a finalist in the Dorset Arts Open, a major art competition run by Dorset Visual Arts in proud partnership with Dorset Museum & Art Gallery. Chosen from over 650 entries, the portrait, which is part of our Behind the Lines photography project, was exhibited at Dorchester Museum and Art Gallery, and it was a joy to see Shirley there at the private view, proudly standing beside her portrait and soaking up the moment. Behind the Lines explores creativity, confidence and friendship through shared portrait-making.

Our Wimborne St Giles Jolly guests were treated to a lovely afternoon’s entertainment from the brilliant Brave Bold Drama Theatre Company who soon had the room laughing with their humorous shows Pumpkins and Sticky Ends. In Pumpkins, we met Gourdon and Melonie, two “activist pumpkins” on a mission to stop pumpkins ending up in the bin after Halloween. With music, drawings and plenty of jokes, they showed us just how tasty and nutritious pumpkins can be, and everyone went home with a recipe to try. The fun continued with Sticky Ends, a lively improv show that playfully poked fun at old-fashioned cautionary tales. Guests suggested things they were “told never to do,” and Gill and Paul turned them into a completely unique story on the spot. It was silly, creative and very funny – a brilliant end to a thoroughly entertaining afternoon.

We were delighted to welcome Mayor Jeff Hart to our Step Outside allotment to snip the ribbon and declare our Jolly Poly officially open! Homemade scones, coffee cake, and brownies were enjoyed with delicious Dorset Tea while Sarah Pugh serenaded us with beautiful oboe and recorder music. Thanks to our brilliant head gardener, Anni Sax, our Jolly Volly Duncan Ray, and the support of Wimborne Waitrose and Ferndown & Parley Rotary, the new polytunnel is already bringing fresh life and possibilities to this peaceful space.

This month was also our final Step Outside session for the year and it involved lots of gardening. We harvested the final kale, French beans and carrots, tidied the beds, topped up the compost, sowed sweet peas and transplanted sweet Williams and onion sets. A sudden shower and burst of sunshine gave us a beautiful rainbow, and we took shelter in the polytunnel to enjoy Anne’s homemade coffee cake, Sandra’s scones, washed down with a refreshing cup of tea. Dorset Tea kindly donated enough tea to keep all our groups’ thirst well and truly quenched for a whole year of Jolly Days.

November

We enjoyed a brilliant day celebrating our wonderful ‘Jolly Vollys’ at our annual Volunteers Day. The day began with a thoughtful sharing session led by my good self, followed by light-hearted games that brought plenty of smiles. A delicious lunch from The Friendly Food Club set us up for a sunny walk and a creative decoupage workshop with Anni. We ended the day with a Bonfire Night quiz, chocolate cake and a special surprise for each of our volunteers, generously gifted by Lush Poole. It was a special celebration and a heartfelt thank you to our Jolly Vollys, who truly are the heart of In Jolly Good Company.

Our Wimborne St Giles Jolly group were treated to a visit from Vellata Cracknell from the Dorset Blind Association, who shared a really helpful talk about the support available to people living with partial or full sight loss. It was inspiring to hear about the social clubs, activities and equipment they offer to help people stay independent, connected and confident.

Our guests had a wonderfully creative time at our Wimborne Jolly Day with Max, making their own greeting cards inspired by foliage and Christmas. There was plenty of cutting, sticking and sharing ideas, and it was wonderful to see everyone’s personality shine through in their designs. Each card turned out completely unique, and the session was filled with lots of chat and laughter.

We had an interesting and informative morning at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne for Carers Rights Day. It was wonderful to chat with so many people and to see so much interest in our West Moors and Wimborne Jolly Groups, as well as our Step Outside Gardening Group at Kingston Lacy. The hall was full of fantastic stalls, friendly faces and plenty of leaflets heading home in new hands.

December

Our wildlife pond is really starting to come together now, thanks to a brilliant team effort from Anni, Max, Duncan and Brian. Incredibly, they shifted twelve wheelbarrows of earth to create a kidney-shaped pond with three-stepped levels and a deep central pool. A few jokes were even made about turning the pond into a Jacuzzi instead, and Anni and Max even tried it out for size! It’s a brilliant addition to the allotment, and we can’t wait to watch it come to life. Anni and Max might miss out on the Jacuzzi, but the local critters are about to get the five-star spa of their dreams.

The talented Knitting Angels, Carol and Phyllis, filled their stall at our Wimborne St Giles Jolly Day with gorgeous handmade gifts from baby jumpers and hats to tiny angels, snowmen, gonks, blankets and more. Rumour has it they started knitting way back in August for the stall.

This month, we featured in The Art of Keeping Well – a community exhibition exploring caregiving, memory loss and what it means to age well. Created through collaborations between local artists, community groups, charities and Bournemouth University, the exhibition offered thoughtful and moving perspectives on later life. Highlights included Waiting Well, a series of collaged postcards, some created by our Jolly guests, that revealed the everyday realities, resilience and moments of joy experienced by family carers; Beyond the Lines, a powerful black-and-white portrait project created by members of our In Jolly Good Company groups that challenged stereotypes around ageing; and Stay by Adilson Naueji, a tender portrait capturing the quiet strength of caregiving. Together, these works shone a light on love, creativity, connection and community, and we were incredibly proud of our members and everyone involved.

We welcomed the children from Abbey Primary School to our final Jolly Shaftesbury Day of 2025. They filled the room with such Christmas cheer when they sang a medley of festive favourites, including Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and Jingle Bells Rock. After their performance, the children spent time chatting with our guests and sharing biscuits and chocolates. The celebration was made even sweeter by Virginia’s homemade mince pies and volunteer Mel’s beautiful heart-shaped shortbread biscuits… delicious!