This year Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s Disability Charity, is celebrating it’s 70th anniversary. 

The charity began in 1955 when local lady, Phyllis Edwards, reached out to other parents through a letter in the Bournemouth Echo. Phyllis’s daughter, Marilyn, was born with cerebral palsy, and the only option she had of support was to send her daughter away. Phylis didn’t think this was good enough and set out to offer support more locally. 

To celebrate the 70th Anniversary, the charity wants to reach out to anyone who has been involved in the charity through the years including people who have been supported by the charity, families, employees or those who have fundraised or volunteered. 

Everyone involved has played an integral role in building a community around Diverse Abilities over the past 70 years, and the charity aims to record and share memories as a way of honouring the past, celebrating the present and looking forward to another 70 years.

Francesca Potton, community fundraiser at Diverse Abilities commented: “We are really looking forward to hearing memories from the local community. 70 years is a long time, especially for a local charity, and we are so grateful to everyone who has been involved and we know there must be some great stories to tell.”

Memories will be shared on the Diverse Abilities website, at a reunion event later this year, and in a specially printed supplement. 

If you or someone you know has a memory to share, you can share it online at diverseabilities.org.uk/memorymakers, or by emailing fundraising@diverseabilities.org.uk. Alternatively, you can telephone the fundraising team on 01202 718266.