Friends of Amarna House

Age restrictions for independent volunteers did not stop secondary school teacher Patrick Tasker from getting his students involved with the Amarna House care home. At Manor Church of England Academy where Patrick teaches, students have the opportunity to pursue a leadership award starting when they are 14 years old. As part of this program, students are given opportunities to volunteer in the local community so that they can build connections and foster their personal skills. However, most of the students in this program are below the minimum independent volunteering age of 16. While students in the program have other opportunities to volunteer with local primary schools and youth groups, Patrick wanted to get students into the care home as well.

“We see value in interacting with people at the care homes and our students have always got a lot out of that and it’s something that they look forward to,” Patrick said.

In order to get around the roadblock of students’ ages and to renew Manor CE Academy’s relationship with Amarna House, Patrick became a volunteer himself. The school had a previous relationship with the home that lapsed somewhat during the COVID-19 pandemic when students and other volunteers were unable to go into the home. Part of Patrick’s goal was to rebuild that relationship. As a volunteer with the Friends of Amarna House, he is able to organise and supervise group visits to the home.

Students have visited the home three times since December and regularly ask how soon they can return. Their visits have started with tasks and activities designed to get them familiar with the environment and build their comfort levels in the hopes that over time they will be able to plan activities for residents themselves.

Patrick said he was initially cautious about taking students into the care home and planned visits carefully because it is “outside of their comfort zone” and can be a “very alien environment to someone who’s not spent any time with a care home.” But, he said, “the students took to it like ducks to water.”

On their first visit, Patrick and the students attended a service in the home led by Steve Redman. Despite Patrick’s fears, students quickly showed ease with the residents. He said they possessed the interpersonal skills to be strong volunteers right away, showing empathy and respect for the residents. Many students quickly requested to visit the dementia floor in the home, despite it being perceived as a more difficult environment for volunteers.

In January, the students returned to celebrate the Lunar New Year with residents. For this event, the Wellbeing Co-ordinator organised activities and students brought along some supplies. On their most recent visit, students were trained in how to run the tea trolley for residents and brought it around the home for the first time. Through this service, students were able to bring a bit of joy into the home and have more one on one interaction with the residents.

Patrick said he plans to continue having students visit the home as frequently as possible and he can already see the students gaining more confidence. He said they have started to develop a good understanding of how to interact with residents, what activities might work best and be most enjoyable for them and how to approach things from a different perspective, realising for example that the key purpose of playing a game with a resident may not be who wins, but that good conversation is made while they play.

Patrick said he hopes that volunteering through the leadership program will serve as a first step for students to develop independent relationships with Amarna House and to become volunteers when they turn 16. Some students have already shown an interest in beginning the process of becoming independent volunteers so that they can start as soon as possible.

One of the goals of the leadership program at Manor CE Academy is to get students involved in their community. By volunteering at Amarna House, students are building strong ties to their community and connections that they may not have otherwise made. Because they are starting so young, students will be able to hold long-lasting connections with Amarna House and make increasingly meaningful contributions for residents.

As a teacher, Patrick said volunteering with the Friends of Amarna House has also helped him to foster stronger connections to the community. He said he has even met residents of the care home who went to Manor CE Academy in the past or have relatives who have done.

“I don’t often — outside of work — get to be very active in the community, so I’ve also gained from being there. I think it’s also helped improved my practice as a teacher working with those students and empowering them,” Patrick said. “I definitely think that more schools should consider taking groups of students that are interested to reach out into their community.”

Christmas Table Sale Brings a Festive Atmosphere 

A festive scene was set in Amarna House on 8th December 2022, with a gift-laden table surrounded by holiday decorations at the Friends of Amarna House Christmas table sale. The event gave residents, visitors and staff the chance to purchase Christmas presents for loved ones. While the Christmas table sale event has been held previously, this was the first time it returned since the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was held at the same time as a Peaky Blinders themed open visiting day in the home. Because of the pandemic, for many guests the sale was the first time they saw community members supporting their loved ones in Amarna House and they were thrilled by the event. Gifts for sale included books, holiday and home décor, mugs, pillows and sweets. 

Along with creating a festive atmosphere, this event meets an important need for many residents. While providing gifts for loved ones is something everyone should be able to do, for many living in care homes this is not a possibility. For some residents, this may be because they are unable to leave the home or because they travel outside of the home with the loved ones that they want to buy gifts for. Attend Chief Executive David Wood said the goal of the event is not to raise money, but to give the residents the opportunity to window shop and buy gifts for family and friends. Prices were set low at the sale to give everyone the chance to buy something, and in some cases even waved for residents who couldn’t afford gifts. No one was turned away. 

“Christmas is about giving, and we need to give residents that chance,” David said.  

Some gifts were donated by individuals and businesses, while others were purchased by Friends of Amarna House. This gave residents many gift options to choose from and in addition to gifts, customers were able to get wrapping paper, gift bags and Christmas cards from the sale. The Friends of Amarna House sponsored the event, which raised £84. 

The Friends were delighted to reconnect with students at the Manor CE Academy

The residents and staff at Amarna House care home were very grateful to Friends for the purchases of items for the Queens platinum jubilee celebrations. Friends purchased a queen cut out, union jack flags, bunting, union jack bowler hats and napkins. The platinum jubilee celebration at Amarna House was a fantastic success and everyone had a great time.

Friends of Amarna House were delighted they could recently purchase toiletries and goodies to stock the trolley at the care home. The trolley service is very helpful for residents; it allows them to purchase essential items they might be missing, and indulge in a treat.

Alongside both sweet and savoury treats, the stock included toiletries such as deodorants, shower gels and shampoos. Friends of Amarna House are happy to know residents have been enjoying the new items – staff at the care home said, “Thank you so much, the residents are delighted with what we received!”.

