What’s GR8 in SP8
Spring 2015
A list of some groups, clubs and activities happening in and around Gillingham listed alphabetically under: The Great Outdoors, The Great Indoors, Under 18s, Lifestyle, Conversation and Community.
The Great Outdoors
Angling - Gillingham & District Association. 822386. www.gillinghamanglingclub.co.uk
Archery – Ballands Bowmen Archery Club at Penselwood. www.ballandsbowmen.co.uk
Birding – your local RSPB group. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/blackmoorvale
Bowling - Gillingham Bowling Club welcomes new members, ring 835 329 or 826 468.
Gillingham Short Mat Bowls Club – Tuesdays and Wednesdays in winter. 821 776.
Buckhorn Weston Short Mat Bowls - Tuesdays 7 til 9 or Wednesdays 2 til 5 in the village hall. Ladies group second Tuesday of a month from 2 til 5. 835938.
Carnival – 2015 date is 10 October but you can be involved before then. Ring 823365. www.gillinghamcarnival.org.uk
Cricket - Buckhorn Weston Club - www.b-wcc.co.uk for playing and non playing members. Junior leagues included + golf section. Mere Cricket Club for adults and juniors + coaching. www.merecc.co.uk
Cycling - Gillingham & District Wheelers - www.gdw.org.uk, all ages/abilities. Saturday morning 9 am outside Wheels on Station Road for beginners, Sunday 9am for experienced riders.
Football - www.pitchero.com/clubs/gillinghamtownfc for first team, reserves, A and Under 18s info and follow on Twitter @gilltownfc. Home matches at Hardings Lane HQ.
Gillingham Town Youth FC is running FA sponsored Mash Ups to learn basic football skills – on the astro pitch at Gillingham School every Monday from 5.30 to 6.30 pm for boys and girls from 12 to 16 years old of any ability, everyone welcome. Stephen Wass: 07225 506 717. [email protected]
Gardening - Gillingham Society - 2nd Wednesday of a month. 823533. page 1 of 9
Duncliffe Garden Club - last Wednesday of each month, at 2.30 p.m in East Stour Village Hall.
Gardening Plus - The Threshold Centre residents are planning to make big changes to their gardens. They are hoping to raise money through Crowdfunding, to finance expanding and improving their growing space, Permaculture style, and creating a 'camping hub' with a straw bale shelter so they can accommodate more visitors and volunteers. There will be lots of opportunities for local people to help, to learn about gardening and Permaculture, and even have some space to grow their own. http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-threshold-centre-permaculture-project
Golf - Bullpits Club at Bourton - 18 hole, 60 par over 3132 yards. 7 days a week from 8.30 to dusk. 840084. www.bullpitsgolfcourse.co.uk
Golf driving range, on the Motcombe to Mere road. www.twocountiesfarm.co.uk
Gym - all weather equipment off Rolls Bridge Lane near the bridge.
Hockey - 07791 857257 – all ages. www.gillinghamhockeyclub.co.uk
Kyaking – for groups of 6 to 8 on Saturday mornings only this season, on the River Stour near Sturminster Newton. http://www.riverstoursafaris.co.uk/
Mountaineering/Hill Walking/Mountain Biking – Vale Mountaineering Club, new or experienced ability. 07792 159 643. Meetings fortnightly at the Half Moon Shaftesbury 7 pm Thursday starting again January 8. www.valemountaineeringclub.co.uk
Nature - Gillingham Action for Nature Group – local environment and wildlife. Elisabeth Nelson 825 380.
Netball - www.gillinghamnetballclub.co.uk
Running - Gillingham Trotters’ club nights Tuesdays, 7pm at Fitness By Design. www.gillinghamtrotters.talktalk.net/main.htm
Rugby – for minis, mens, girls, ladies. Leagues, friendlies, socials. www.ndrfc.co.uk 822748.
Tennis - North Dorset Club has floodlit courts, mini tennis and membership. 07931 584 778. Off Mere Road, Peacemarsh.
Town Meadow - join the volunteers who are making it all happen - info from the community office next to the library or [email protected]. Events include Pop Up Pizza on occasional Friday evenings and on 18 July, a fete will be held on the Meadow.
