Allendale Community Centre Announces Free Community Open Day for Wimborne and Surrounding Areas

The Allendale Community Centre in Wimbourne, Dorset, has announced a free Community Open Day designed to help people across Wimborne and the surrounding areas discover everything their local community has to offer, all under one welcoming roof.

Taking place on Sunday 17th May 2026, from 10am to 4pm, visitors are very welcome to pop in at any time during the day. The event will bring together up to 60 organisations, charities, voluntary groups and community services supporting residents across the wider East Dorset area. Entry is completely free.

As Wimborne and neighbouring communities continue to grow, with new homes and families settling across the BH21 area and beyond, it can sometimes be difficult to know what clubs, support networks and activities are available close to home. 

The Allendale Community Centre is stepping forward to bridge that gap, bringing together the people and organisations who quietly support our community every day.

Importantly, this is a no-pressure information event by exhibitors. There will be no selling and no fundraising on the day. The aim is simple: to ensure that everyone, whether they’ve lived locally for five weeks or fifty years, feels confident about what support, opportunities and connections are available to them.

What visitors can discover on the day:

• Local charities and support groups

• Community organisations and clubs

• Emergency services and community safety teams

• Family-friendly activities

• Volunteer opportunities

• Information and resources for carers and older residents

• Health, wellbeing and social groups

• The Allendale Café open all day

Carole Chedgy from the Allendale Community Centre told That's Health: “Wimborne and the surrounding villages are full of fantastic organisations, but community doesn’t just happen, we build it together. 

"Whether you're raising a family, settling into a new home, supporting an older relative, or simply curious about what’s happening locally, this day is for you. 

"We want to be absolutely clear: this is not a fundraising event. It’s a free opportunity to discover what’s here, meet people, and feel part of the community.”

Residents and neighbours across the wider area are encouraged to save the date: Sunday 17th May 2026.

Further details and a full list of attending organisations will be released in the coming weeks.

For more information, or if your ‘not for profit’ organisation would like to enquire about a free information stall and having information leaflets in our community goodie bag call 01202 887247 and ask for Jane or Brian or email info@theallendale.org

https://www.theallendale.org

Public Toilet Access in Wimborne Linked to Growing Isolation Among Older Residents

Concerns about public toilets in Wimborne, including accessibility for older people and ambulant disabled residents, are increasingly being linked to wider issues of confidence, independence and loneliness across Dorset.

The January 2026 consultation, organised by the Allendale Community Centre, received over 280 responses. 

Six in ten respondents were aged 65 or over. Dorset has a significantly higher proportion of older residents than the national average, making accessible facilities particularly important for towns like Wimborne.

The findings show:

45% say toilet concerns limit their ability to go out, attend events or socialise.

42% have avoided visiting Wimborne or cut visits short because of worries about availability, cleanliness or accessibility.

85% believe improving facilities would help reduce social isolation.

36% say they have health, mobility, continence or caring needs that make accessible toilets essential.

More than half rated Wimborne’s public toilet facilities as poor or very poor.

For many older residents, including ambulant disabled people who use walking sticks, walkers or other mobility aids, the issue is not convenience but confidence.

One respondent aged over 70 said: “At my age, you plan your day around toilets. If you’re not sure you’ll find one you can use, you simply stay at home.”

Another added: “I would like to take my mum out in her wheelchair and know she can access a toilet without feeling embarrassed.”

The survey suggests that when confidence in basic facilities drops, visits become shorter, events are skipped and social contact reduces, contributing over time to loneliness and withdrawal.

It also revealed that 9% of respondents were unaware the toilets at the Allendale Community Centre are open to the public seven days a week, even when not attending an activity.

A spokesperson for the Allendale told That's Health: “Something as simple as reliable toilet access can determine whether someone feels able to take part in community life. When confidence falls, people stay at home.”

The Centre is now using the findings to support funding applications to refurbish its facilities, focusing on accessibility, dignity and ease of use.

For many elderly residents in Wimborne, suitable public toilets are not a minor detail, they are the difference between staying connected and staying at home.

http://www.theallendale.org