Residents at a Chichester care home have raised more than £2,000 to help provide free cinema visits for young people who experience disadvantage in the community.
Representatives from Chichester Cinema at New Park personally thanked all involved at Colten Care’s Wellington Grange when they visited for a cheque presentation.
It followed a year of fundraising after residents chose the cinema as their charity of the year in 2025.
Activities included an Oscars-themed party and awards ceremony designed for residents, relatives and staff to honour each other across a range of categories.
The Broyle Road home also held an ‘Antiques Roadshow’-style valuation opportunity for visitors at its annual summer garden party.
Other initiatives included a craft fair, raffles and dress-down days.
Ann-Marie Flynn, Chichester Cinema’s Executive Director, and Walter Francisco, Head of Programming, both attended Wellington Grange for the presentation of a cheque for £2,091.43.
“We are absolutely thrilled by the generosity shown by everyone at Wellington Grange,” said Ann-Marie. “This incredible donation will allow us to welcome more children and young people to the cinema who might not otherwise have the opportunity, and to ensure our screenings are accessible and inclusive for all.”
Residents enjoyed hearing first-hand from the two representatives about the likely impact of the year’s fundraising.
One resident, Chloe, said: “It’s wonderful to know that what we’ve done together will make such a difference to young people in our community. We’ve had great fun fundraising, and it feels very special to see the real impact of it.”
Wellington Grange Home Manager Hayley Geddes said: “Supporting local charities chosen by our residents is incredibly important to us. Our partnership with Chichester Cinema at New Park has brought people together and reflects Colten Care’s commitment to community, compassion and meaningful connections.”
As with all 21 Colten Care homes in the south, residents at Wellington Grange nominate a main charity to support each year while leaving scope for other organisations to be helped too.
As well as Chichester Cinema, Wellington Grange residents have raised funds for city homelessness charity The Four Streets Project in the past two years.
