Bumper year for Barchester's Charitable Foundation

Barchester’s Charitable Foundation awarded 180 grants that totalled £150,000 last year, benefiting older people and other adults living with a disability. The charity hopes to make an even bigger difference in 2014!

Staff working in Barchester Healthcare’s care homes are largely responsible for generating ideas and fundraising activities, which are then matched pound for pound by the company and given to the Charitable Foundation which has its own board of Independent Trustees. Donations by other generous individuals and companies also contribute.

Annual activities at the Barchester homes like Foundation Week saw the introduction of a new Foundation mascot this year named Barchy Bear and the Christmas Card competition was a great success with two beautifully crafted card designed by residents snapped up by staff, residents and relatives. The yearly Inverness Golf Masters and the Dartmoor Challenge walking event have become must attend events, both attracting many eager participants and greatly contributing to the fundraising effort.

Several outstanding Barchester staff really gave their all this year to help contribute to the grand fundraising amount. Malcolm McDonald led the Thames River Challenge team on a 123-mile canoe ride along the Thames, Bill Wilson cycled 335 miles in just five days in the Coast2Coast4 event, Tony Lyon walked 156 miles across Yorkshire in just six days and John Balan climbed Mont Blanc.

For 2014, Barchester’s Charitable Foundation hope that the Rag Bag textile recycling scheme, which is already in place at many Barchester homes, will continue to grow in popularity.  The charity has also been appointed the Captain’s Charity of the Year at Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club so all their fundraising activity this year will promote the cause.

The 180 carefully considered grants awarded this year have helped people and small community organisations across England, Scotland and Wales. Many individuals have used the funds for mobility scooters, recliner chairs and profiling beds to help improve mobility and their quality of life. One small group that has benefited is Independent Arts based on the Isle of Wight, which is a social and therapeutic singing club for older people. The charity was able to give a grant so the members could benefit from good quality percussion materials and large print song sheets.

Visit the website of Barchester’s Charitable Foundation to find out more news.