Local Groups

Gillingham Area Car Link Scheme

Gillingham Area Car Link is a charity set up to provide transport to enable the people of Gillingham and surrounding villages to get to their hospital and necessary appointments.

Although Gillingham has a railway station, it is not well served with transport links to outlying villages or to the main hospitals. With changes in the health service and further funding cuts for transport, more people are finding themselves isolated.

That is where we come in.  Our volunteer drivers use their own cars to take people without transport to their appointments, and then bring them home again.  We offer transport to everyone who cannot use or does not have access to public transport.

We always need more volunteer drivers.  Mileage costs are reimbursed at the government rate. If you might be interested please contact Philip Walker on walkerphilsu@gmail.com, 01747 824645.

If you need transport, please ring 07599 311443 to make a booking.

Website:  www.gillinghamcarlink.org.uk

 

Gillingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Gillingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been around since the 1930s helping businesses in the town.   Although changing times and access to modern technology has moved on since the early days the remit is the same; Support, Network, Community.   We are associated to Dorset Chamber who in turn are members of British Chamber of Commerce giving us a national voice as well as a local one.   Committed to supporting local business and the local community through our events and participation.

Email: membership@gcci.co.uk  or secretary@gcci.co.uk

Website: www.gcci.co.uk

Gillingham Community Cinema

Gillingham Community Cinema was launched in October 2013, by a group of local volunteers, with the aim of providing a high-quality yet affordable cinema in the heart of Gillingham.  We offer a huge 4 metre screen and state of the art Dolby 7.1 surround sound system.  Just as importantly, we have brand new comfy seats!  All this was made possible by generous grants from Gillingham Town Council and Gillingham Methodist Church, to whom we are very grateful.

We are located in the Methodist Church Hall, with kind permission of the Methodist Church, in the centre of the High Street.  Popcorn, ice creams and soft drinks are on sale at each screening,all at low prices.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Contact: Gordon Amery

Telephone: 07817 379006

Email: organ1234@btinternet.com

Website: www.filmatgmc.org.uk

Gillingham Duke of Edinburgh’s Open Award Centre

The open award centre delivers all levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s award in Gillingham North Dorset, under the D of E operating licence held by Dorset Council. Membership is open to any young person from the age of 14 to 25 years old. It is led entirely by volunteers and fund raises in order to fulfil operating needs and to enable unrestricted access to the programme regardless of income or background.

Contact: Tony Baverstock

Telephone: 07908954105 or 07824888377

Email: info@gillinghamdofe.co.uk

Website: www.gillinghamdofe.co.uk

Gillingham Health Walks

Wellbeing walks of up to 90 minutes, led by trained walk leaders.

Contact: Martin Hibbert

Email: gillinghamhealthwalks@gmail.com

Website: gillinghamdorsethealthwalks.wordpress.com

Gillingham Imperial Silver Band

We are a 3rd section brass band who usually reherse on Tuesday and Friday evenings at 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. We also run an academy with beginners groups on Monday evening and a more advanced learning group on Friday evenings for children and adults who want to learn a brass instrument or percussion.

Contact: Steve Ingham

Telephone: 01747 822581

Email: Steveingham101@gmail.com

Website: www.gisb.co.uk

Gillingham Litter Pickers

We aim to make Gillingham a cleaner litter free town by holding monthly group litter picks around the town.  All participants are issued with a full set of equipment, gloves, litter picker stick, a hoop and also a high Viz vest with the GLP logo on.  These items therefore also to enable members to pick in their own time as their life commitments permits.

Contact: Shirley Ball

Telephone: 07599 829539

Email: Gillinghampickers@lavalake.co.uk

Gillingham, Mere & Shaftesbury Lions Club

Lions are ordinary people who do extraordinary things to help others and support good causes.  Gillingham, Mere, Shaftesbury Lions was chartered in 1979. We might be a small club, but we support a wide range of good causes and projects in our area.  Age isn’t a barrier to becoming involved. Presently the age span of our membership is from 22-80.  Everyday Lions are having fun by organising remarkable and memorable fundraising activities – with every penny raised going direct to good causes.

New members welcome.

Contact:  Janet Davies

Telephone: 0345 8337521

Email: secretary@gmslions.org.uk

Website: www.gmslions.org.uk

Gillingham Museum

Gillingham Museum tells the story of the town, the immediate parishes and their people. Many generations have seen this corner of the Blackmore Vale grow from a Neolithic settlement to the bustling Gillingham of today.

Some of the museum’s many records are now kept as the Gillingham Digital Archive. This organises records  which exist only in digital form or are more conveniently stored and made available as digital records rather than as hard copies and are available to download.

Various guides are available on the Museum website.  These guides can be downloaded as a PDF onto your computer, tablet or smartphone

Website: www.gillinghammuseum.co.uk

Gillingham Local History Society

Gillingham Local History Society exists to increase knowledge of the history of Gillingham and the surrounding area. It does this by running Gillingham Museum; publishing books on the history of Gillingham and by organising regular talks on local history.

