Winchester care home residents and staff raise £6k for disability charity

Big-hearted residents and staff at our two Winchester care homes have together raised nearly £6,000 to help adults who live with learning disabilities.

Abbotts Barton and St Catherines View chose the Boaz Project, a Sutton Scotney farm-based therapeutic work community, as their joint charity for the past year.

Among their fundraising initiatives, the homes joined forces to stage a family-friendly afternoon fete.

Held at St Peter’s Primary School in Stanmore, it featured stalls selling crocheted gift items handmade by residents and team members.

Boaz staff and volunteers were also there selling fresh eggs from their chickens plus cards, wooden crafts and jams.

Abbotts Barton resident Grace Gray, who joined Colten Care and Boaz representatives for the presentation of a £5,906.60 cheque to round off the year of fundraising, said: “We’re thrilled to have been able to support Boaz, a local charity we, the residents, were only too pleased to choose.”

Thanking both homes, Boaz Events and Volunteer Co-ordinator Catherine Phillips said: “We hope to use the money to help renovate our kitchen. It will make a huge difference.

“We have a great relationship with the residents and staff at Abbotts Barton and St Catherines View and we love coming along to their craft events and other occasions.

“A huge thank-you to the residents, families and staff for all the help they have given us over the past year.”

The homes nominate a main charity to support each year, leaving scope for other causes to be helped too.

Once residents decide on the charity, companions, social carers and other team members enable them to contribute directly in meaningful ways such as making arts and crafts to sell and suggesting ideas for sponsored activities.

The contribution from Abbotts Barton and St Catherines View helped bring Colten Care’s group-wide charity fundraising total for the past year to a record £43,220.

The amount is 29% up on the previous year’s charity total which itself was 43% higher than the year before.

It means Colten Care residents and staff have benefited charities and good causes by nearly £115,000 over the past five years.

As well as Boaz, beneficiaries across the south include local food banks, conservation groups, animal rescue services, healthcare charities and organisations helping the elderly.

Colten Care’s Chief Operating Officer Elaine Farrer said: “It is always up to our residents to decide which causes we support.

“As well as organising cash donations and raffle prizes, our teams help residents to do their bit through creative activities they really enjoy and that keep them fully engaged with their local communities.”

For more information about Boaz, visit www.boazproject.co.uk.