Friends of Amarna House are happy to announce they’ve received donations from the Wharfedale Foundation. With the money, Friends have recently purchased a TV; it will go into the care home’s communal area for all residents to benefit from.

Residents really enjoy watching their favourite TV programmes, so a new TV is sure to boost their moods. Plus, it will serve to watch all kinds of videos, including exercise videos that keep residents active and entertained. Thanks again to the Wharfedale Foundation!

As well as being the Minister and Pastor of a local church, Steve is also one of Attend’s board members and the Friends of Amarna House chairman. He’s a point of reference for the local community, and he’s been supporting the care home for the past ten years. Before the pandemic, Steve would often be at Amarna House, helping residents with the Friends group or giving the Sunday service. Moreover, he and his team would participate in events at the care home, such as Remembrance Sunday; they also provided a thanksgiving service for residents who wanted to commemorate people who passed away and whose funeral they couldn’t attend. “It’s really important to me that I am in some way helping the spiritual well-being of people that have a need that isn’t met by the otherwise excellent care they receive in the care home”, Steve says. The pandemic, unfortunately, put a stop to volunteering altogether. During this time, Steve and the Friends ensured that they supported the care home with gifts and toiletries for staff and residents. However, as he explains, residents have truly missed volunteers and kids from the local school going into Amarna House.

A few weeks ago, for the first time since the pandemic started, Pastor Steve was able to go inside the care home for the second time in one month. It was for the Harvest Festival. Traditionally held in local churches, the festivity occurred after the long summer holidays, as winter approached and the harvest was in. It was a moment of gratitude and appreciation, and it still is. Kids would help their parents on the farms, and residents of Amarna House enjoy celebrating the festival, which reminds them of their youth. On September 23rd, they gathered with Pastor Steve in one of the care home’s dining rooms; there, after a short talk around the idea of harvest, they prayed. They were grateful for the meals they receive every day at Amarna and the food provisions that people donated to the care home, destined for food banks. Then, they prayed for all of those struggling to make ends meet and for the new wave of Afghan refugees. Hymns accompanied the event; residents enjoyed singing the traditional “We Plough the Fields and Scatter” and more. “It’s lovely to see them all singing songs that they know, and just taking a bit of time out to be grateful,” Steve says. “Because we all need that; no matter how old we are, how capable we are, we all need to learn the importance of gratitude.”

Pastor Steve’s church tradition may be different from the one residents have experienced during their lives, but that’s not an issue at all. He’s happy to give them spiritual support, serve them in the way they expect, and see their faces light up. “I feel that they are part of the congregation that I serve as a local Minister,” he says. Ultimately, gratitude is a feeling we can all experience, regardless of our cultural and religious heritage. Traditions like the Harvest Festival serve as a great reminder, when the surrounding noise grows, for us to stop for a moment, appreciate what we have, and listen to our “humble, thankful hearts”.

The residents of Amarna House Care Home are grateful for the recent donations of sweet and savoury treats for the trolley service from the friends. The friends were also able to donate much needed toiletries such as shower gels and deodorants.

Martina, the wellbeing coordinator at Amarna House, explains that the staff graciously furnished their visiting pod last March, thanks to the cooperation with Friends. “It just helped make it into a nicer room,” she says. A pod is an outdoor place that serves specifically for visits; it has heating and an intercom system, but unfortunately, it doesn’t come with furniture. Friends were delighted to use raised funds to purchase mirrors, plants and furniture. “Sometimes a pod can be a bit unsettling for residents because there is a screen between them and the visitors,” Martina explains. “Actually being able to have some furniture made it more homely, really.” Residents and their families can now enjoy their visiting time in a much more pleasant environment, something that staff too had at heart.

Before coronavirus restrictions prevented volunteers from going in, Friends of Amarna House used to run a small mobile shop at the care home; they provided residents with essential items like toiletries. Unfortunately, as that had to stop, residents truly missed it. Staff at the care home have been able to restart the shop thanks to the help of Friends, who provide donations and supply the necessary stock. “We thought we would get a few shampoos, but actually they have sent so much stuff, which is amazing,” Martina remarks. Toiletries are essential, valuable items for residents, especially when families aren’t allowed many visits. The staff and the Friends of Amarna House know that well and appreciate collaborating to ensure residents receive the necessary support in that sense.

Activities are just as valuable to residents. Martina and her team organise and carry out all sorts of things at the care home; they have arts and crafts groups and weekly quizzes, chair exercises and yoga, and even dance classes and knitting. However, there’s one particular activity that seems to get everyone on board: gardening. As many of the residents used to have their garden, they like the one at Amarna House to be well-kept, and they love contributing to that. That is their garden now, after all. Knowing what that meant for residents and with summer on the way, Friends donated garden vouchers to support them. Luckily enough, as coupons arrived together with lovely weather, staff and residents could use them straight away for their gardening. They purchased colourful flowers, made a little rainbow garden, and filled many of their pots and hanging baskets. “You could see it on their faces,” Martina says. “They just really enjoyed it.” It is something exciting for residents, and Friends are delighted to have contributed to that.

Although the relationship with Amarna House started a long time ago, the shared desire to support residents keeps it ever so strong. The staff truly values the help of Friends, and Friends appreciate collaborating with people who have residents’ wellbeing at heart. It’s a relationship that benefits all — one that will continue to do so for many more years to come.

The Friends of Amarna House were delighted to purchase toiletries for residents such as body moisturisers, hand creams, hairsprays, toothpastes. They also purchased £500 worth of garden centre  vouchers. This is all very helpful and exciting for residents who look forward to enjoying their summer days in the garden.

Friends of Amarna House were delighted to purchase 2 garden vouchers in the value of £250 each for the home as well as the toiletries such as shampoos, shower gels, body moisturisers, hand creams, toothpastes. The residents and staff really appreciate this.