Telephone: 01747 826235

Email: office@gillinghammuseum.co.uk

Website: www.gillinghammuseum.co.uk

Gillingham Probus Club

Gillingham Probus is a club for retired professional and business men.

We meet fortnightly at North Dorset Rugby Club for coffee, conversation and to listen to speakers on a wide variety of topics. Our social programme includes monthly lunches and frequent outings, both for members and partners.

Web Site: www.probus-gillingham-dorset.org.uk
Email: secretary@probus-gillingham-dorset.org.uk

Gillingham Town Twinning Association

A friendly and welcoming organisation to promote friendship, understanding. education and social interaction with Twinning Groups in another country.  Gillingham is twinned with Le Neubourg in the Normandy region of France and the group was formed in 1977.

Our main object is fun and friendship.  We engage in biennial exchange visits with our twin town, staying in their homes for approximately 3 nights when we enjoy meeting their families and friends. At the same time learning about their culture, traditions, language and food.  As they also learn about our way of life and enjoy exploring interesting places in the south of England when visiting Gillingham in the alternate year.  We also have a programme of social activities during the year..

Twinning groups have been formed all over the world to promote friendship, education and understanding.  We very much welcome new members as we want Twinning to thrive.  It is an importance concept in today’s world.

Contact: Muriel Shean

Telephone: 01747 841210

Email: Muriel.cliff@hotmail.com

 

Gillingham Town Youth Football Club

Gillingham Town Youth Football Club is run by unpaid volunteer coaches and a committee. Our purpose is to provide the girls and boys of Gillingham and the surrounding areas with a structured, fun environment to play both competitive and non competitive football.  New players are always welcome at GTYFC. If you are interested in joining us please contact the relevant Manager for your age group in the ‘Our Teams’ page on our website.

Email: gtyfcsecretary2015@gmail.com

Website: www.gtyfc.co.uk

Gillingham Walkers

Anyone interested in walking in company around the Gillingham, Dorset area is welcome, particularly if they have never done much walking or not walked recently.  We aim to provide enjoyable walks at a pace comfortable for all.  It’s a chance for walkers to meet new people and improve their health too.

Regular Walks

In the past the group has organised two types of regular walk but if there is a demand, can also offer shorter walks.  One hour moderate walks leave at 2.30 p.m. on Mondays, from opposite the Library entrance.  Two hour countryside walks on the first Saturday of each month have varying start points (Winter – 10.30 a.m., Summer 2.00 p.m.)

Contact: Penny Peat

Email:  penelopepeat@gmail.com

Website: www.gillwalkersarewelcome.chessck.co.uk/GillinghamWalkers

 

Help for Mental Health North Dorset

Three Peer Support Groups are now held in North Dorset.

A Gillingham group is on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at the Royal British Legion Club, School Lane, SP8 4QW (behind Lidl) 2 pm – 4 pm.  Friendly chat and free refreshments with facilitator, Jane.  All diagnoses (or none) welcome.  If you are lonely, why not come along?

We also hold groups in Shaftesbury (1st and 3rd Thursdays) and Sturminster Newton (2nd Monday).  Contact us for more details.

Our signposting and news website and the support groups are designed to make it easier for people in North Dorset to find out what is available in the area, whether that be a local service, a group or a national helpline.  We also have a monthly newsletter to which you can subscribe with local and national news.

Contact: Amanda

Telephone: 07749 062327

Email: mentalhealthshaft2520@gmail.com

Website: www.mentalhealthnd.org

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Marnhull and Gillingham Badminton Club

MGBC Badminton Club has been established for 45 years and is now one of the largest clubs in the Southwest.We currently have over 70 members We play at Riversmeet on three evenings a week (Monday – Social, Tuesday- Club/league and Thursday Senior League) Times 8pm to 10pm for all nights except Tuesday starting at 7pm.

Our social night is extremely successful and great fun. We have Badminton England coaches available for those who want to progress in this great game.We currently have five league teams in the Salisbury League Our Ladies team are defending champions with three mixed teams and a men’s team having a very successful season.

The Club has a social background and suffers no elitism.We have supported Riversmeet since its concept and provide Badminton to the Community.

Contact: Robert Tulk

Telephone: 07866 660167

Email: rob.sodom@gmail.com

Music at GMC

The special concerts at Gillingham Methodist Church started in 2004, as part of our appeal to raise money for the restoration of our beloved Sweetland organ.  The restoration is complete, but the concerts continue!  In 2008 we re-launched ourselves as Music at GMC.  Our aim is to bring top quality music to Gillingham and the surrounding area by inviting local musicians and wider-known celebrity musicians to come and perform at the church.

Our concerts are not limited to organ music and over the years we have welcomed performances form many choirs, folk groups, jazz ensembles and numerous instrumentalists, both local and internationally known.  We hope that you will enjoy our latest concert offerings and that we will see you at some of our events.  We extend a warm welcome to all.

