MORE than £1,000 has been raised for a city youth charity – by older members of the community.

Residents and staff at a Salisbury care home held a number of events to raise money for The Bridge Youth Project, their chosen charity for 2022/23.

Colten Care’s Braemar Lodge collected the sum from activities such as a summer garden party, selling crafts handmade by residents, a Christmas market and produce and clothes-swap sales.

The year of fundraising was celebrated with a get-together and handover of £1,028 at the Stratford Road home, attended by charity representatives.

One of the founders of the Bridge Youth Project, back in 1994, Neville Jennings, lived at Braemar Lodge and suggested fellow residents consider it as a charity to support.

Another founder, Gaye Ridout, is the mother of Braemar Lodge gardener Sarah Ridout while Yvonne Ballard, wife of the home’s Companionship Team leader Graham Ballard, is a Bridge volunteer.

Gaye and Neville’s widow Daphne joined Bridge director Alex Ewing for the handover.

Enjoying a walk around the garden at the home are Bridge co-founder Gaye Ridout, centre, with her daughter Sarah Ridout, a Braemar Lodge gardener, and Gaye’s husband Tom

“We rely heavily on the kindness of supporters such as the wonderful residents at Braemar Lodge,” said Alex.

“We have been blown away by their generosity and are simply thrilled with the amazing amount of money they have raised in the past year.”

The Bridge is a Christian charity with a team of more than 30 staff and volunteers who work in around 25 primary and secondary schools in the Salisbury area.

The aim is to raise young people’s aspirations and resilience through mentoring, emotional literacy and courses in social skills and wellbeing.

Also addressing residents at the handover was Gladys Nyirongo, a Year 10 student from Sarum Academy School, who highlighted the benefits of mentoring and support for school pupils.

Bridge director Alex Ewing chats with 101-year-old Braemar Lodge resident, Nora Davis

Braemar Lodge chose the project as its main charity for 2022/23 under a Colten Care policy of enabling residents at all 21 of its homes to support good causes in the community.

Resident, Catherine Brighty, said: “The Bridge does such great work and we are pleased to support it.”
Home manager Jackie Cash, who presented the cheque, said: “Neville was a resident who was loved and respected by his peers and staff alike.

“When he suggested that the Bridge would be an ideal charity for us to support, we all agreed wholeheartedly.”

Braemar Lodge’s main nominated charity for 2023/24 is Dogs for the Blind.