Walking - Blackmore Vale and Yeovil National Trust Association. Walks and outings, holidays and lunches. 838810 or [email protected].
Gillingham Walkers - every Monday at 2.30 pm for a walk of about an hour starting from the Barn surgery – 821269. Two hour walk every first Saturday afternoon of the month. www.gillinghamwalkers.webs.com.
Nordic Walking (with the poles) - 07745 413 194 or [email protected]
page 2 of 9 The Great Indoors
Art – Slade Centre, The Square Gillingham. Exhibitions and class information at www.sladecentre.com
Badminton - Marnhull & Gillingham Club - 3 evenings a week at RiversMeet, details from reception. www.mgbc.org.uk
Bellringing - Gillingham Church group, 835170.
Bowling – see entry under The Great Outdoors
Boxing - Blackmore Vale Amateur Club - training for all abilities every Monday and Wednesday 8 til 9 pm in The Shed opposite the football club; Boxercise Tuesdays and Thursdays 7.30 til 8.30 pm. Just turn up or call 07898 036 623.
Bridge - Thursday afternoons, 2 pm at Bones. 822 964.
Busy Bees - every Tuesday 1 til 3 pm in the Old Library opposite Nat West for sewing, knitting, card making, crochet or scrabble, cards and chess.
Chess - Tuesday evenings. 823387.
Choir - Gillingham Singers (formerly Silton Singers) rehearse Mondays 7.15 pm at Gillingham School main hall in term time. No auditions. www.gillinghamsingers.org
Gillingham Community Choir Thursdays 7.15 for 7.30 pm. Vicarage Schoolroom. No auditions. www.gillinghamchoir.co.uk or ring 07841 840 919 from 6 -9 M/F; 10-4 S/S.
The Kington Magna Singers - Anthony Jenner on 838234 or [email protected]
Cinema - www.filmatgmc.org.uk for the full programme of films every month or call into the Copy Shop on the High Street to plan ahead and buy tickets. £4 adults, £1 U14s for the big screen in the Methodist Church Hall.
Crafting, Knitting & Needlework - St. Mary’s Church Sewing Group meets every second Tuesday in the Vicarage School Rooms from 2 til 4 pm.
Stamping & paper craft classes, experienced and beginners, choice of weekly or monthly plus craft days. Denise 823764. [email protected]
Knit & Natter - Wyke Primary School Thursdays from 7 til 9 pm. 823733
Drop In Sewing Centre on Brickfields estate – various classes. Call Nicci or Claire on 822 286 or call in Monday to Friday 9 til 5 pm/9 til 12 on a Saturday.
page 3 of 9 Embroiderers’ Guild North Dorset branch - Memorial Hall in Buckhorn Weston on the 4th Saturday of the month (except in August & December) from 10 am until 4 pm. Beginners and experienced stitchers.
Quilting – Wednesdays 6.30 to 8.30 pm at the Sew In Centre on Brickfields. 822 286.
Cribbage – Gillingham Cribbage League 8.30 pm every Tuesday at various venues, between April and September. Call Pauline on 01963 34210 or [email protected]
Dancing - Folk Dancing, Mondays 7.15 pm in the Methodist hall. Telephone 822329 or 824590 tho they stop charging up and down in the summer …...
Ballroom dancing 7.30 pm Thursdays at Buckhorn Weston village hall. Sandra: 01258 821 381.
Tea Dances - at Gillingham football club on the first Tuesday of each month from 2 pm. Doreen Baker – 825 314.
Drama - Gillingham Arts Workshop. 822746.
Exercise means RiversMeet – our community owned centre for swimming, dance studio, sports hall and gym – including zumba, spinning, super seniors, cardio kick, core stability, total body aerobics, aquafit, kettleballs, pilates and yoga. 834013. http://www.riversmeetgillingham.org/
Table tennis - info on www.bvttl.co.uk.
Pilates - Tuesday evenings at St. Mary the Virgin School, 6pm for beginners and improvers, 7 pm improvers and above. 828 497 / 07752 492 344 or email [email protected].
