Introduction
Welcome to the autumn 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 July newsletter, the Charity has raised around £9500 including monies from the September quiz night, several raffles at home barbecues, relatives’ donations, the monthly lottery, Gift Aid claims and bistro boxes at the 4 homes as well as spectacular results from three sponsored events supporting the Charity – more below.
Our next quiz night will be held at Hill House on Monday 30th November at which we will also draw the winners of our forthcoming Christmas Raffle – details below. Cost for the quiz 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@woodlands-hillbrow.co.uk.
Fundraising
In the July newsletter we highlighted forthcoming challenges being undertaken where those taking part had nominated the Charity to receive sponsorship donations for their efforts. Specifically: Matilda was doing a sky dive with her friend Jackie while Gary was undertaking the GymRace Challenge. Subsequently, Alex got in touch to say he was undertaking a 100km ultra run along the Thames path from Putney to Henley on Thames in memory of his Nana who lived at Woodlands and Hill House. The outcome of these 3 brave challenges turned out to be incredible with over £6100 raised so far for FSC. We are so grateful to each and everyone of them for their efforts on our behalf and of course to all those who donated to our cause.
Three key fund-raising events are planned for the coming months. First, our Christmas Raffle has now been launched. Tickets are available at each home reception and we will be drawing the winners at our next quiz night to be held at Hill House on Monday 30th November. See poster below for more details and how to purchase tickets.
In the meantime, Families Supporting Care have been nominated to benefit from funds raised at the next Stand-Up and Spice Comedy Night at The Spice Merchant in Crookham Village on Thursday 5th November. See poster below for details and how to obtain tickets. This is a regular and very popular event supporting local charities and we are grateful to Karen for accepting our request to be the nominated organisation on this occasion. Book early to avoid disappointment.
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 any Woodlands-Hillbrow reception desk or via email using the address below. 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
Gary Cooper
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 about the Charity is also available at all the care homes.
Dates For Diary
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Comedy Night at the Spice Merchant – Thursday 5th November 2026.
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Quiz at Hill House – Monday 30th November 2026.