Introduction
Welcome to the summer newsletter of Families Supporting Care. The Charity – which was formed in 2011 – aims to help support residents whose funds have diminished and might otherwise have to move out of the environment to which they have become accustomed. Since its formation, Families Supporting Care has helped over 60 people and is currently supporting two residents. More information about funding and how to donate to the Charity can be found later in this newsletter.
News and Events
Since the April newsletter, the Charity has raised around £3000 including monies from the quiz night, several raffles, relatives’ donations, the monthly lottery, Gift Aid claims and bistro boxes at the 4 homes. Contributions to the latter have improved significantly in the past three months – well done everyone so please keep up the contributions.
Our next quiz night will be held at Hill House on Monday 7th September – cost, to include drinks and snacks, will be £10 per person and tables can be booked now through any of the home receptionists or by emailing: lauren.stoneman@woodlands-hillbrow.co.uk. The Charity will also be running raffles at a number of events to be held at each of the homes in June and July.
Fundraising
We have exciting news about two upcoming sponsorship events in support of the Charity. First, two intrepid ladies – Matilda who works at Farnham Mill and her long-term family friend Jackie, 17 and 81 years old respectively – have signed up for a sky dive at Headcorn Aerodrome, Kent on 25th July to the benefit of our charity. Below are the QR code and link if you would like to donate more to Matilda’s and Jackie’s brilliant and brave cause which has already raised significant sponsorship.We hope very much that you will add to their mad ambition and make their day even better. The poster for donations is on display in all the homes and is reproduced towards the end of this newsletter.
Scan below to donate
Better still, perhaps you would like to join them. Our partnership with goskydive.com means that they take care of everything for you. If the date is not suitable, you can choose one to suit you. Also, if 8 or more people want to jump together, we can get a plane for our exclusive use. So, if throwing yourself out of an aircraft appeals on 25th July or any other date, get in touch at: https://www.goskydive.com/charity/families-supporting-care/ or contact any of the trustees for more information.
Second, Gary Cooper, one of our new trustees, is undertaking a Gymrace on 5th September at Drumsheds, London. This event comprises five 1 km runs interspersed with ten varied, weighted exercise stations and including a 1000m row, a 1000m ski, a 2000m bike ride and a 50m sprint to the finish – see gymrace.com for more details. Clearly this equally impressive challenge – Gary hopes to make it in to the top 10 of about 250 participants – deserves support and you can sponsor him by using the following Just Giving QR code or web link. The poster for donations on display in all the homes is also reproduced on the final page of this newsletter.
Scan below to donate
Raffle prizes are always needed for future events so, if anyone would like to donate something, please leave items with any of the home receptionists for us to collect. Our fundraising portfolio
also continues to include our lottery using www.givinglottery.org.uk. This allows anyone interested in a monthly flutter the opportunity to support Families Supporting Care who will receive 40% of subscriptions. The site also includes a regular “Super Draw” that’s always worth considering. You can play by going to the site above and searching for “Care Home Residents” or through the link at: www.familiessupportingcare.org. Notices are displayed in each home about the superdraws.
The Importance of Donations
Apart from fundraising events, donations from residents’ families are an essential source of income for the Charity. Key to this are the collection mini-buckets alongside each of the“Bistro” counters at the homes where tea, coffee, soft drinks along with cakes and biscuits are provided for visitors and residents. If visitors don’t have any cash with them, each poster and mini-bucket has our “Just Giving” QR code (reproduced below) so there’s every opportunity to help us. Additionally, ad hoc contributions are always welcome – for example, legacy donations and Wakes collections. Information about the options available can be obtained from any of the trustees.
Donations can of course be augmented through the use of Gift Aid where individuals qualify to make use of that facility. Specifically, each donation gift-aided means an extra 25% can be claimed back from HMRC. Contributors can also be made using the Charity’s “Just Giving” page (ideally with gift aid) at: https://familiessupportingcare.org. We are very grateful for all monies received, whatever the source.
Trustees and Further Information
The Charity is managed by the trustees who can be contacted through the main Woodlands-Hillbrow reception desk or via email using the address below. The good news is that we have recently appointed two new trustees adding much-needed variety and experience to our collective skill set. However, we are always on the look out for more trustees so, if any reader would like to join us, please get in touch with the secretary or chairman at the email address below or ask any of the home receptionists to pass on your details to us.
Elizabeth Butt – Honorary President
Derek Dunthorne – Chairman
Helen Gould – Secretary
Andrew Day – Treasurer
Marianne Amano (new)
Gary Cooper (new)
Michael Ferguson
Paul Mannering
David Maxted
Irene Wilson
More information about the Charity can be found at: www.familiessupportingcare.org. Emails can be sent to: info@familiessupportingcare.org. Social media presence is at: facebook.com/FamiliesSupportingCare. A leaflet is also available at the Woodlands, Hillbrow, Hillhouse and Farnham Mill care homes.
Dates For Diary
- Quiz at Hill Woodlands – Monday 7th September