I've been reading about the history of Forest Holme Hospice in Poole and discovered quite a few things I didn't know.

The charity originally started in April 1994 as Friends of Forest Holme, raising money for a new specialist palliative care unit. More than 30 years later, Forest Holme's specialist teams support over 1,500 adults and their families every year across Poole, Wimborne and Purbeck.

One thing I hadn't appreciated was how much care happens outside the hospice itself. Forest Holme has an 11-bed inpatient ward, but its teams also support people at home, in care homes and in hospital.

The Hospice at Home service is particularly interesting. It helps people approaching the end of life receive specialist care in their own homes, where appropriate, surrounded by familiar things and the people they love.

There's also counselling, bereavement support and a 24-hour specialist advice line.

Another surprising fact is that the charity needs to raise around £1 million every year — approximately £2,700 a day — to help fund additional care and services beyond NHS funding.

I think it's easy to associate hospices solely with someone's final days without realising how much support they provide to families, carers and people living with serious illness.

Has anyone here had experience of Forest Holme, either through volunteering, fundraising or the support they provide? Only if you're comfortable sharing, of course.

Hello hello,

I (27M) moved back down to Dorset from Jon Snow territory this summer and looking for friends mid 20-30s.

Like a night out even though I’m sober (learning to dj in my spare time), have plenty of boardgames, hikes are great, year round sea-swimmer, can talk sports for days and a pretty good chef!

Got some good friends around here but they’re mainly working unsociable hours so difficult to book anything in.

Quite spontaneous and easy going. If I sound up your street send a message :)

Based near Blandford but happy to drive

Hi everyone, we are local photographers and filmmakers.

We have recently been testing out some tourist hotspots to see if they're worth it. Trying local businesses, beauty spots and taking lots of pictures.

We recently went to West bay and then this week Lyme Regis. We also have visited Cerne Abbas which will be coming out soon on our YouTube.

This might be helpful to someone trying to decide where to go in our beautiful county.

If you like photography, Dorset life or even silly jokes, you might enjoy it.

Hi everyone

We're hoping to move to Dorset soon and have found a property we like over on the East side of the Lulworth Ranges near Creech, which is really quite close to the Eastern boundary of the ranges.

We're just a bit concerned about the noise, and hoping to hear from anyone who lives that side, or has experience living alongside the ranges?

We're a bit stuck because I suppose it's very subjective and without hearing it for ourselves it's hard to gauge, but really interested to hear if anyone has found it too much, moved away, or found that it's affected your ability sell a property for example? Or any good thought about it too!

We'll be visiting the property soon, and will try to time that to be the same time as some firing we'll hear something but would appreciate some local input if you can spare your thoughts!

Thanks ever so much

Hey guys,

Any suggestions on local bike shops in the BCP area? Everywhere I’ve found has been very niche on quirky bikes/repairs/electric bikes and custom builds. Looking for a local bike shop for a normal commuter/road bike.

The once-famous Riviera Hotel in Weymouth has been standing empty for years, and it's heartbreaking to see such an iconic building in this condition.

I've recently been back filming the hotel, including some drone footage showing what it looks like today.

It's in such a fantastic location overlooking the sea, and I'm sure many people have wonderful memories of staying or working there.

But here's my question...

If money was no object, would you buy the Riviera Hotel and restore it to its former glory?

Or do you think it's too far gone?

I'd love to hear from anyone who remembers the hotel when it was open. ❤️

🎥 WATCH MY LATEST SHORT HERE: https://youtube.com/shorts/tSYdpUBg8gU

What would YOU like to see happen to this historic Weymouth landmark?

As the heading suggests, I'm looking for really good Sunday roast suggestions. Because pubs and restaurants change chefs so regularly, I'm looking for more recent roast recommendations. Hope you can help!

Does anyone know any places that have jobs or work experience for 14 year oldsin poole and bournemouth? Im homeachooled but not really taught anything so im trying to get a head start of the real world ill literally work anywhere atp 😭

It all went horribly wrong for them, they dropped a fishing line without bait on it in the water, then their friend stood up and his friends started rocking the boat, then one of them set off the motor on a backwards angle and the teenager fell in the water and was freezing cold

Then afterwards they retrieved the fishing line and somehow a massive fish was caught without bait and the sight of the fish freaked everyone out. So much so that one of them decided to set off the emergency flare up in the sky which summoned the sea police to arrive…it was by far the sea police’s least risky rescue of all time with the exception of the one lad with hypothermia symptoms. But other than that, they had just caught a fish…

I have worked for the NHS for 6+ years, in various project/programme management roles, and am now looking for a route out.