The money will go towards  the toiletries such as  shampoos, shower gels, razors and talc to have a good stock as there has been a shortage lately. This is great help for residents  as they really feel cared about.

It was a delightful surprise. The Easter holiday weekend brought much more than sunshine – it tied communities together even from a two-metre distance.

The residents of Amarna House Care Home peeked outside their doorstep to see several large bags that had been dropped off from members of their own community. When the care home staff came to retrieve the bags, they were pleased to see that it was exactly what the care home needed.

“I wanted to do my bit and help vulnerable people”, Amy, a Friend of the Care Home volunteer explains, describing the reason for dropping off the gifts.

The dedicated staff discovered that the boxes contained a mixture of toiletries like foamy shower gels, soaps, and Estee Lauder body lotions. The staff were relieved at the sight of the gifts, as they had trouble getting everything that they needed during the lockdown.

Linda, the Care Home Manager, described the situation, “Families who lived out of the area were emailing me to ask if I could go and shop for their loved one. Unfortunately, there are purchase limits for most of the products we need, so it was really difficult for us”.

The team decided that since there were so many gifts available, it was an opportunity to create a fun and engaging activity for the residents. They placed the extra items in grab bags where each and every resident could pull a prize out. As the bags circulated the home, the pleasant scents roamed the air and began to lift spirits.

“We feel loved”, the unanimous voices of the residents echoed.

One resident reached in the bag and pulled out his prize. He touched his head, looked down at his hair balm and laughed, “Do you think it would help my hair grow?” As he chose a new prize, he said, “It’s nice to know we are cared about”.

During the weekend, residents played other games like charades and enjoyed showing their new gifts to their fellow residents.

“They were overjoyed”, Linda described the reactions of the residents.

The labour of the staff did not go unnoticed: bath bombs and body scrubs were donated to the staff as a well-deserved thank you. To join in the cause, local organisations also donated goods to the care home like Easter eggs and juices.

It was an Easter weekend made special by a well-rounded effort of the community.

Dear Care Home Friend,

In less than a month it feels like everything has changed. As I was looking at my diary for March, we had committee meetings planned for most homes, and lots of volunteers on the brink of starting. I did get to a Dementia Cafe in very early March but within days we were having to look at everything differently.

In all homes, we have no volunteers going in. Understandably, most care homes won’t even allow families to visit residents except in very extenuating circumstances.

We regularly hear from volunteers who want to help, to continue to do something to support the residents and staff of the home that they are supporting. If any of you have any thoughts about something volunteers might practically do, please let us know.

So what are we doing? The King’s Fund, where our offices are located, shut down  at very  short notice. The last few hours looked a bit like we are passengers on the Titanic grabbing the essentials for an unknown period in the lifeboats. At this point, the care homes support team are all set up to work from home.

You may continue to hear from Sona who is totally reviewing and updating all our records relating to volunteers. We are contacting some as part of the process. Also we are continuing to have regular enquiries from people who want to get involved once we come out the other side of this current situation. We are processing their applications, taking up references etc.

Alongside this Said and Kim are getting the financial records up to date. Today is the last day of the care home groups financial year, so there is plenty to do to prepare the draft accounts.

Alongside this we are continuing to look for funders who might support the projects you have told us you would like to do.

So, while perhaps less physically present, we are continuing to work hard to ensure these projects are in the best position they can be, once we return to practical day to day volunteering in the homes.

Once again, if you have any ideas on what else we might do now, do get in touch. In the meantime, do stay safe and well.

With very best wishes

Nichole Wheaton

Head of Projects Delivery

Tel: 020 7307 2570

Email: nichole.wheaton@attend.org.uk

Web: www.attend.org.uk

We would like to thank to Carla Morris (admin for the Covid-19 Holgate community group) and her community colleagues for donating the toiletries to the residents of Amarna House Care Home.

We would like to thank the team of employees from Huntington School in York for donating the toiletries to the residents of Amarna House Care Home.

Good afternoon,

We hope you are keeping well and safe in these difficult times.

We have been speaking to Friends of Amarna House Care Home (Rosetta Way, York, North Yorkshire, YO26 5RN) and the residents are really missing the fun that volunteers bring to their lives.

However there is another way you might like to consider helping until things get back to the way things were.

Many residents rely on regular visitors to bring them toiletries: soap or shower gel and shampoo.  For those that don’t have visitors, staff often help out. Currently, it is impossible to keep residents supplied with all they need.

We realise that it is a challenging time for you too, but if you can spare some toiletries then you can go to the Care Home address above, ring the bell and  leave the items at the front door.

Any help on this one would be much appreciated.

Keep safe.

Kind Regards,

 Sona Sladkova

Project Administrator

Tel: 07530 699351
Email: sona.sladkova@attend.org.uk
Web: www.attend.org.uk

Due to her academic knowledge of the brain and the way it works, Caitlin has a much more interesting perspective on the role of the activities residents undertake than simply viewing them as ways to pass the time. Participating and supervising in arts and crafts, gardening, singing and afternoon tea classes, Caitlin appreciates the part they play in improving the overall well-being of the residents- she’s delighted to see the activities as a source of stimulation for not only the mind, but of the body and its mobility.

Although initially intimidated by the prospect of working with residents who were living with dementia, Caitlin found once she settled in, she was able to overcome her fears. Caitlin found it was easy to form a personal bond with residents- Caitlin finds joy in being able to put a smile on their faces or being able to make their lives that little bit better by simply holding their hand or listening to them reminisce.  They might not always recognise her, but that occasional recognition has proven enough to encourage Caitlin to continue her volunteering efforts.

