Category Archives: Event

WAND AGM 2017

The WAND AGM for 2017 is nearly here and this year we are excited to welcome Louise Johnson who will give us ‘An Introduction to Burlesque’ including a bit of history and a demo with audience participation!

The meeting is taking place in Borough Gardens House in Dorchester on Wednesday 21 June from 6pm – 7.30pm. The whole event is free to attend.

Following a short report from the organisation detailing the work they have done over the previous year to host events such as Dorset Women’s Day and Reclaim the Night plus the support they have offered to partner organisations such as the Women’s’ Refuge and the Shores (Sexual Abuse Referral Centre) in Bournemouth, attenders will be offered a FREE delicious cream tea.

WAND Chair said : “Our AGM is a great opportunity to come along and find out about WAND if you’re not sure what we do. It’s also a great place to meet up with friends, have a delicious cream tea and this year learn about Burlesque (and have a go!) – and all for free! We’re always looking for new volunteers to join the Core Group or to help with our events. We hope you’ll join us.”

For further information, contact WAND wanddorset@gmail.com or call WAND on 07379 426525 (please leave a message because this is not answered all day).

(Borough Gardens House is located on the south west end of Borough Gardens – close to the Fairfield (market) car park).

Thank you to everyone involved in Dorset Women’s Week 2017

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WAND would like to say a massive thank you to everyone involved in making Dorset Women’s Week a success!

The week ended in Dorset Women’s Day which was fantastic! Thank you to all the workshop leaders (especially those who stepped in at the last moment due to sickness), to the stall holders, and the amazing performers! And thank you to everyone who came along.

Congratulations to Sheonagh Ravensdale and Angie Rolph who won the prizes for giving us feedback.

We hope you all enjoyed it. Please see below for a selection of photos from Dorset Women’s Day.

Dorset Women’s Week 2017 – Programme Launched

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WAND is excited to launch the 2017 Dorset Women’s Week Programme! The week runs from 4-11 March and culminates again in Dorset Women’s Day.

We have more fantastic events and opportunities this year during the week including a Guided Tour of Arne Nature Reserve, Feminine and Fabulous confidence building workshop, Well Women Yoga and free swimming and exercise classes at Oxley Leisure Centre.

Dorset Women’s Day on Saturday 11 March, at the Dorford Centre has a wide range of exciting workshops including bike maintenance, flower arranging, assertiveness, African drumming, a ukulele crash course, ballet, and permaculture principles, to name just a few!

We have some brilliant performances in the main hall throughout the day, along with stalls selling a range of products and information stands. See the Programme for more details.

Our fabulous catering team will be on hand to sell drinks and delicious sandwiches and cakes. We also have our Rummage Room so come and have rummage and pick up some new to you. If you have anything you’d like to donate please bring it along on the day.

A huge thank you to everyone who is giving up their time to run a workshop, perform, have a stall as well as the brilliant team behind the scenes making this a fabulous day.

Women’s Week is support by our WAND patrons:

“It’s Dorset Women’s Day again, how fabulous! We meet once more ladies, in the wake of the most powerful women’s marches on the planet too. All across the world, the value of sisterhood was shaken up that day and continues to be fully realised.

Women are incredible humans; we’re equals, we have value, we have a voice and we shouldn’t be afraid to use it to protect our rights and to make the world a better place. I look forward to seeing you all today and celebrating the very best of West Dorset’s women.” Tracey West

“Congratulations and thanks to WAND for using today to bring focus and attention to women locally and across the world. It has seldom been more important to preserve our gains and continue to champion women in all walks of life and connect with women of other cultures, and not just on International Women’s Day but on each of the remaining 364 days of the year, every year. But for now Enjoy the Day!” Harriet Waters

We hope you can join us!

If you have any queries please email wanddorset@gmail.com or call WAND on 07379 426525.

Reclaiming the Night

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Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Reclaim the Night another fantastic event. Around 30 people took part, starting with the fabulous Organic Rhythm drumming workshop. We then headed outside for our annual march through the high street. We headed back to the town hall for a delicious supper and then on to the auction hosted by our patron Tracey West.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated prizes – including books from Waterstones, handmade cards and beaded jewellery, hampers from Unison, toiletries from Lush, Abbotsbury Children’s Farm, Bournemouth Aquarium, Pecorama, Athelhampton House and Vivi Lounge to name just a few. A special thank you to the West Dorset Women’ Refuge Welfare Committee who donated prizes they’d collected for an event that they’d had to cancel.

We raised a fantastic £702 pounds from the auction and tombola. The funding raised has been spilt between the West Dorset Women’s Refuge and the Sexual Assault Referral Unit (SARC) in Bournemouth.

Reclaim the Night Coming Soon

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Everyone in Dorset is invited to join WAND for its annual Reclaim the Night event on Saturday 26 November from 7pm at the Town Hall in Dorchester.

WAND is hosting the night to link in with “International End Violence Against Women Day” held each year on 25 November.

