SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

Welcome to our latest round robin filled with all our news, events and the dates and times of our Jolly Days this month.

Join us for an evening of live music at Wimborne St Giles Church

Friday 25th September, doors open 6.30 pm, music starts 7.00 pm
Under-18s FREE

We’re really looking forward to hosting this special fundraising concert in the beautiful setting of Wimborne St Giles Church. We have a wonderful evening of music planned, featuring Lydia Laughing, Ann Lui Cannon and some other incredibly talented young musicians.

There’s also a personal reason why this evening means a lot to me. My son, James, is part of Lydia Laughing, and I’ve loved watching him discover his passion for music, study it and now work in the world of music. I know how much creativity, confidence and joy music can bring to young people, and I’d love to encourage more young people to discover that for themselves, whether it remains a passion or even becomes a career in the future.

That’s why we’re making the concert FREE for under-18s. We’d love to see lots of young people coming along and enjoying an evening of live music alongside us. Every ticket sold will help support our work, so please come along, bring your friends and enjoy what promises to be a very special evening.

TOP TIP
You may like to bring a cushion to sit on, as the pews can be a little unforgiving.

A big thank you to HGW Solicitors for supporting this event.

Conversations that matter

Over three days in July, we gathered together a wonderful mix of people for something rather special: recording our new Beyond the Lines Jolly Podcast.

There were conversations about ageing well, dementia, caring, creativity, being outdoors, research, hospital arts, death and dying, and, running through all of them, the importance of connection.

We heard from people with lived experience, carers, volunteers and professionals, bringing together different perspectives and experiences. There were honest and sometimes emotional moments, but there was also plenty of laughter.

For us, Beyond the Lines is about looking beyond labels and diagnoses and listening to the people behind them. It is about sharing stories, experiences and ideas that can help us understand one another a little better.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time, shared their experiences and helped make the three days so special.

We’re now looking forward to sharing the full podcast series with you when it launches in January 2027.

Help keep our lunches on the road…

Run by In Jolly Good Company and The Friendly Food Club, this much-needed service delivers a weekly home-cooked meal, along with a smile and a friendly chat, to more than 30 people across rural East Dorset this winter.

A big thank you to Bournemouth and District Junior Lawyers Division who recently raised an amazing £700 for us at their summer ball, which, together with the £1,300 raised through our Jolly Teas, will go towards our Jolly Friendly Winter Lunch Delivery Service.

It’s an uncomfortable truth that people living in seemingly affluent areas can still struggle to afford food, get to the shops or prepare a meal. Illness, mobility issues, caring responsibilities and lack of transport can all make something as simple as having a hot, nutritious lunch a real challenge.

Our winter lunch delivery service goes some way towards helping, but it costs £5,500 to run this winter. We still have £3,500 to raise before November.

If you would like to help us make sure this service can continue, we would be so very grateful. Every contribution really does make a difference.

A great success

A huge thank you goes to Jenny Hanson, who organised the Jolly Tea this year – a mammoth task. But what a team! Together with the delicious tea and cake on offer, we sold plants, bric-a-brac and hand-knitted goodies from the Knitting Angels. All of this gave us a record-breaking (for us) total of just over £1300. We couldn’t have done this without the hard work of all involved on a scorchingly hot afternoon. Thanks to all of you bought and donated so generously.

What’s on in September

Shaftesbury

Royal British Legion, Coppice Street, SP7 8PF
(10 am - 12 pm)

Tuesday 1st
Music with Peter and Noel.

Tuesday 15th
Music with ‘Bit of a Tonic’ followed by gentle yoga with Suzanne.

Tuesday 29th
Music with Paula.

Wimborne

Museum of East Dorset, 23-29 High Street, BH21 1HR
(2 - 4 pm)

Thursday 3rd
Card Art, gentle yoga with Suzanne and poetry with Michael.

Thursday 17th
Instant Theatre with Sarah and Liz, followed by gentle yoga with Suzanne.

Wimborne St Giles

Wimborne St Giles Village Hall, BH21 5LX
(12 pm - 4 pm)

Monday 7th
Delicious Friendly Food Club lunch – followed by music with ‘Bit of a Tonic’.

Monday 21st
A lovely lunch followed by music with cellist Annie Walton (we hope to be joined by Wimborne St Giles First School pupils).

West Moors

The Guide Hall, 24 Ashurst Road, BH22 0LS
(2 - 4 pm)

Wednesday 9th
Card art followed by gentle yoga with Suzanne.

Wednesday 23rd
Music with ‘Bit of a Tonic’.

Blandford

Woodhouse Gardens, DT11 7DN
(2 - 4 pm)

Monday 14th
Instant Theatre with Liz and Sarah.

Monday 28th
Welcome to singer Tina Jay for her first Jolly visit! After singing, we’ll cool down with some gentle yoga with Suzanne.

Step Outside Garden Group

Kingston Lacy Allotments, BH21 4EG
(2 - 4 pm)

Friday 11th
Friday 25th

Gentle gardening and produce to take home. Remember to bring your gardening gloves, sun lotion and a sun hat, etc., plus extra water to drink and a bag for produce. Please don’t forget to donate at this group, as we need your donations to keep up and running.

If you are thinking of joining us for the first time, please call me to book in: sarah@injollygoodcompany.com

Bowl up, bowl up!

Saturday 5th September

Once again Shoreline IT will be hosting a Charity Cricket Day to benefit In Jolly Good Company! Cricket fun kicks off from 11.30 am at Colehill Cricket ground. There will be a BBQ, Raffle, and bar (with tea and coffee also available). Entry is free and all are welcome. Please bring your own garden chair to be certain of a seat. Thanks to all at Shoreline IT and their lovely, lively friends for helping us once more.

Music at the allotment

Friday 18th September 5 – 7 pm

We are so looking forward to this seasonal summer evening entertainment at our Kingston Lacy allotments. This time we’ll be joined by the enigmatic ‘Dark Horses’ as they sing favourites for us to join in with. Bring your friends and family and enjoy the garden in its late summer glory. There will be light refreshments and we will be taking donations on the door.

To book email me, Sarah at: sarah@injollygoodcompany.com

Become a Jolly Good Friend

We’d be so grateful if you would consider helping your small local charity to continue to support older people in your community. £5 a month pays for seeds at our Step Outside Allotment at Kingston Lacy, £10 a month pays for a meal at a Jolly Day or as part of our winter lunch delivery service, £20 plus helps us to provide creative opportunities and entertainment at our Jolly Days and supports local artists and musicians.

If you are a UK taxpayer, and can supply us with your name and address, we can collect Gift Aid to boost your contribution.

If you would like to set up a monthly Standing Order to help us, our bank details are as follows: In Jolly Good Company CIO Sort Code: 08 92 99 Account Number: 67375286

In return, you can receive our Jolly monthly newsletter, to see how we use your money and you are invited to our Jolly Good Friends Day annual get together.

Please get in touch with me for further information: sarah@injollygoodcompany.com / 07884 333117

See you at the Jollies