Two Huntingdonshire care homes recently joined forces to raise money for local veterans and people facing homelessness as part of a wider Connaught Care charity auction which raised more than £3,000 for local causes.
The Chase in Huntingdon and Henbrook House in St Neots came together for a black-tie fundraising evening in support of two charities that were hand-picked by the residents themselves: SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity which provides support and advice to veterans and serving personnel, and 3 Pillars, a local charity providing hot meals, clothing, and outreach support to people experiencing homelessness.
Held at The Chase, the evening brought together residents, families and members of the wider community, with auction lots ranging from pamper sessions and afternoon teas to weekend breaks, large-screen TVs, artwork and wine.
Lauren Mair, General Manager at The Chase, said:
“When we started planning the charity auction, it felt important to us that the residents have a clear say in where the money should go. Many people here have seen first-hand how homelessness can affect communities, and we also have many residents with strong family connections to the Armed Forces. Supporting those causes therefore felt like a natural choice, and we’re so proud to have raised such a substantial amount!”
Although SSAFA and 3 Pillars support different parts of the community, their work is connected in some crucial ways. Indeed, housing insecurity remains a recognised issue for many former members of the Armed Forces, particularly during the difficult transition back into civilian life.
In the Government’s 2022 Veterans’ Survey, 47.5% of veterans who owned their home said they felt prepared for civilian life, compared with 22.4% of those in social housing and just 14% of those who were homeless, rough sleeping or living in a refuge. Homeless Link has also highlighted that veterans experiencing homelessness can wait longer than others before seeking help and may find it harder to engage with mainstream support services.
For residents at The Chase and Henbrook House, both causes felt close to home, reflecting real challenges they had seen affect people across the community. By joining forces, the homes were able to support two groups facing very different circumstances, but with the same underlying need for practical help during tough times.
Michael Zinaka, General Manager at Henbrook House, comments:
“It was fantastic to bring The Chase and Henbrook House together for an evening like this. Seeing residents, families, and local people come together to get behind the same effort was truly heartwarming. Working together meant we could make the evening bigger, reach more people and give something meaningful back to the communities around us. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, bid and helped make the evening such a success.”
The fundraiser was a joint effort across three Connaught Care homes. Meadowbrook in Bishop’s Stortford also took part, raising money for Isabel Hospice. Together, the three homes raised over £3,000, with all proceeds donated directly to their chosen charities.#
The Chase and Henbrook House are part of the Connaught Care Collection, an award-winning provider of luxury care homes with six locations across the country. Both homes provide residential, dementia and respite care services and operate an all-inclusive model with no hidden fees or additional costs.
For more information, please contact enquiries@connaughtcare.com or visit www.connaughtcare.com.
