JULIA’S House Dorchester Friends’ Group are welcoming in spring with style with a wine tasting event.

Sponsored by David Upshall Insurance and supported by Majestic Wines, the event held at Brownsword Hall in Dorchester will be an opportunity for winelovers to sample some springtime-inspired wines whilst raising money for charity.

Gill Slade, chairman of the Friends’ Group said: “Last year the Friends’ Group raised more than £8,000 for Julia’s House and this year we want to raise even more so that we can continue to help to provide support for children with life-limiting and life threatening illnesses.

"The group are all working hard to make sure that this event will be an enjoyable and social evening and we are all looking forward welcoming everyone and doing something a little bit different to raise money.”

Julia’s House is the only children’s hospice charity in Dorset dedicated to helping life-limited children and their families across Dorset and Wiltshire.

Julia’s House Friends’ Groups help the charity reach much further into the community than otherwise would be possible.

The events held by the Friends’ Group make a big difference to the charity’s income and the members act as their ambassadors in the communities.

In 2016 Julia’s House will receive just 5 per cent of their total annual funding from the government, compared with the national average of 17 per cent government funding for children’s hospices and 32 per cent for adult hospices.

Their NHS income has been frozen for seven years, a considerable real terms devaluation against the rising cost of providing their care services.

In terms of government funding Julia’s House is now one of the worst funded hospices in the UK.

Therefore the charity relies on public fundraising and donations for 95 per cent of what it needs to raise each year.

The event is being held at Brownsword Hall in Dorchester on Friday, March 11.

Tickets for the event cost £10 and can be purchased from the Julia’s House shop on South Street in Dorchester or by calling Julia’s House on 01202 644 220.