While she did consider herself a confident and outgoing person prior to her volunteering at Amarna House, Caitlin has found her role a constant reminder of ways she can improve herself. Her time at the care home has only heightened her willingness to step forward, her creativity and ideas, and especially her ability to communicate. Coming across characters that are not always willing to engage was not something Caitlin was used to dealing with, but her time at Amarna House has encouraged her to be more mindful and aware of individual needs.

Caitlin’s experience at Amarna encouraged several more volunteering efforts- a keen traveler, she’s had the opportunity to volunteer in Sri Lanka and Ghana, aiding those with mental health or special needs. Her impressive endeavors actually won her an award for volunteering at her university and granting her bursaries, which will hopefully allow her to travel more in the future.

Caitlin encourages anyone interested in volunteering to go for it! Her experience at Amarna House has proven wonderful, which she not only credits to the residents, but to the staff as well. She notes that it is promising to see staff members that genuinely care about the well-being of residents under their care, something that made her time at Amarna, which is sadly coming to an end, rewarding and worthwhile.

David Wood, a committee member, said: “This relationship extends for over 5 years now, and we are delighted that the team still enjoy coming”.
The Friends have invested a lot in the development to our side of the home, but staff had asked that we focus on a much-neglected area on the other side. The aim was to not only make it a great place to visit, but also to look at from the residents’ rooms.

Tasks tackled were:
• Making over and putting bath chippings on the existing rose bed
• Installing 2 wrought iron rose archways and 7 chimney rose bushes
• Furnishing the railway beds with sleepers
• Installing weed barriers across the whole area
• Spending £1000 on plants, including a plum tree (to attract animals and birds), and planting them
• Jet-washing pathways and patio area
• Painting all the fences
• Buying and spreading pea shingle and bark – chippings across the remainder of the beds

The bushes were carried out by FSA staff, Friends volunteers and residents. It was a real team effort. Steve Redman, Chairman said “We are so grateful to everyone: from the Home Manager for making us welcome to the friends for paying for the materials, to the team at the FSA and the volunteers who all worked so effortlessly to deliver this project in 6 hours. I know the residents really appreciate all the efforts on their behalf.”

Music has the power to transcend words and is a substantial tool for people with speech difficulties. Music is a part of our everyday lives. It is associated with memories of places, people and specific events. Music can soothe souls, energise spirits and touch the most resistant hearts.

On 10^th October 2018, Friends of Amarna received a grant from Awards for All to launch a music project. The care home teamed up with Live Music Now to launched the project for the residents of Amarna Care Home.

The team’s goal is to demonstrate the value of live music as a tool to improve the quality of life in care homes.  With this project, residents can now develop musical skills and bolster their mood. Thanks to music we can tackle the unsweet isolation, uniting all together through the power of rhythm, notes, and lyrics.

The local community has worked together to bring this opportunity to the residents. It is a chance for local volunteers to engage with and learn from the elderly. For the residents, it is a chance to see new faces, discover different interests and stories and, as a result, make each day different.  Fostering social interaction and commitment to looking after each other is a vital step in growing healthy and strong communities. The music project means that the residents and volunteers will have something to look forward to and a chance to feel the joy that has once been forgotten.

Live Music Now is a UK-wide initiative, created by Yehudi Menuhin and Ian Stoutzker in 1977. Every year, musicians deliver thousands of interactive music programmes in care homes and hospitals, and a range of community and healthcare settings. Find out more at www.livemusicnow.org.uk.

Volunteering has certainly become a large part of David’s life- he reiterates that he appreciates his presence at the care home is valued by the residents, but that ‘’it’s definitely a two-way street- sometimes I need the company too.’’ When he came across Amarna House on do-it.org.uk, he was impressed by the care homes’ mission and dedication to their residents. Committed to making a difference and ‘’putting something back in the community’’, David was eager to start.

David describes genuinely loving his role as a volunteer at Amarna- ‘’I help run games nights for the residents, but a large part of my role is keeping residents company.’’ Building a connection with residents can be challenging as David explains it can be hard getting people to take part in activities, but he feels that ‘’if I didn’t have a connection with the residents, I would feel as though I wasn’t doing my job right!”

When asked whether he would encourage others to volunteer, David pushes everyone to go for it! He describes that the satisfaction he feels while volunteering at Amarna House is an experience he will cherish- ‘’I’ve spent my life chasing money, but there’s no monetary value in volunteering with Amarna House- instead I’m paid in smiles and the knowledge that I’ve made a difference to someone’s life.’’

To make the season a little warmer for the residents at Amarna House we delivered 12 bottles of prosecco for them enjoy. We wish all the residents and staff a very Merry Christmas from the Friends of Amarna House team.

The aim of this particular event was to paint the garden fence whilst also entertaining the residents and getting them to come out of their rooms to socialise. Painting the fence was the next step to the process of converting it into a ‘secret garden’ made specifically for the residents. This transformation would allow them to spend some quality time to themselves in a quiet and meditative garden, enjoying the outdoors whilst also being in a safe area.

The original plan for the garden was to build a memorial garden for those who have lost their loved ones at the care home. The staff decided to change their plans as this would have made it exclusive to certain residents, whereas the ‘secret garden’ is suitable for every resident.

While some students were painting the garden fence, the others were spending their afternoon chatting to the residents about their experiences and the stories they have gathered throughout the years. The residents love listening to the students’ stories and vice versa, “it is lovely to listen to their stories from back in their days”, one student claimed.

During this event, tea and biscuits were provided for everyone while quality time was spent between the students and residents, “the residents always love having young people around”, said one staff member of the care home. A few students even said that they would go back to volunteer as a result of the afternoon.

The event lifted everyone’s moods, residents and volunteers, making it a successful event which will inspire more events to come. “It would be a shame not to continue, everyone gets so much out of it”, one staff member expressed.