Pilates and Fitball - Buckhorn Weston village hall, Tuesdays from 9.15 til 11.15 for pilates and Friday mornings 10 til 11 for fitball. 07842 206 849.
Pilates with Kate Jeans – beginners class Tuesdays 7.30 pm at The Slade Centre. Please contact Kate 07884 105 336 or [email protected] www.pilatesmindandbody.co.uk
Simply Stretch classes every Wednesday morning at 11.45 am in the community hall at Gillingham Grange (on the Orchard Park roundabout). Viv Worrall 077 614 516 56 / www.bodyandself.co.uk Also on Wednesdays at the Grange community hall: Mat based Pilates at 10.30 am and Healthy Steps at 3.30 pm, suitable for anyone with reduced mobility.
Tai Chi - Monday mornings in the Slade Centre from 9.30 to 10.30 am www.corehealth.co.uk
Flower Club – first Tuesday of most months at 7.30 pm in the town hall. 825927.
Gamers - Network gaming events, table top war games, fantasy war and role playing games on most evenings at Netplay on the High Street. www.netplay.org.uk
Library – Books on loan, rent films, access to internet, newspapers/magazines, community noticeboard. Monday 10 am to 1 pm; Tuesday 9.30 am to 6.30 pm; Thursday 9.30 am to 5 pm; Friday 9.30 am to 6.30 pm; Saturday 9.30 am to 4 pm. Telephone 822 180.
Lit & Chat group meets in the library 2.30 to 3.30 pm once a month, ask at the desk for dates.
page 4 of 9 Local History Society - the supporting organisation for Gillingham Museum. Meetings third Wednesdays. Museum hours are Monday 10 til 1, Tues, Thurs & Friday 10 til 5, Saturday 9.30 til 4. Details on joining the Society from museum or www.gillinghammuseum.co.uk
Music - Gillingham Imperial Silver Band. 823 364. Supporters/players. www.gisb.co.uk
Music at GMC – www.musicatgmc.org.uk
One Day Classes – textile techniques including lampshade making. Also printmaking; bookbinding; drawing and painting; felt making. All at the Slade Centre. More info from www.sladecentre.com
Painting - for fun at village hall Buckhorn Weston on Wednesdays from 9.30 am til 12.30. Anne on 01963 371 070 or Sandy on 01747 824 109.
Art classes in a wide range of media at the Slade Centre on Wednesday mornings. Elaine Collett 01258 472 844. www.sladecentre.com
Radio (Amateur) - Blackmore Vale Society. Tuesdays 7.30 pm www.radioclubs.net/bvars/about
Singing for the Brain - Paula Fleming, for the Alzheimer’s Society, runs a group for people with memory problems and their carers at the town hall every Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm.
University of the 3rd Age. A wide variety of interests, regular meetings. www.sgu3a.org.uk.
Whist – Wednesdays 7 til 9 pm at Buckhorn Weston village hall. Mrs. Osborne: 01963 370881.
Under 18s
Children’s Centre – at Bones Youth Centre, Tuesday to Thursday 9 am til 3 pm. 837960.
Crafts - fun, food, stories and songs for the whole family with Messy Church. Info: Rev. Peter Greenwood 822435 / [email protected]
Expectant parent, baby and toddler groups - St. George’s School Hall Bourton. Tuesday mornings 9.30 to 11 am.
Rhyme Time - mothers and babies from 10.15 til 10.45 am every Monday in the library.
Fast Feet Football skills from 10 til 11 am up to Year 6 at East Stour rec on a Saturday morning. 07971 958 486. www.fastfeetfootball.co.uk
Football – 5/11 year olds, Kington Magna rec Saturdays 07900 564 386.
page 5 of 9 Teams and training at Gillingham Town Football Club – Hardings Lane. See also under The Great Outdoors.
Girl Guides – local info from 823 263.
Hipp!! Bones Youth Club - 11 to 19 year olds with disabilities meet on 1st & 3rd Saturdays each month from 10 til 12 noon. Sessions can be on sport, art, craft, cooking etc. 822 267.
Mother & toddler groups - Mondays at the Baptist Church Hall in term time from 1 til 3 pm
Wednesdays in term time from 9.45 til 11.45 am at the St. Mary the Virgin primary school.