Any recommendations on local companies, preferably with flexible working arrangements, that I could look into?

Probably been on it 30 odd times all told. It was never not a huge thrill to board on the way to another family holiday to France.

The farewell it got today in awful conditions was testament to local fondness for the ship. And a bittersweet reminder that it will be sadly missed.

We've loved sailing on you m'lady 🫡

Looking to play a regular night of root consistently, been to a few boardgame nights and not many are keen - same with friends.

Looking for in person games :)

I was up Ridgeway Hill recently on a very clear night, and over the sea in the distance I'm almost certain I could see some very very faint lights (white and red) in the far distance, spread out over part of the horizon. I think it was probably Cherbourg. Has anyone else seen this/can confirm that you can see this?

Be happy to pay some petrol for hitching a ride or even if anyone’s going somewhat close can go from there thanks in advance

i’m 25f and live in north dorset. i’d really like to make some friends nearby who have similar interests to me. i enjoy sewing, animals, games and i’m in the queer space too. feel free to send me a message c:

Seldom seen today, this undated shilling was one of about thirty types/varieties issued in Dorsetshire during the Regency Period, when the Crown failed to provide enough "small change" for everyday commerce. It was backed by the Dorchester Bank, a partnership formed by Robert Pattison, the city's mayor at the time, with backing from Robert Cox and William Merle, London-based goldsmiths.

On the reverse we see St. Dunstan with Satan's face hovering behind him and smithy's tongs in his left hand. The backstory is that the Devil visited Dunstan one day while he was making a gold chalice at his abbey's forge. Dunstan reputedly grabbed Satan by the nose with his red-hot tongs and dragged him kicking and screaming out of the monastery.

St. Dunstan (909-988 a.d.) topped out his career as Archbishop of Canterbury and was canonized in 1629. He is now honored in the Catholic and Anglican tradition as the patron saint of blacksmiths; goldsmiths; locksmiths; musicians; silversmiths; bellringers; Charlottetown (capital of Canada's Prince Edward Island); and Stepney, UK.

Other Dorset-related tokens of that era originated in Blandford, Poole, and Shaftesbury.

Oi pessoal! Sou novo em Bournemouth e estou melhorando meu inglês. Gostaria de conhecer novas pessoas, fazer amigos e praticar meu inglês de uma forma descontraída.

Estou interessado em correr e me manter ativo, ler, viajar e temas como gerenciamento de projetos e desenvolvimento pessoal.

Alguém conhece grupos, clubes, encontros ou lugares em Bournemouth onde eu possa conhecer pessoas com interesses semelhantes?

Também fico feliz em me juntar a alguém para um café, uma caminhada ou uma corrida. Obrigado!

My wife LOVES arcades is there any recommendations? Looking for the best one around!

After the extreme popularity of our Southampton Spicy book club we have teamed up with the fantastic Smokin’ Aces to bring you Bournemouths hottest book club.

Nothing about this book club is boring. Signed indie author books every month across dark romance, Romantasy, contemporary romance and everything spicy. Curated extras every month themed to fit your book 📖 & surprise guests 😏

We are Bella Chooses Books and can be found on TikTok and instagram where our Southampton book club has already gone viral. We only have 30 spots for our Bournemouth evenings - please message me or check my socials for sign up information!

This is a strictly 18+ event I’m afraid! It is held on the last Monday of every month!

After the extreme popularity of our Southampton Spicy book club we have teamed up with the fantastic Smokin’ Aces to bring you Bournemouths hottest book club.

Nothing about this book club is boring. Signed indie author books every month across dark romance, Romantasy, contemporary romance and everything spicy. Curated extras every month themed to fit your book 📖 & surprise guests 😏

We are Bella Chooses Books and can be found on TikTok and instagram where our Southampton book club has already gone viral. We only have 30 spots for our Bournemouth evenings - please message me or check my socials for sign up information!

This is a strictly 18+ event I’m afraid! It is held on the last Monday of every month!