Friends of Birchwood Grange

The Friends of Birchwood Grange are thrilled to share the exciting news that £275 has been raised through the generous support of the Moto Charity. This valuable contribution will be instrumental in the creation of a beautiful Asian garden, designed to provide a tranquil and serene environment for both resident and their visitors.

The Asian garden will feature traditional elements such as carefully landscaped zen spaces, calming water features, and lush plantings that reflect the elegance and peace of Asian design principles. It will be a dedicated space where individuals can unwind, meditate, or simply enjoy the natural beauty around them.

This garden will not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of Birchwood Grange but also offer a soothing retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, fostering relaxation and well-being for everyone who visits. The support from Moto Charity plays a crucial role in bringing the vision to life, and we are deeply grateful for their contribution.

As previously highlighted on our website, the Friends of Birchwood Grange Care Home are incredibly grateful to have received a generous grant of £500 from the Tesco Bags of Help Covid-10 Communities Fund. This crucial funding has made a significant difference in enhancing the quality of life for our residents during these challenging times.

With the support from this fund, we were able to purchase tablets, which have been instrumental in bridging the gap between residents and their loved ones. These devices have allowed residents to maintain meaningful connections with family and friends, as well as engage with volunteers, despite the physical distancing requirements.

In addition to fostering social connections, the tablets have also been a valuable resource for providing entertainment and exercise opportunities. Residents can now access a variety of online activities, including interactive games, virtual tours, and exercise videos tailored to their needs and interests. This has not only helped in reducing feelings of isolation but also contributed to the physical and mental well-being of our residents. The Tesco Bags of Help Covid-19 Communities Fund has thus played a pivotal role in enriching the lives of those at Birchwood Grange, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to Tesco and all those involved in supporting this initiative.

The money will go towards tablets which will help to ease the isolation,  so residents can keep in touch with their friends, relatives and volunteers via Skype or Zoom, and they will also be able to use them to provide entertainment or even simple exercise videos. Part of the fund will be spent on  solitary games such as playing cards and jigsaws and garden games so residents can enjoy their time in the garden.

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
Online shop: www.buy.at/attend

At the heart of healthy communities.
Attend is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England & Wales No: 1113067 and in Scotland under no. SC039237 with a head office at Attend, 11-13 Cavendish Square, London, W1G 0AN. Registered Company no. 5713403.
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