Muriel recently celebrated her 87th birthday with a delicious home made chocolate cake that had been decorated with strawberries. She enjoyed opening her birthday presents and had a lovely day – happy birthday from the Charlotte Straker team. 
Sunshine and Singing at Charlotte Straker House
Summer is finally here and the glorious weather has meant that our residents can now meet outside for a chat and enjoy the warm sunshine.
Our new visiting arrangements for families of residents have been confirmed which has been a huge boost and I would like to thank everyone for their patience whilst we confirmed the new policies which are in line with the latest government guidance. We are still working to Infection Control Guidance and respecting social distancing. Therefore it is important that no visitors to the home goes directly up to any residents but checks in with the office who will update with any required instructions to keep everyone safe. We are really lucky to provide our service from such a lovely building, however given its age it provides us with many logistical challenges, and we therefore will continue to use the outside decking area and visitor pod to support visiting.
Our latest activities have all had an “outside focus” to make the most of the good weather, including flower arranging, bird box making and a delivery of fish and chips (and a few sherries!) in the sunshine. We also arranged for a visit from Ruth Boyd, a talented singer who stood on the steps of our summer house and serenaded us all with a medley of well-known songs. Everyone loved sitting on the decking, eating a strawberry cornetto and singing and clapping along. Alan said “I love the music, I don’t know all the words but I’m singing along anyway”, Muriel said “I’m dancing along” and Stuart commented “She’s a really good singer!”.
Our vegetables, shrubs and flowers are now planted (courtesy of a few sessions of outdoor gardening) and the pots and containers really brighten up the front of Charlotte Straker House. Our kitchen team organised a home-made cream tea with prosecco one afternoon and it has been lovely to see individual residents making a few leisurely laps of our garden, pointing out the new flowers and enjoying the sound of the fountain underneath the pear tree. Muriel said “I like to see the flowers and plants and watch the birds when Jayne (our Activities Coordinator) takes me for a walk”.
The refurbishment inside Charlotte Straker House is continuing apace and we are busily choosing new colour schemes for rooms and communal areas. All this activity has had a wonderful energising effect and our residents are busily inspecting the new colour schemes, commenting on proposals for new signage and letting us know their opinions on possible furnishings, floorings and curtains.
I hope this small update gives you an impression of the atmosphere of activity, purpose and cheerfulness that is currently widespread among the staff and residents at Charlotte Straker House.
As ever, thank you for your continuing support and we will keep you updated with more news in the future
Berenice Groves
Chair of the Trustees
Our much loved resident Stuart has always loved gardening and flower arranging. Look at this beautiful arrangement that he made recently – it’s now in pride of place in our reception area. We do our best to ensure that our residents are able to continue the hobbies that they enjoy before they come to stay at Charlotte Straker House and we’re so pleased that Stuart is using his skills to decorate our home.
Thank you to Allendale Estates who are donating 50% of all entry fees from the 2021 Bywell Schooling Day to the Charlotte Straker Project. It will be held on Sunday 27th June from 9 am to 5pm and costs £20 although there is no need to book – horses and riders can turn up on the day and pay the entrance fee. We are very grateful to Lord and Lady Allendale, who have always been staunch supporters of our charity and we are really looking forward to the day itself, especially as Dr Bill Cunningham, our Trustee is a nominated First Aider! For more information on the day please visit https://www.facebook.com/bywellopenschoolingdays
We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded grant funding of £9,090 from the Sir James Knott Trust Fund.
The grant money will be used to completely refurbish a number of their resident rooms, to replace all existing furniture, including accessible reclining chairs, to ensure the comfort and safety of existing and future residents.
Berenice Groves, Chair of the Trustees, said “We are so pleased to have received this generous support from the Sir James Knott Trust, and we can’t wait to use it to start our improvement and refurbishment plans. We want to make the rooms as comfortable, warm and appealing as possible, but still in keeping with our lovely old building. This substantial grant will help us achieve our future plans of welcoming brand new residents to the Charlotte Straker family.”
