Kindhearted residents and staff of Colten Care homes have been spreading a little happiness in and around their communities.
Gifts, cards and get-togethers brought smiles and laughter all round as homes in Dorset and Hampshire staged initiatives inspired by the annual World Kindness Day.
At Fernhill, a dementia care home in Longham near Bournemouth, residents created posies with ribbons and wrote cards featuring quotes about kindness to give to staff.
Resident Kiki Tormey described them as a “gift from the heart” while Companionship Team Leader Cara Duroe said: “It was a joy to help the residents make such personal gifts for the staff so they could thank them and show heartfelt appreciation for all the hard work they do.”
The home also brought everyone together for a high tea with a spread of cupcakes, sausage rolls and finger sandwiches prepared by the kitchen team.
At Abbey View in Sherborne, residents including former nurses Janet Matthews and Rose Cavanagh went out on their minibus to present biscuits and chocolates to staff at the town’s Yeatman Hospital, the home’s charity for this year.
The treats were gratefully received by physiotherapist Daniel Meyer on behalf of his colleagues.
After viewing a display of historical nurses’ uniforms at the hospital, Janet said: “The staff here deserve our thanks and these small gifts.”
A second party of Abbey View residents travelled on the ‘kindness bus’ to the new café at Reborn Church in Milborne Port, the base of a Truth be Told toddler group who make regular visits to the home.
After they were met by group leader Yvonne, the visitors handed over biscuits for the staff and volunteers.
Resident Roy Carne said: “It was lovely to see the church where Yvonne works and give out some treats to her and her colleagues.”
At Belmore Lodge in Lymington, residents made gift bags of sweets which they gave to the local wheelchair-accessible transport provider Driving Miss Daisy, for team members there to share with their clients.
At Abbotts Barton in Winchester, residents, staff and families responded to the question ‘What does kindness mean to you?’ posed by members of the Companionship Team. Each answer was then incorporated into a presentation and read out.
The homes’ various activities were inspired by November’s World Kindness Day. It was introduced in 1998 as an annual day designed to prioritise kindness and goodwill as fundamental values.