Joseph’s main hobby is playing the piano, which he has been doing consistently since the age of 11 and he is currently working at grade 6. During Joseph’s spare time, he studies and volunteers. Not only does he volunteer at the Amarna House Care Home, but he also works with children with special needs, a youth group and at his local library.

Joseph volunteers at Amarna House once a week. He said he typically runs a quiz or word games for the residents, and they are always willing to tell him their intriguing stories. “They are happy that someone young keeps them company, they have such interesting lives and experiences they like to share with a younger generation,” Joseph said. One of the best stories Joseph said he heard was from a lady who used to work at a chocolate company; “she used to work there, and she told me what her role was, explained how it was to work in chocolate factories and how the company maintained high standards at the workplace.”

Joseph has found that by simply listening to the residents, he can sense their gratitude for him being there. Volunteers can make a remarkable difference to the environment of any care home and sometimes all that needs to be done is to listen and talk to the residents as engaging conversation can make their day.

Joseph said he was motivated to volunteer because of his grandmother’s stay at a care home. He realised that isolation can be an issue amongst some residents in certain care homes and so he was pushed to make a change at Amarna, and a great change at that.

Joseph admitted that it was intimidating for him to go to a new place at first but added that everyone at Amarna made him feel welcome and he quickly started to form meaningful connections with the residents. He also developed very good relationships with the staff members. “I definitely feel the connection, they always remember me and speak to me,” he said.

His experience at Amarna allowed him to expand on his communication and listening skills to develop them further. “My communication has always been good, but this experience has only improved it,” he said. Also, as a result of this volunteering, he is now looking at things differently and not just from one perspective.

One of the things that Joseph had just recently learned from his time spent at Amarna was how challenging it can be for the family members to be away from their loved ones who are residents at care homes and so he emphasised that “understanding is essential” in these circumstances.

The volunteering experience has given Joseph a greater insight of what he wants to do for a living, “this experience has made me realise that healthcare is definitely what I want to go for,” he said. He would advise anyone to begin volunteering at a care home as it is a “truly gratifying experience” and that “you will get a lot out of it as long as you are motivated and dedicated.” Joseph also added that “you might find the experience challenging but it is worth the change it brings.”

With this project, we will purchase a specialist sensory case for the elderly as a tool to exercise sensory perception. The case will include a variety of equipment for residents with dementia and those who might need some sensory stimulation.

The sensory case contains tools which will give the residents the opportunity to exercise visual, olfactory and auditory perception. Musical gloves will give the residents the opportunity to play music with ease and the fruits card game will allow them to recognise and match fragrances with fruits.

Additionally, cushions and armchair covers of various textures will constitute a tool to explore tactile perception.

The kit will be a chance to build a bridge between trained volunteers and the residents, form new meaningful relationships developed through leisure whilst simultaneously improving their physical health. Our volunteers will contribute to improving the lives of residents by exercising day-to-day tasks which involve sensory stimulation. Thanks to this project, residents will gain confidence in recognising textures, sounds and scents and, consequently, improve their concentration and memory.

The Multisensory Equipment project is one more step forward in making residents’ lives more enjoyable and meaningful.

His experience with the elderly with dementia started when his grandfather became ill himself. “Sometimes he thought I was his son and I just played along. It’s hard to explain to someone with dementia that you are not who they might think you are.” Later on, Cian knew what to expect when he decided to volunteer.

Cian suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome. The illness had left an imprint on Cian’s self-esteem – he could not attend all of his lessons due to the constant exhaustion. Despite the condition and absence from school, Cian managed to complete his GCSE exams ending up with top grades which were an ultimate boost of confidence. That boost motivated him to make a positive change in other people’s lives, “I’ve been ill for so long that I want to give something back to the community now that I’m fully recovered”, he explained.

Cian has volunteered for Friends of Amarna Care home for a year. He goes in once every week to spend time with the residents. “I feel like there aren’t many male volunteers, I think that’s why I prefer spending time with the male residents”, Cian explained. Cian never runs out of topics to chat about, especially those that are sport-related. “I used to be very athletic, I played football, rugby and cricket, I also cycle a lot”, thanks to his athletic lifestyle Cian could bond with the residents over the passion for sport.

Apart from conversations, Cian also engages in the activities in the care home such as bingo, painting or walks. “On a good day”, says Cian, “I take residents out to the garden where we stroll and chat”. Cian has managed to develop a unique bond with the residents. He is even recognised by the residents’ family members, “I sometimes bump into their children and they always stop by to chat, they know their loved ones appreciate what I do”, he comments.

Cian has noticed changes about himself since he started his volunteering journey. Not only have his communication skills improved significantly, but Cian has also developed better emotional intelligence, thanks to which he can distinguish which residents are keen on his company. “When communicating with the residents, you have to make the conversation yourself. A few times you don’t get a response but with time you learn to distinguish silence induced by a condition versus silence that derives from a not-so-chatty mood”, he explains. Cian’s confidence has boosted as well since his early start with Friends of Amarna Care Home. It is the gratifying feeling of giving back to the community that makes one feel good about themselves and impacts their self-esteem positively, “I don’t boast about what I do after school; but when people find out, I always receive warm words of encouragement and that’s great.”

Cian believes communication skills aren’t the only thing you need to be a good volunteer, “you need to be chatty, approachable and confident”, he says. “You might find this hard if you can’t be positive or are not able to cheer people up.” However, communication skills are important – especially in a care home environment – whether practiced with residents of the care home team, “the staff is really lovely, I like being instructed of what do to when I’m there”.

Cian’s experience shaped his current vision of his future career, “it has helped me want to become a doctor even more, I feel like the insight I’ve gained here could be helpful on the orthopaedic path of medicine.”