Please visit our website for further details.

Contact: Gordon Amery

Telephone: 07817 379006

Email: organ1234@btinternet.com

Website: www.musicatgmc.org.uk

 

North Dorset RFC

Welcome to North Dorset RFC, we are a family friendly, energetic, forward thinking Rugby Club at the heart of the local community.

We have over 20 teams playing rugby between September and May. From our under 6s to our veterans team, we cater for all ages, abilities and sexes. If you no longer play the great game or just would like to be social, you can become a vice president or social member. There really is no other community like North Dorset RFC.

Telephone: 01747 822748

Email: info@ndrfc.co.uk

Website: www.ndrfc.co.uk

Read Easy Blackmore Vale North

The aim of Read Easy Blackmore Vale North is to recruit, train organise and support volunteers to coach to read those adult members of the public with reading difficulties.  it is estimated that one in twenty adults in England has a reading age at or below the level expected of a five year old, and the group aims to change peoples lives with this free adult literacy service.

Being able to read is something that most people take for granted, and helping those people who have difficulty reading enables them to feel included in the local community and able to contribute more both to their everyday life within that community and to the local community itself.

Read Easy Blackmore Vale North was started five years ago when it identified a need for this activity in order to help adults who are unable to read to reach their potential, gain employment if unemployed and to play a fuller part in their family and community.

The group is made up entirely of local volunteers and is affiliated to a national charity, Read Easy UK. Volunteer coaches are trained by Read Easy UK and work with adults who have difficulty reading.  Links have been made and maintained with local organisations who can refer adults from within the community who would like to improve their reading skills.

Read Easy Blackmore Vale North uses reading books and resources written especially for adults by the Shannon Trust.  At present REBVN coaches readers remotely where possible, on a one-to-one basis.  these sessions, of around half an hour each, take place, usually twice a week, at days and times convenient to both reader and coach.  The readers and coaches are monitored by a volunteer coordinator who reports to the management team on a confidential basis. REBVN hopes to resume face to face coaching when circumstances allow.

Readers who have graduated from our programme have told us that being able to read has changed their lives, as well as being more confident and less isolated as a result of learning to read.

Email: blackmorevalenorth@readeasy.org.uk

READS CHARITY

The Trustees consider applications from those who are in dire need and have been resident within the Parish of Gillingham for 5 years or more. Applications should be made by referral to a recognised statutory body such as Social Services, The Town Council, The Foodbank, local churches and other such organisations.

Contact: Farnfields Solicitors, The Square, Gillingham Dorset SP8 4AX

Telephone: 01747 825432

Email: Fiona.thomas@farnfields.com

Charity No.: 203099

 

ROKIT Choir

ROKIT choir is an adult choir for everyone regardless of experience or ability. We put the emphasis on having fun whilst make a great sound.

There is no need to read sheet music and everything that you need is covered in the price. There are no expensive monthly subscriptions as you can pay as you go.

Along with the singing we also hold regular workshops and theatre trips, which are discounted for ROKIT members too.

So don’t just sing it, ROKIT

 

Tuesday nights 7.30pm – Gillingham Methodist Church

Website  – www.rokitchoir.com

Email – mark@rokitchoir.com

 

Rotary Club of Gillingham

We are a small friendly club with 18 members – both men & women – and we meet each Wednesday at the Olive Bowl.

We hold various events throughout the year to raise funds for local, national and international good causes.

Locally, in the recent past, we have provided dictionaries to the primary schools in Gillingham & Mere and we have given donations to the Scouts and other youth organisations. Each year we organise the collection of Shoeboxes which are sent to Eastern European countries for children at Christmas.

We also consider personal requests for help from local individuals.

New members are always welcome.

Email: gill.rotarysecretary@aol.com

Website: www.gillinghamrotary.co.uk

Shaftesbury & Gillingham U3A

Shaftesbury & Gillingham U3A is a friendly, supportive organisation offering a wide range of activities for retired people, whatever their interests. We currently have 23 groups, run by members for members. Some of our activities are outdoors, some indoors, some online, some serious, some fun.  There’s something for everyone, though we’re always looking to try something new.

In addition, we host popular monthly meetings with guest speakers.

U3A is perfect for anyone who is lonely, unhappy or bored, and particularly anyone who wants the stimulation of continued learning. For more information about S&GU3A, visit the website: www.u3asites.org.uk/sgu3a/home or call Barbara 01747 825646.

Learn, Laugh, Live

St Mary Gillingham Scout Group

The aim of the group is to provide young people aged 6 to 14 years old with skills for life.

The group also own and manage The Scout Community Hall at Milton-on-Stour, Gillingham

Contact: Colin Westbrook

Telephone 07531 213671

Email:contact@stmarygillinghamscoutgroup.co.uk

Website: www.stmarygillinghamscoutgroup.co.uk