Tickets cost £3, to be bought on the door, and include a drumming workshop with the wonderful Organic Rhythm, a buffet supper and a charity auction. The main event of the evening will be a short march through the Dorchester streets to ‘Reclaim the Night’.

The march through the streets is our way of raising awareness of the vulnerability faced by many women through domestic violence and abuse, rape, and honour based violence. While the event has a serious theme, it’s a really fun evening.

Some of the money raised from the auction will go to support the West Dorset Woman’s Refuge, including paying for an outing. The remaining money will be going to SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) in Bournemouth to support their valuable work. Last year we raised an amazing £1,181 at event (including a couple of generous donations).

We are again welcoming anyone who wishes to contribute towards ending violence against woman – so this will not be a female only event, it is open to everyone.

While WAND recognise that domestic violence doesn’t just affect women and that men can also be subjected to it, as a women’s organisation Reclaim is still focussed on support for women.

So please come along to our friendly event which promises a fun evening despite its serious message.

For more information or if you would like to make a donation to the charity auction please contact wanddorset@gmail.com or call 07980 140216 (please leave a message because the phone is not monitored all day).

WAND AGM 2016 – “Keep Young and Beautiful”

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This year we are excited to welcome Trisha Lewis to our AGM who will be giving us important advice from a 1950 women!

The AGM is on Wednesday 13 July from 6pm to 7.30 at the Borough Garden’s House, West Walks Dorchester, DT1 1RE.

Come along for a delicious cream tea, hear about what WAND has been up to over the last year and join us for some important advice from an earlier era.

TRISHA LEWIS: “KEEP YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL”

A very amusing look at the health and beauty and relationship advice for women during the 1950s! Trisha (as 1950s woman) shares advice from REAL books and magazines – advice that she is going to pass on to her daughter who is having… um…. ‘marriage difficulties’.

A Fantastic Dorset Women’s Week 2016!

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Credit: Claire Vera

A huge thank you to everyone who was involved in Dorset Women’s Week 2016 – what a week!

We talked about knickers and body confidence; we learnt to deal with stress and make jewellery; heard from (or about) some inspiring women; and we ate cake!

The week ended with another amazing Dorset Women’s Day! Over 400 women came through the door and there was a brilliant atmosphere.

Also thank you to everyone who gave us their feedback on the day – we’ll use this to help plan next year! Congratulations to Mrs D Harris from Weymouth who was picked out the hat as the winner of some fabulous prizes.

“This is a great event, lots of information, classes to try new things and meet interesting people. wil come again next year.” Danielle

“Brilliant Day. Whoever got Kate Adie should be congratulated.” Jemma

“Fabulous feel good event.2 Jackie

So again a massive thank you to the organising team, the volunteers helping on the day, all the workshop leaders, the stall holders and everyone who came on the day (and the week) to make it such a special time.

See some highlights below from Dorset Women’s Day!

A thank you to Claire Vera for the following photos.

Dorset Women’s Week – programme launched!

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WAND is thrilled to launch the Programme for Dorset Women’s Week!

Running from 5 to 12 March it is in celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2016.

The week begins with a performance from Rosemary Hawthorne – aka the Knicker Lady! Rosemary, much loved actress, fashion historian and author, will be bringing her famous collection of knickers – and other things to the Brownsword Hall in Poundbury (Dorchester) on Saturday the 5th March from 7.30pm-9.30pm. Tickets at £12 are available here.

Other Dorset Women’s Week activities include: the opportunity to visit the Dorset History Centre and discover some surprising stories of women who have lived and worked in Dorset. You are also invited to a friendly evening session at the Winterbourne Hospital when you can get free advice and information on a range of women’s health issues. Or you could attend an empowering workshop to build your body confidence, join a stress busting workshop and learn techniques to manage your stress levels. Perhaps you would like to learn how to craft a beautiful necklace or spend an afternoon watching the film Suffragette. WAND also encourage you to join in with a very relaxing yoga class, attend a talk to hear the reflections of a female chief constable or join a unique session where you can develop your assertiveness skills through working with horses. If music is more your thing there is an inspiring concert programmed with singer-song writer Magdalena Atkinson. Plus you could take part in an uplifting guided nature walk with the RSPB or participate in some really super sports and leisure activities in Gillingham, Portland or Sherborne.

Dorset Women’s Day

Dorset Women’s Week culminates with the 11^th annual Dorset Women’s Day to be hosted by WAND! This will take place at the Dorford Centre Dorchester on Saturday 12 March from 10am – 3.30pm. Regular attenders of the event will know that it offers something for everyone and this year is no exception. The day will be packed with a varied and exciting range of workshops and including: photography, crochet, mindfulness, jewellery making, laughter yoga, painting, singing and card making. Plus Gabriela Lerner, established Raw Food Nutrition and Health Coach will introduce you to the amazing health benefits of raw food and how you can easily integrate raw food into your diet.