Cian would convince anybody to begin volunteering, “Do it! Be confident, think of things to chat about, bring a chess board – sometimes this is all they need and all the little things make a difference.”

The service offers residents of Amarna House Care Home a range of goods to purchase including books, music records, cards, toiletries, gifts, and sweets. The residents can make independent choices and treat themselves or their loved ones by choosing items from the “shop on wheels”.

Not only does Trolley Service respond to residents’ need of purchasing basic goods, but it also provides an opportunity to chat with volunteers on duty. Visiting the residents’ room on a regular basis allows volunteers to engage with residents and brighten their day with a chat. Conversation – a seemingly simple act – can make a great impact on an elderly person’s sense of well-being. The Trolley Service also captures some of the elements of life happening outside of the care home which residents long for the most. Incidental chit-chats resulting from the service stand a chance to become a beginning of friendships and meaningful relationships between residents and volunteers, allowing volunteers to play an active role in making residents’ lives more enjoyable.

Karen worked in her role as a teaching assistant for 17 years but found herself very stressed, and having difficulty coping with life. She decided to take some time off from work, and attended a rehabilitation program to recover from alcoholism. While she was away from work, Karen decided that she wanted to do something to keep her occupied, and chose volunteering. She had done volunteering in the past, both in charity shops and as a teaching assistant, which led her to her job. Following a search on a volunteering website, Karen found out about Armana House Care Home. She said that the advert stood out for her, and she went for an interview with David (Chair of Friends of Armana House).

Karen was thrilled to be accepted as a volunteer and felt that she had been given another chance. Karen began volunteering on the same day that a resident moved in, and they became close friends. In the six months before the elderly lady passed away, Karen says that they spent a lot of time together and that the resident made “a lasting impression” on her, teaching her life lessons like “grab life”. While Karen was bereft at her friend’s passing, she continued to volunteer for two years with Amarna House. She especially loved Tuesday mornings which were Quiz mornings, and she would always have a good laugh and a chat with the residents. She said “It was the highlight of my week.”

Karen emphasised that volunteering had given her a new faith in people and herself. She feels that it put her on the right path and helped her to accept herself, as the home and residents had accepted her without judgement. When she began volunteering she says she had no self-esteem, but through giving back to society and being a help to others, she ended up helping herself too. She learned the important skills of patience, compassion and adaptability and it led her on to her current career.

Karen has two sons, the younger of whom has Down’s syndrome. Due to this, and her time volunteering, she always knew that she wanted to work in a caring role. Karen is now working as a Support Worker for adults with learning disabilities and visual impairments, and feels she is in the right place. She feels that she can truly understand the impact of the care given to children, having worked both with children and adults, and seeing the effects that it can have throughout their lives. Karen said that she likes working with older people as they have so many stories. She feels that she has learned that it’s alright to say ‘no’ sometimes, and has improved her listening skills. She says that it is important to adapt, and treat everyone as an individual.

Although due to time constraints Karen no longer volunteers at Armana House, she was adamant in her gratitude to Armana House, David, and the residents. She said “I’m so thankful” that she had her time there and that she always had so much fun. “I had a ball!” She expressed that seeing the residents’ faces light up when she came in was the highlight of her week, and that she would recommend volunteering to anyone. Karen said that in helping others, she felt she was giving

This allowed the residents who find it hard to go outside to pick items for their friends and family.  In the end the group managed to raise a total of £88.98.

This project will be a trolley service, with the aim to improve each of the lives of the 80 residents of the home. By setting up a trolley service it means that Friends can visit the residents in their room on a daily basis, to offer the option of buying items or just having a chat. Following from this, other activities will develop.

What happens on the trolley will vary: it may be sweets one day, toiletries, or books on another or even a theme for the holidays, for example Christmas.  It will be an opportunity for the residents to treat themselves or a loved one, even if they are unable to get out to the shops. Even if the residents don’t wish to buy anything, the trolley service will encourage friendly chats on a daily basis and help to ease the loneliness and isolation that can occur.

Volunteers will be trained and will run the trolley service, to give the residents a chance to see new faces and make some new friends.

The residents will be encouraged to request items such as socks or toiletries, and the trolley will have some small freebies to give away.

For Sarah, the concept of “giving something back to the community” stemmed from a time when her son insisted that there were others who would deserve his birthday gifts more than he did. With that in mind Sarah researched volunteer opportunities near her home in York, finding Friends of Amarna House where she has been volunteering for the past three years. Sarah felt comfortable enough to enter the care home because as a child she grew up in a similar environment. Her parents took care of others in residential homes where they assisted people with disabilities. Sarah also helped her family by taking care of her Grandmother who was battling cancer when she was younger. This gave her a deep sense of empathy and care for others. With bettering the life of her family in mind, she attended night classes at Huntington School to further her education. Establishing a good career took precedence for years until securing her current job as a Dental Practice Manager. As rewarding this can be Sarah says the most worthwhile experiences she has are from volunteering.

At the care home, Sarah spends most of her time with a resident whose family she has become especially close to. It all started on her first day in the home when she walked in on the resident’s birthday party. Without hesitation the residents husband sat down for a chat, making her feel at home. She has developed relationships with people in the home and is grateful for the bond that they share. As the resident Sarah spends time with has dementia it is hard often for her to remember Sarah’s name but she remembers the connection they have.

On 1^st February 2017, Amarna House was very proud to introduce their new Champions of Dignity, Ashley, Emelia, Abigail and Angie. These four staff members were responsible for overseeing and upholding the Dignity and Respect shown to their residents, families and visitors. They were presented with badges and certificates at the homes  Mad Hatters Tea Party. Thank you to our Friends volunteers, Sarah and Katie who baked the most delicious cupcakes!