Little Cherubs toddler group - Vicarage School Room Wednesday mornings 9.30 til 11.30 in term time.
Munchkins - term time Thursdays from 10 til 12 at Buckhorn Weston hall, 01963 370709.
Story Telling & Rhymes - for under 5s, Thursday mornings from 10.15 til 10.45 am, library.
Scouts and Beavers – meetings at the HQ in Hardings Lane various nights of the week, please ring Group Scout Leader on 825482 (volunteer leaders are always welcome as well).
Youth Centre at Bones on the ring road - coffee bar, sports, IT, music & recording gear, motor vehicle courses, indoor skate ramp, DofE. 822 267. http://www.gillinghamskatepark.org/ + BMX track - Odd Down, Bath. www.bathbmx.com
Climbing - The Edge, Queen Elizabeth Leisure Centre Wimborne
Mill on the Brue at Bruton.
Go Ape climbing in the trees at Moors Valley Country Park on the way to Bournemouth.
Go-karting - Wessex Raceway on the A354 near Salisbury.
Lifestyle
Zendo meditation centre encourages stillness, wellbeing and inner peace. Meditation classes run at the town hall on Thursday evenings. [email protected] or 07850 165 505.
Hatha Yoga - East Stour village hall Monday evenings 7.30 til 8.30 pm. 07900 998 853 or [email protected]
The Threshold Centre believe in sustainable, holistic living at Cole Street Farm, off the Shaftesbury road. http://www.thresholdcentre.org.uk/
page 6 of 9 Conversation
Befriending – The Link Visiting Scheme based in Gillingham is for those who find themselves alone and in need of some additional support and friendship. If you know someone who would benefit from a regular visitor, or you would like to volunteer, call Carol Smith on 07437 312 166 or email [email protected] or Alison Santiago [email protected]
Silverline is a free, confidential help line providing information, friendship and advice to older people, 24/7. www.thesilverline.org.uk. 0800 470 8090.
Coffee Mornings – first Monday in the month with plants for sale in Buckhorn Weston village hall from 10 til 11.30 am. 01963 370 114.
Lovely Cakes – 10 am til 12 noon on second Saturday of each month in aid of a different good cause each time. Vicarage School Room.
The Way Forward Group run a drop in social club on Mondays at Gillingham football clubhouse from 10 to 12 - coffee, pool, skittles, darts, an affordable place to meet up with people.
Coffee morning and Post Office - Wednesday morning 10 am til noon at East Stour Village hall.
Mindful Café - every other Tuesday from 10 am til 12 noon at Gillingham Grange (on the Orchard Park roundabout). Mindful is a registered charity to support people 65+ with functional mental health problems and people of any age with memory problems and their carers. The café is supported by donations and offers a social gathering with professionals popping in to give help and advice. 834020 for the next dates.
Rethink - supporting anyone who needs help with their mental health, giving information on treatment, care, benefits or employment rights. The local support group meet every fortnight in Gillingham Community Church from 10 am til 12 noon. Olivia 0743 679 0489 and Karen 07866 252 046
MS Society coffee morning/light lunch - last Wednesday of every month in Gillingham Methodist Church Hall. 825671.
CRUSE Bereavement Care Dorset - 01305 260 216 for support and information in the form which is best for you – face to face, over the phone or on line. [email protected]
Ladies Together - the last Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm in the Vicarage School Room. 823911.
Ladies Group Buckhorn Weston - second Tuesday of a month in the hall 2.30 til 4.30, theatre trips, talks etc. 01963 371070.
Lions - Meetings 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. 0845 833 7521.
page 7 of 9 Lip reading – every Tuesday 2 til 4 pm at Gillingham town hall. Call or text 07760 731 406.
Mothers' Union Prayer & Fellowship Group - St Mary's first Tuesday in the month (except January & August) 2.30pm in the Vicarage School Room, Queen Street.
Probus - alternate Tuesdays at the Olive Bowl, 10 am for retired professional and business men.
Ladies Probus - 2nd Thursday of a month at the British Legion Club 10 am for 10.30am.