A highlight for this year is that the esteemed author and broadcaster, Kate Adie who became a familiar figure to viewers through her work as BBC Chief News Correspondent, will be giving a talk entitled “A correspondent’s life”. Kate will share with her audience insights into her career, including how she came into journalism and key and historic moments she has faced. Reserve a place at Kate Adie’s talk here.

There will also be a range of stallholders promoting everything relating to womanhood with the opportunity to find some wonderful hand made items.

And following the success of last year, the RUMMAGE ROOM is back again! This is an opportunity for people to donate any unwanted woman’s clothes, accessorises and books (all clean and in good condition) and pick up something new to you. Proceeds will go to WAND to support other events.

WAND patron Tracey West – broadcaster and author says “as a proud Patron of WAND You have no idea how excited I am that this year’s Dorset Women’s Day is upon us. In recent months, I have been personally reminded of how hard it can be to dust yourself down from a painful past and to find your mojo again. Rising up above a difficult situation that you are seemingly unable to influence, is exhausting – I am sure our special guest this year, Kate Adie, will testify to that – but rise up above it you must. Dorset Women’s Week offers a crash course on precisely how to do it. You need a sprinkling of uplifting friends and sisterly support, you need creative projects and free workshops to immerse yourself in and kindred spirits within your circle who will not judge you. You need a boost to your self esteem and to believe in yourself again – get involved in Dorset Women’s Week and feast on the positive energy that surrounds it! I look forward to seeing you there”.

Admission to Dorset Women’s Day is free and is open to women of all ages and backgrounds.

Free crèche facilities will be available together with the opportunity to purchase delicious home-made cakes and refreshments lovingly prepared by WAND volunteers.

For full details of Dorset Women’s Week activities please check the Programme and contact the organisers directly.

Please note that free hard copies of the programme will also be available from the following locations (from 19 February):

Bridport, Dorchester, Sherborne and other local Libraries
Bridport, Dorchester, Sherborne and Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centres
Bridport Arts Centre
Dorchester Town Council
Bridport Town Council
West Dorset District Council
Sherborne Town Council
Oxley Sports Centre – Sherborne
Riversmeet Leisure Centre – Gillingham
Waterstones – Dorchester
Local Village Halls
Other locations – keep your eyes peeled

All details correct at time of press but may be subject to change.

The Knicker Lady! Tickets now on sale

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We are thrilled to announce that tickets are now available for the first of our announced events for this years Dorset Women’s Week – a performance from Rosemary Hawthorne aka The Knicker Lady!

Rosemary, much loved actress, fashion historian and author, will be bringing her famous collection of knickers – and other things to the Brownsword Hall in Poundbury (Dorchester) on Saturday the 5th March from 7.30pm-9.30pm.

Tickets cost £12 and are available via Eventbrite at www.theknickerlady.eventbrite.co.uk

Rosemary is happy to amuse, as she lifts each spry or weary vintage garment (it could be a hat, dress, bag, pair of boots, vest… suspenders) and, holding them aloft, makes a passing comment that has an audience in fits of laughter.

Rosemary Hawthorne has been described as ‘The Joyce Grenfell of Knickers’ and as ‘…having the style and timing of pure comic genius’.

For more information about the event please contact Emma Scott on 01305 252204

WAND Reclaim’s the Night in Style

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This year’s Reclaim the Night Charity auction raised a fantastic £1,181 for the West Dorset women’s refuge!

It was a brilliant evening which included some drumming and a short march through town as well as a delicious supper followed by an auction where loads of great prizes had been donated.

The event was held to highlight issues of violence against women and to raise cash to help pay for Christmas in the refuge – including giving the children living there some money to buy a present for their mum and pay for them to go to the panto.

Lyme Regis author Tracey West has been a devoted Patron of WAND for five years and explains, “I am so proud to be a part of this incredible, vital resource for our community. The West Dorset Women’s Refuge and its sister organisation, the Women’s Action Network Dorset, work tirelessly to help countless women and children who are suffering at the hands of domestic violence perpetrators. As long as the crucial funding of this service continues, there will always be a safe haven for those who need it. The Reclaim the Night walk and auction is one of my favourite ways of raising money and awareness of the refuge. Thank you to every one who kindly donated prizes for the auction, there really was something for everyone and it helped us raised a record amount of money this year, which will make more of a positive difference than you’ll ever know.”

We would like to give a huge thank all those who helped by donating a prize or some money including their own members, Magna Housing, Jackie Yeoman, Audrey Burch, The HorseCourse, and local shops and businesses – SGM Hair, Tesco, Poundbury Garden Centre, Cook, Service Master, Waitrose, Walnut Grove, Gould’s, Alice’s Teddy Bear Shop, Vivo Lounge, Waterstones, Ford Farm, the Melbury Gallery, Serenity, Cakes by Cherie, The Horse with the Red Umbrella, Martildo, Lush, Neolimn Photography, Lush and all the museums in Dorchester!

In addition to the money raised, ethically minded local company Lush provided some gorgeous goody boxes for the refuge to give to the mums and their children.