Residents Douglas Parish, Diana Wilson, John Parfitt and Joan Hills presenting the cheque to Salisbury Foodbank Manager Maria Stevenson Picture: Colten Care

Creative Salisbury care home residents help raise £1,500 for city food bank

Tait ap EllisMarch 14, 20250 Comment0

RESIDENTS at a Salisbury care home have been raising money for the city’s food bank through selling handcrafted items.

Colten Care’s Braemar Lodge chose Salisbury Foodbank as its main charity for 2024, and residents and staff staged a series of events and activities in support.

This included hosting a community garden party where visitors purchased donated gifts and craft items handmade by residents.

Catherine Brighty, who had her own table selling books, cards and other gifts she had gathered, said: “It was a great experience and all for a good cause.”

Funds raised during the year, amounting to £1,489, were handed over to Maria Stevenson, manager of Salisbury Foodbank, at a cheque presentation at the Stratford Road home.

Thanking residents and staff, Maria said: “The support from Braemar Lodge will help to ensure we can continue to do our best for local people in the community who are in need.

“People are often shy to come forward for help, so it is great that others in the community, such as Braemar Lodge, support us and keep our profile up.”

Braemar Lodge is one of 21 homes owned and operated by Colten Care in Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and West Sussex.

Each home nominates a main charity to support each year, leaving scope for other causes to be helped too.

Once residents decide on the charity, companions, social carers and other team members enable them to contribute hands-on and suggest ideas for sponsored activities.

A Braemar Lodge community garden party was one of the activities that raised funds for Salisbury Foodbank Picture: Colton Care

Braemar Lodge’s contribution helped bring Colten Care’s group-wide charity fundraising total for the past year to a record £43,220.

The amount is 29% up on the previous year’s charity total, which itself was 43% higher than the year before.

It means Colten Care residents and staff have benefitted charities and good causes by nearly £115,000 over the past five years.

As well as food banks, beneficiaries across the south include conservation groups, animal rescue services, healthcare and disability charities and organisations helping the elderly.

Colten Care’s chief operating officer, Elaine Farrer, said: “It is always up to our residents to decide which causes we support.

“As well as organising cash donations and raffle prizes, our teams help residents to do their bit through creative activities they really enjoy and that keep them fully engaged with their local communities.”