Ben Speke, Chair of the Sir James Knott Trust commented, “I am delighted that the Sir James Knott Trust was able to help the Charlotte Straker Project. As a member of the Corbridge community I have been deeply concerned about the impact that COVID has had on the area, so I am very pleased that our donation will provide a much needed boost to the charity. Their respite, nursing and residential care has always been a core service in this district and this funding will be used to improve essential facilities and resident accommodation. The refurbishment will be an important part of their recovery from the difficulties surrounding the Covid pandemic.”
Our Activities Coordinator arranged a delivery of fish and chips last week, fresh from Dhillons Takeaway in Throckley. Our residents really look forward to “Fish and Chips Friday” and always tell us how much they enjoy it.
Ruth Boyd, a very talented singer, visited Charlotte Straker House this week to serenade our residents with a variety of well known songs.
Ruth kindly provided her services free of charge, she has a beautiful voice and is very popular with everyone in our home.
Our residents loved singing along and clapping to the music. A few of the residents were at last able to sit outside socially distanced in the warm sunshine and enjoyed a sherry plus a strawberry cornetto.
Alan said “I love the music, I don’t know all the words but I’m singing along anyway”, Muriel said “I’m dancing along!” and Stuart commented “She’s a really good singer!”
Thank you to Ruth for her visit – we can’t wait to welcome you again!
The Hexham Gnomes Facebook page has recently organised the “Golden Gnomie Awards” to celebrate those who went above and beyond during the Covid pandemic over last twelve months.
Laura Johnson (daughter of our much loved resident Audrey) very kindly nominated the staff of the Charlotte Straker Project and we are delighted to say that we have won our very own Golden Gnomie!
Laura said “Charlotte Straker certainly does deserve an award for all the hard work put in over these difficult times and I’m delighted that they’ve been recognised for their efforts.”
Pam Crawley, our Registered Manager added, “We think this is a wonderful idea, and we have organised a staff competition to name our Gnomie. Laura chose the winning name Charlie and Charlie the Gnomie is now in pride of place in our reception area! The Charlotte Straker team has worked incredibly hard over the past twelve months, often in difficult conditions and it’s lovely that Laura has recognised this and put us forward for an award. Thank you again – we will display our Charlie Gnomie with pride.
The Charlotte Straker Project, a charity offering residential, respite and nursing care in Corbridge, has announced the appointment of two additional Trustees who joined the Board at the beginning of 2021. Jamie Whelan and Peter Willey join at an important time at Charlotte Straker, as the organisation recovers from the recent Covid crisis and starts embarking on plans for the future.
Berenice Groves, Chair of the Trustees said:
“I am really excited about Peter and Jamie joining our Board of Trustees. Between them, they have a wealth of experience in financial services and management accountancy in many different sectors. It is a real testament to our charity’s reputation that we have been able to attract such talent and I look forward to working with them as we strive to support our residential, respite and nursing patients.”
Peter Willey
Peter has an extensive and impressive career spanning over 42 years. Before retiring he was a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxations, and a member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. Peter joined Ernst & Young in 1976 and was made Partner in 1985. During his time at Ernst & Young Peter enjoyed roles including Head of Tax in the Channel Islands and Head of the Tax Compliant Reporting Services to financial services based in Europe. After retiring in 2018, Peter now lives in Northumberland and is keen to use his extensive skills and experience to assist the Charlotte Straker Project in its future plans.
Jamie Whelan
Jamie has spent over six years in practice accounting working as both a year end accountant and a management accountant, and is currently working as a management accountant for an e-commerce business. He has extensive experience in financial reporting and compliance, as well as financial systems implementation. He has been appointed Treasurer of the Charlotte Straker Project and will be responsible for the financial management of the charity.
The Crafty Women will be at the Corbridge Carboot Fair on Wednesday 12th May, fundraising for the Charlotte Straker Project.
Weather permitting, the Crafty Women will be selling a range of beautiful hand-made items to support our refurbishment project (please see the photos below!), and our fundraising volunteers will be shaking buckets to fundraise for the respite care service and giving out leaflets about the Charlotte Straker Project.
Thank you very much to the organisers of the Corbridge Car Boot Sale for allowing us to attend – fingers crossed that the rain stays away!
The Charlotte Straker Project
Charlotte Straker, Cookson Close
Corbridge, NE45 5HB
01434 633999
office@charlottestraker.org.uk