Twiddle muffs are knitted muffs with items attached such as buttons, zips, bells, ribbons and velcro, They are designed to give hands something to do and can be a focus for fidgeting hands. They are great for people who were knitters or crafters who like to have busy hands but now lack the concentration or ability to do those activities anymore .

Twiddle muffs are definitely a hit with many of the residents of Amarna House

Pamela Morton and friends spent time making them and they were greatly appreciated by the home and residents.

Congratulations were given to Manor School who recently held a fundraising event for the home. The school were pleased to be able to hand over the £110 raised at the event.

For the second year in a row the friends were delighted to join in  the Amarna House Christmas fair.

Pam Morton who was in charge of the friends stall said.

“I was delighted when one of the residents bought a card and present for her son who visits her regularly”.

We are pleased to announce that the stall made £64.80

President of the Friends group, Pamela Morton gave the first reading, while David Wood, Chairman gave the second one.

Approximately 15 residents joined in some traditional favourites.

Everything was rounded off with a lovely cup of tea.

On Tuesday 11th October 2016, the Duke of York visited Attends offices to be updated on our work. 

As part of his role, he is patron of each of the friends groups in care homes.

Pictured here, he is talking to Nichole, project manager, and Kahlil who is newly appointed to the team. He was delighted to hear of the progress to date.

There are many projects currently taking place in the home including a gardening project, table sales, book trolley and weekly tea parties. All of these are greatly appreciated by residents and staff.

Now, a team of people from the church, led by Steve, go to the care home with a guitar and sings traditional hymns for the residents. The service usually includes 3-4 hymns which the group will perform in 4 different lounges in the care home to make it accessible to more residents. Although the service is not very long, it can be very impactful for the residents.

At the church they usually play more contemporary music, but they’ve changed their repertoire for the older generation. The residents love singing along to songs they have been singing since they were young.  When Steve comes in from the church to sing, everyone gets excited to see him. The highlight of his experience has been how the residents remember him, “you walk in and people wave at you and say ‘Hello Steve!’”

Despite the residents’ memory issues and his infrequent visits, he has made enough of an impact on them that they remember his name. Steve is currently trying to visit once a week to talk with the residents.

About 6 months ago, Katie moved to the UK and wanted to get involved in the local community. Prior to moving she spent a lot of time with her grandparents who suffered from dementia. She really enjoyed the time she spent with her grandparents and wanted to help other elderly people suffering from dementia.

Katie has been a Friend at the care home for 2-3 months now. As a full-time Dentist, work can get stressful but befriending the residents is a nice change of pace to relax in a different environment. “The highlight of the volunteering experience so far has been meeting the very interesting individuals at the care home and being able to start to form a friendship with them.”

Background on Katie

• Volunteers once/twice a week
• Works up to 6 days a week as a Dentist
• Level 2 Gym Instructor
• Struggles to find time to go to the care home more
• Working on Befriending Project
• Likes the feeling of being involved in the community

Pam started her volunteering career at 20 when she got ill. She didn’t have the energy to work a job, so she spent her free time volunteering. Since then, she has been a part of solving some very important issues and it gives her a great sense of satisfaction.

Pam has been a Friend at the care home since it opened. She is an active member of the committee and helps supervise the new Friends. She enjoys doing practical projects and is very excited about her current project: making connections with the local clergy. Since being at the care home, she’s noticed the change she’s made. “I’ve noticed a distinct improvement in the atmosphere, people are very relaxed.”

Background on Pamela

• Worked with Attend for 20 years
• Challenges was people’s reservations – mostly staff

On Saturday 12^th December 2015, Pam Morton and Jane Fletcher, ably supported by resident Helen Snowden, had the first friends stall at the Amarna House Christmas fayre. Pam had sourced all of the goodies, many of which she had knitted herself. In an hour and a half, over £54 was raised, and nearly all the stock sold. Congratulations to everyone. It was also great to see 10 friends at the event, some bringing family with them. It really was a family affair

Friends of Amarna House: Prince’s Trust – Final Challenge Community Project

Sarah Hayes the Learner Development Worker from The Prince’s Trust Team came to Amarna House and gave feedback on her experience.

“As part of The Prince’s Trust Team programme the 16-25yr olds on the course do a ‘Final Challenge’. This team chose to do theirs for the elderly in the community. Nichole at Attend was very helpful and arranged for us to do a four-day volunteering programme with the lovely staff and residents at Amarna House in York.”

Day One

We met the friendly and enthusiastic Activities Co-ordinator Jen, who took her time to get to know each member of our team and introduced us to some of the other staff at Amarna House. We then all had a chance to hold some chicks that had been hatched a few days earlier. This is part of a project where a local farm brings in an incubator and some eggs that are ready to hatch. The residents get to see the chicks being born and can handle them once they fluff up! Contact with nature is important for personal wellbeing, and it definitely put our young people in positive moods!

Jen showed us to our activity for the day, which was based in the wonderful gardens. We were weeding the flowerbeds making way for the bright daffodils to flourish. The young people commented on how therapeutic and relaxing the activity was, it was also beautiful sunny weather, which was ideal.

After we had finished Jen took us to meet some of the residents with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Jen explained the conditions to the young people sensitively so they were comfortable and aware that they should treat people as they would anyone else. It was amazing to listen to the conversations going on between the residents and the young people and after the first day a few of our young people were adamant they wanted to come back and volunteer full time as they had enjoyed speaking to them so much.

Day Two

We cleaned up and bathed the chicks, as they grow very fast and also go to the toilet quite often! We all sat with a chick each and gently cleaned them with warm water and tissue, again another therapeutic session for the young people.

Day Three

We did a wonderful craft session with a few of the residents. Jen is very creative and very clearly explained how we were going to do the session. We worked with the residents as a team to make some beautiful tissue paper blossom branches. Alongside this Jen showed us how to marble paper with marbling inks, which was then going to be used on a notice board.