Rotary - Wednesdays, 7 for 7.30 pm at the Olive Bowl. 860 809. www.gillinghamrotary.co.uk
Round Table – Local social club for young men aged 18 to 45 who get involved in fund raising, call Peter on 07870 239 848 or Facebook Shaftesbury and Gillingham Round Table.
Royal British Legion - 822439. Women’s section 822408.
Seniors - Gillingham Club – lunch at the Methodist church hall Fridays once a fortnight. 823106.
Seniors Luncheon Club – Thursdays from 10.30 am onwards at Gillingham Grange Community Centre. Advance booking 834 020.
Tea & Toast at the Community Church on the corner of Station Road and Newbury - Monday & Wednesday mornings in term time from 8.45 til 10 am.
Twinning Association links Gillingham with the town of Le Neubourg. 821 604 or [email protected]. www.gillingham-twinning.org
Womens’ Institute - Milton WI meet on the second Wednesday evening of every month, at 7.15 pm in Milton School. 822669;
Gillingham afternoon group on the second Monday of each month at the Royal British Legion, 823067.
Gillingham evening WI group on the first Thursday of each month, 7.30 pm in the town hall, 825881 or 824540.
Community
If you need help with an idea for a project - Sarah Reeves is part of The Three Rivers Community Partnership, at the Community Office next to the library 9 til 4 Tuesday til Friday. Information, advice and support to help develop local projects, source funding and provide volunteering roles to make things happen. Tel: 01747 824327 or 07919 167 915 or [email protected]
page 8 of 9 Their website http://www.threeriversgillingham.org/ has info about quite a few community things including the Town Meadow and the Neighbourhood Plan. There is also a list of local pharmacy opening times here http://www.threeriversgillingham.org/node/90
Helping adults learn to read – free one to one coaching for those who find reading difficult for any reason (over 2 million people in the UK do). Read Easy for Gillingham & Shaftesbury and surrounding villages is part of the national charity www.readeasy.org.uk Local group contact if you would like to be a reading coach or know someone who could do with some help to learn or improve their reading: 0844 571 9578 or 0774 897 7330.
Gillingham Town Hall - School Road Monday to Thursday mornings or telephone 823588. You can join their Info Exchange Emailing list to be kept up to date on upcoming events, council news– and you can request an event to be sent round. To join email your name and the email address to [email protected], and use the words ‘Info Exchange’ as the subject.
Volunteering: Gill Muhl, the local contact for the Dorset Volunteer Centre, in the library on Tuesdays from 2 til 4 pm.
The Job Club - Friday morning 10 am til 1 pm at the town hall for vacancies and volunteering places. http://www.gillinghamjobclub.co.uk/ Also Wheels2Work scheme for 16+ in rural Dorset.
The Dorset Partnership for Older People aka POPP is an information link for the over 50s. Contacts - Community Champion (Annette Leat on 07436 102434 and [email protected]) and two Wayfinders, Barbara Turnbull on 07971 338 339 [email protected] and Loraine Syms on 07971 338 321 or [email protected].
North Dorset Disability Information Service (NorDDis) – equipment and services as well as local information to help cope with disabilities. The shop is on Newbury in Gillingham, opposite Lidl, open 10 til 4 Monday to Friday, 10 til 1 Saturday.
First Dorset Credit Union - open Wednesdays 12 til 2 and Saturdays 10 til 12 at the community office next to library. Banking and debt advice.
Gillingham Medical Practice - volunteers have formed an independent patient participation group (a PPG) to give patients the opportunity to have their say on the way medical services are provided by the practice. No meetings required! Pick up a form in the surgery waiting rooms at The Barn or Peacemarsh, Gillingham library or the Community Office - or on line at http://www.gillinghamsurgery.co.uk/ppg.aspx and join Gillingham Patient Participation Group. Current newsletter is here http://www.threeriversgillingham.org/node/90
My Health, My Way - Do you have a long term health problem such as diabetes, Parkinsons, ME or MS for instance? Are you a carer? There is practical help for you. Call 0303 303 0153 or email [email protected]
GR8 in SP8 is supported by Gillingham Health Forum. Please help keep this list up to date and send new entries, corrections or suggestions to the Community Office next to the library [email protected] or [email protected]
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