Children and families benefit as West Moors care home residents raise £1,800

Residents and team members at Brook View care home have raised £1,800 for a local charity that helps young people and families facing debt worries and mental health issues.

Brook View chose Starf, standing for Stronger Together Across Ringwood & Fordingbridge, as their charity for the past year and staged a series of events and activities in support.

One of these was a sponsored singalong featuring the residents and staff choir Silver Brook.

Resident Diana Pearce, who took the role of Eliza Doolittle in the choir’s rendition of the My Fair Lady song Wouldn’t It Be Loverly, said of the fundraising for Starf: “It’s lovely to feel we are supporting a younger generation. Let’s face it, they are our future citizens and will be playing an important role in the future.”

Other activities included selling cakes at an open garden afternoon, a dog agility show, a Mother’s Day afternoon tea and running a craft stall at West Moors’ annual community event Westival.

The funds raised were handed over to Starf representative Peter Vandervelde at a cheque presentation.

Brook View nominates 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.

Brook View’s contribution 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 Starf, beneficiaries across the south include local food banks, conservation groups, animal rescue services, healthcare and disability 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.”

Starf supports local families through ‘financial first aid’, access to a mental health practitioner and help with budgeting and lifestyle skills.