It was great to hear the residents recalling that they used to marble paper when they were younger, and for one resident making the blossom branches brought back memories of when she was a gardener. The young people were fascinated to listen to her stories about gardening and asked her lots of questions. The blossom branches are now displayed in the reception.

Day Four

We joined a group of residents for their Friday morning sing-a-long. Some of the music dated back to 1917, but even though we didn’t know all the words we still had a dance and hummed along! It was great to do singing together as it is really good for teambuilding, which is what the Prince’s Trust programme is all about.

On behalf of the staff and young people at The Prince’s Trust York, I would like to thank all the residents and staff at Amarna house and Nichole and David at Attend. Especially as Jen, another staff member and a resident made it all the way to our Final Presentation!

Our young people thoroughly enjoyed the week so much so that a handful of them took away application forms to become volunteers! This is vital for the continued personal development of our young people once they finish the programme with us, and it could then lead to work within the industry, which is fantastic!

Written by Sarah Hayes

Learner Development Worker

On 13th October the Friends were delighted to speak to the Occupational Therapy Students at York St John University.

Afterwards many students expressed an interest in coming to volunteer alongside the residents over the next academic year.

Angie is currently at University studying Psychology and found an application online to be a Friend at the care home. She felt that it would be quite meaningful for her to volunteer at the care home because she knew the residents don’t have a lot of opportunity to go out.

Once a week, Angie serves coffee and talks to the residents. She has really enjoyed getting to know the residents and gets a lot out of her time as a Friend. Before she started befriending at the care home, she hadn’t spent a lot of time with elderly people. She has found that she is learning a lot from them. When she goes in and talks with the residents, they give her a new perspective on things in her life. “It’s very calming to go in and have a conversation with the residents”.

Background on Angie Ng:

• Was very quiet and reserved at first, followed the coordinators lead
• Got the hang of it quickly
• Volunteers at a handful of other places as well
• Feels calmer after visiting and talking with the residents
• Applied to be a reading volunteer initially
• Runs coffee mornings on Monday’s from 10-12
• On slow days when residents are tired it can be difficult to engage them

Since childhood, Haydn was brought up to give back. He used to help out the neighbours on his street and it gave him a sense of community. Since being at University, he hasn’t felt the same level of interaction and wanted more opportunity to give back to society.

Haydn has been a Friend at the care home since February 2015 and has already started developing a photography class there. Every Wednesday for two hours, he tries to get residents into photography and teaches them how they can do digital photography. Some of the residents were unsure in their own abilities but a little pushing and motivation has been well worth it. Haydn gets to see how happy and proud the residents are of their skills and their photography. “Residents see their photos and light up, they’re so proud of their own work.”

Background on Haydn:

• Challenges:
• A lot of residents not sure they could do it – had to challenge them
• Hard to hold the camera and push the button
• Got a tripod – they move the camera around to the right spot
• Haydn holds the tripod and they push the button
• Full time student at the University of York
• Studying Politics, Policy and Economics
• Once a week – Wednesday 2 hrs

Linda and Sam are mother and son who run a tea shop together in a care home. Sam is a talented musician and actor who recently graduated from Drama School. Shortly after, Sam came down with psychosis and Linda stayed home to take care of him. They wanted to do something together that would help rebuild his confidence.

Together, they have created a relaxing and comfortable space for residents to relax in before and after getting their hair done across the hall. They try to make it a very comforting and welcoming environment by offering snacks and cakes and decorating with flowers. Linda is very happy to talk to residents and get to know them on an individual level while Sam keeps the room calm by playing soft quiet music. Sam tries to play songs familiar to the residents and gets them to join in singing. They both enjoy their time at the care home because they can tell what a difference they’re making. Even the most severe dementia patients will often remember songs from their past and everyone in the room will either sing along to Sam’s songs or at least bop their heads to the beat. “Even the most agitated or distressed residents soon calm down and their mood is lifted when they visit the tea shop. There is plenty of laughter and conversation as well as singing together.”

Background on Linda and Sam:

• Sam suffered from psychosis and Linda left her job to take care of him
• Currently working on creating instructions to set up a similar venture in other care homes
• Want to raise money to invest in a better keyboard
• Linda was previously a teacher at the Church of England, then a Librarian
• Linda currently a Counsellor for families – works with families dealing with a parent suffering from dementia – overlapping
• Linda has 4 children 1 grandchild – will have 3 by summer
• Struggles
  • regular visitor recently passed away – feel better knowing they made the last couple weeks of her life better quality
  • some residents are quite deaf
• Volunteering since September
• Sam is happy to be giving back to the community
• Happy that he can share his talents with music & hopes in the future he can use his acting skills with the residents as well
• Sam mostly internal struggles
  • Nerves – residents often unpredictable
  • Struggling to create a very calm & relaxing atmosphere
• Sam’s outside activities
  • Works for his brother – freelance – writing music
  • Volunteers in York – delivering things to people
  • Loves drama – wants to get back into acting when confidence is back up
  • Exploring future options – possibly start a music business

Civil Servants from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently spent a day with the Charity, Friends of Amarna House in York.

Eleven people volunteered to spend the day gardening at Amarna House.  The volunteers converted raised beds into vegetable plots, pruned trees and shrubs, planted herbs and daffodil bulbs, and dug up overgrown shrubs.

It was a fantastic team effort and a great sense of achievement was felt by all. Some specific feedback from the Food Standards Agency included “I really enjoyed the day and was delighted at how welcome everyone at Amarna House made us feel” and “It’s a great way to be able to give something back into the community”.

If you would like to volunteer at Amarna House, please contact Nichole Wheaton at nichole.wheaton@attend.org.uk