Welcome to Poundbury - New residents social welcomes more neighbours and workers to our CAofP family

Brownsword Hall was buzzing with conversation and connection last night as new residents gathered for the CAofP community social—and what a lovely evening it was!

Finding Your Feet in Poundbury

The hall was beautifully decorated for Christmas, providing the perfect backdrop for new residents to meet neighbours, ask questions, and discover what Poundbury has to offer. Some have been here less than two months, while others arrived a couple of years ago but still feel relatively new. What united everyone was curiosity about getting involved and making the most of community life.

Your Gateway to Community Information

We introduced residents to the LovePoundbury Virtual Community Hub (VCH)—your one-stop resource for everything Poundbury. Whether you're looking for news and events, finding local services and shops, discovering community organisations and clubs, checking FAQs, or exploring volunteering opportunities, it's all here at www.lovepoundbury.org.

Local Voices, Local Knowledge

Councillor William Gibbons kindly spoke about Dorchester Town Council's role in Poundbury and warmly invited residents to bring questions to him. His accessibility and willingness to engage reflected the collaborative spirit that makes Poundbury work.

John Pearson, Chair of the Brownsword Hall Trust, shared insights about the hall's significance for our community and emphasised the importance of using this wonderful facility. And it truly is wonderful—beautifully maintained with a well-stocked and functional kitchen, a lift for easy access to the upstairs hall, and an excellent AV system. It's a venue our community can be genuinely proud of.

The Real Magic: Connections

But the evening's highlight wasn't the brief presentations or the beautiful venue—it was watching people talk to each other. New friendships forming, neighbours discovering shared interests, questions being answered, and that wonderful moment when someone realises they're not just living in Poundbury, but becoming part of Poundbury.

More to Come

If you missed this social, don't worry—we'll be hosting another next year for new residents, as well as a get together for volunteers. In the meantime, please explore the Virtual Community Hub, say hello to neighbours, and remember: everyone in Poundbury was new once. We're all building this community together.

Thank you to everyone who came, to our volunteers who organised it, participated and cleaned up, and to Brownsword Hall for providing such a welcoming space.

New to Poundbury? Visit www.lovepoundbury.org to discover everything our community offers, and do email volunteering@lovepoundbury.org if you are interested working with us.