Bournemouth Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society
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The best of G&S in the South

Charities

BOURNEMOUTH G&S AND CARE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

 

We are a charitable organisation and it is a tradition that the Bournemouth G&S Society supports the community of which it is a part by giving generous donations to local charities every year.  Charities are put forward by members at our Annual General Meeting in March and the meeting then votes on the proposals and allocates the money available.

 

At this year's AGM, there were 2 charities nominated for consideration and it was voted to give money to each one.

 

WOOFABILITY

 

Woofability is a locally based organisation training assistance dogs for disabled people in Dorset, Hampshire and South Wiltshire.

In 2010, 2 charities were nominated and we were able to give money to each one.

 

ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY NEW FOREST BRANCH

 

The music group at Ringwood for the Alzheimer's Society New Forest branch provides a pleasant morning for all those with memory loss issues and their carers, family or friends.  A listening ear is always available for advice and support, refreshments are enjoyed while music of all sorts is very popular. For people with dementia, playing instruments, singing and dancing do seem to have real and sustained benefits.

 

Pink Champagne Dragon Boat Team

 

Pink Champagne encourages women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer to lead full and active lives through the sport of dragon boat racing.  A dragon boat team consists of a captain, a steersperson, up to 20 ladies sitting in pairs and a drummer.

 

Their website is http://www.pinkchampagne.org.uk

 

Christmas Carols for Macmillan

 Another annual event is the tradition of giving a donation of all the money raised from singing carols to The Macmillan Cancer Trust at Christchurch, which now has a new name - Macmillan Caring Locally.
It has been the chosen Christmas Charity since the pre-Yuletide concerts were started several decades ago.  Following another successful and happy season of carol singing at the end of last year, we were able to donate over £3500.
The money is always given directly to the Macmillan Unit for them to buy whatever is most urgently needed by the Unit and the        

 

We are delighted to be associated with 2 such excellent local charities.

picture shows our organiser Jean Hancock handing the cheque to Neal Williams, the Trust Secretary, accompanied by 2 of the Macmillan nurses.  Over the years we have been able to give the Unit well over £55,000.

Prostate Cancer Support Organisation (PCaSO) - Dorset Branch

 

PCaSO's role is to give help and support to all prostate cancer sufferers, their families and friends. In Dorset this is done through the use of a Help line and public meetings where anyone affected by the disease can obtain further information or simply talk through some of the problems they face with like-minded people.

It takes a total of about two years to train a dog fully and costs £5,000 to buy and train a puppy for those first two years. The charity then support the partnerships with regular visits and back up for 10 years which costs a further £6,000. Because we are a local organisation staffed mainly by volunteers and with very low overheads, the costs involved in training and supporting our partnerships are much much lower than the national charities. We receive no government funding and all costs have to be paid for through local fundraising and donations.
These special dogs do many tasks to help their disabled partner including emptying the washing machine, picking up the post, getting the telephone, helping to dress and undress, taking a purse to the till, pressing a button at traffic lights but by far the most important benefit is giving confidence to become more independent which leads to re-integration into society. Our dogs really do change lives for the better.
Website: http://www.woofability.com
Our Chairman Neil Winkley presents a cheque to Jenny and Andy Clarke, founders of Woofability
Jenny and Andy Clarke and one of the new recruits
Our aim is to raise awareness of the disease itself so that men can take action. The sooner something is done in tackling the problem the better the chances of receiving effective treatment.  Another important area is education because a better understanding of this condition is the key to overcoming fear of it.
We are a charitable trust run entirely by volunteers who are, or have been prostate cancer sufferers.  The Dorset Branch holds regular bi-monthly meetings where patients, their partners or families can exchange experiences and concerns, receive further information and learn more about the disease and its treatments.
Website: http://www.pcaso.org
Our Chairman Neil Winkley presents a cheque to Jim Davis, the Chairman of the West Branch of PCaSO
2010