James Hirons October Newsletter
As we say goodbye to Summer and the nights start drawing in, we are pleased to show you some of the things we have been up to over the last few weeks.
A lovely day out at Farmers Fayre!
Our residents enjoyed a fantastic trip out on the mini bus to Farmers Fayre in Stoneleigh for a delicious lunch!
There was plenty of time to have a wander around the shop, browse all the lovely goodies and enjoy the atmosphere. Most importantly, our residents loved getting out and about, having a good chat, meeting new people and enjoying each other’s company.
It’s always lovely to see the smiles, laughter and conversations that happen when we get out into the local community.
A big thank you to the team at Farmers Fayre for making us feel so welcome!
Autumn Crafting
Turning leftovers into something beautiful! Our dining room restoration has left us with lots of little off-cuts and spare pieces of material — so rather than letting them go to waste, we got creative!
Our residents thoroughly enjoyed making some lovely autumnal decorations, experimenting with different materials But, as always, it wasn’t just about what we made… it was about being together, chatting, laughing, sharing ideas and learning something new.
We love finding ways to turn everyday materials into something fun — and proving that creativity has no age limit!
Day trip to Ryton Pools
our residents headed out to Ryton Pools Country Park for a lovely change of scenery and a chance to enjoy the great outdoors.
We took to the trails in our wheelchairs, enjoying the fresh air, beautiful surroundings and plenty of little adventures along the way. There were friendly dogs to meet, lots of smiles and conversations, and of course, a very important coffee stop!
But perhaps the most special part of the day came when one of our residents described the outing simply as…“Being normal again.” And that is exactly what days like this are all about.
Care home life shouldn’t mean missing out on ordinary experiences. It’s about getting out, seeing the world, meeting people, having a coffee, chatting, laughing, making choices and simply living life.
Pink Coffee Morning
What a wonderful morning we had at our Breast Cancer Now fundraising event! Our tables were filled with the most amazing homemade treats — cupcakes, chocolate cake, carrot cake, cheesecake and so many other delicious goodies!
Our incredible staff also worked so hard in their spare time to create some beautiful hamper prizes for our raffle, and it was lovely to see our residents, families, friends and members of the local community, all coming together to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, a slice of cake and, most importantly, each other’s company.
And we are absolutely delighted to announce that together we raised an incredible £480.00!
We are truly grateful to every member of staff and every friend of James Hirons who gave up their own time, baked, donated, organised, bought raffle tickets, enjoyed the cakes and helped make this fundraiser such a success.
Every pound raised will go towards supporting the incredible work of Breast Cancer Now, helping those affected by breast cancer.
This fundraiser was also very special to us as we dedicated it to the memory of our beautiful friend, Sarah Drysdale. Sarah will always hold a special place in our hearts, and it means so much to us to be able to remember her by bringing our community together and raising money for such a worthy cause.
Meet the Trustees
Today we wanted to shine a little light on some of the very important people who work behind the scenes at James Hirons Care Home — our Board of Trustees.
Our trustees are an incredibly important part of our charity. They don’t simply make decisions about the home — they help to protect its future, oversee how it is run and make sure that the charity continues to use its resources responsibly and in the best interests of our residents.
One of the wonderful things about our Board is that everyone comes from a different professional background, bringing their own expertise. This means that when important decisions are being made, there are different perspectives around the table. Their role is largely strategic, looking beyond the day-to-day running of the home and considering our long-term goals, future plans, resources and the continued development of James Hirons.
Each month, a different trustee carries out an audit of different areas of the service which help us to look closely at what we are doing, identify areas where we can improve and ensure that standards continue to be maintained. As trustees of a registered charity, they also have responsibilities to the Charity Commission, ensuring that James Hirons is properly governed and continues to fulfil its charitable purpose.
Anne Stevens — Deputy Chair
This week, we were delighted to welcome Anne Stevens, our Deputy Chair, into the home.
Anne has a background in education and management, bringing a wealth of experience in leadership, organisation and people management.
Anne spent time sitting and chatting with them, listening to their stories, finding out what they enjoy about life at James Hirons and simply enjoying their company.
Nicky Sawdon
We were also pleased to welcome Nicky Sawdon, who brings her experience from an administrative background to the Board. Nicky’s organisational skills and attention to detail are incredibly valuable in helping the charity run effectively.
Together, Anne and Nicky are involved in helping organise the work of the Board of Trustees, as well as supporting the Quality & Safety Committee and HR Committee.
We are extremely grateful to all of our trustees for giving their free time, sharing their experience and helping to safeguard the future of James Hirons. You might not always see the work they do, much of it happens quietly behind the scenes, but it makes an enormous difference.
Dining Room Renovation
We were delighted to be able to open our newly refurbished dining room for our residents.
The strong, vibrant colours and classic design were a huge hit with residents and staff alike.
The new flooring makes it much easier to assist residents at the tables.
For more information, contact us directly at 01926 422425 or email info@jameshirons.org.uk.