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Making delicious pizzas

This month we’ve had some fun afternoons doing various crafting activities. One of the most popular was a pizza making session in our dining room. Jessie, Colin and Margaret chose their toppings from pepperoni, chicken, mushrooms, onions and cheese and most decided to put them all on one pizza! Margaret said “it was great fun making these pizzas and I put everything on mine. It tasted really nice.” Colin added “We made the pizzas and baked and ate them straight away. They were really delicious and tasty, especially with all the onions and mushrooms. It didn’t seem to affect my appetite as I managed my dinner too.”

 

Our Deputy Manager runs the Great North Run

Well done to our Deputy Manager Sam Willis who ran in this year’s Great North Run and finished in a very respectable 3 hours and 19 minutes.
She said “I’m so glad I managed to complete the run, and I was so chuffed to have finished in under 4 hours I’ve already signed up for the next few years! It was a very warm day, so it was difficult to keep hydrated and I felt very tired a few miles from home, but the cheering and support of the crowd motivated me to keep running until I reached the finish line. Thank you to all those who supported me. I was very proud to wear my Charlotte Straker TShirt on the day and raise money for our respite care bed. I see first-hand the vital importance of our respite service to the local community so it’s a cause that’s very close to my heart.”
Berenice Groves, Chair of the Trustees added “We are very grateful to Sam for taking on this challenge and delighted to announce that she raised over £500 towards our respite care bed. It seems like all the late-night runs paid off and we’re so impressed with her finish time especially as she had to fit her training around shifts at Charlotte Straker House. We’re looking forward to cheering her on in 2023.”

Return to Trout Fishing at Brampton

We all had such a fabulous day the last time we went fishing, we decided to do it again! A group of residents headed off to New Mills Fishery near Brampton and spent the afternoon learning how to cast a line and to reel in a fish.
Muriel, Margaret, Colin and Bruce sat in the sunshine and listened to the instructors before having a go at catching their own trout. Everyone managed to hook at least one fish.
Margaret said “it was a lovely day and the fact that it was so sunny was a real positive. I caught my own fish and we took in home.” Colin added “it was great fun. It always is! They gave me help to net the fish but it didn’t take long for me to get a feel of the rod. I really enjoyed it.”
Thank you to the instructors at New Mills plus the care staff and other volunteers who came with us on our trip.

The Charlotte Straker Project 30th Anniversary

To celebrate the opening of Charlotte Straker to residents in September 1992 The Board of Trustees had planned a 30th anniversary garden party with entertainment on Sunday the 18th of September for residents, staff and families. Out of respect following the death of Her Majesty the Queen we agreed to cancel this event which will be rearranged for next year. We still were keen to mark this important day therefore at short notice on Tuesday the 20th of September, which was the actual day that Charlotte Straker received its first resident, an impromptu birthday tea party was organised for residents.

Peter Wood, Trustee and ex chair of the Board of Trustees, gave a short history of the Project and along with residents, staff and other Trustees raised a glass of fizz to Charlotte Straker on its 30th birthday. Jesse Smith one of our residents and Janet Briggs our newest member of staff together cut the birthday cake which was then distributed to all residents throughout the house.

Pam Crawley the Registered Manager of Charlotte Straker said, “we are increasingly getting back to normal but still have to be very wary, protecting our frail elderly residents. However, it was wonderful to see residents gathering together in the dining room at this impromptu celebration of our birthday.”

Berenice Groves Chair of the Trustees later commented, “We cancelled the anniversary garden party as an act of respect for Queen Elizabeth; this will be held next spring. However, we felt it important to mark the actual day the Charlotte Straker was opened to residents as we have made such a significant contribution to the care and well-being of local people over the last 30 years. With everyone’s continued support, our purpose to serve our local community remains as strong as ever.”

Remembering Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The last few days has seen much in the way of reflection at Charlotte Straker, as we remember Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Our residents have all had their own personal memories to share and our staff team have spent time listening to, and sharing stories of times remembered and cherished.

Our Chair and fellow trustees came together to escort several of our residents to the Service of Thanksgiving in Corbridge Parish Church on Sunday afternoon. One resident commented that the service “was lovely” and another said “it was nice to be able to come together as one community to share the Queens in  memory”.

Our residents gathered yesterday to pay their respects to our late Queen. Some chose to pay their respects together, watching the funeral on the TV in our of our lounges, others chose to spend time in their room, quietly reflecting as they watched. Berenice Groves, Chair of the Board of Trustees said “It’s essential that we stop and help our residents to commemorate this occasion. I think especially for this generation we look after, it’s very important. Most remember the Queen’s coronation and watching the day on a small television set in a relative’s or neighbour’s house. The music, the pageantry and the solemnity of the funeral is deeply affecting everyone here – but the residents are determined to say their own farewell to a woman who meant so much to them. It was wonderful to be able to support our resident to the service of Thanksgiving and to share that moment with them.”

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

The Charlotte Straker Project mourns the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. The whole of our community remembers, with great appreciation and affection, the service she has given. Those of our residents who celebrated their 100th birthdays were always overjoyed to receive her telegram of congratulations. Her steadfast faith, lived out in a life of selfless duty, has been inspirational and she has been a constant and reassuring presence as our longest reigning monarch. We send the greatest condolences to the Royal Family in their time of loss. We will be spending the next few days remembering and celebrating her reign. May she rest in peace.

Charlotte Straker joins the AFRI-c Research Study

The Charlotte Straker Project is taking part in the prestigious AFRI-c study  funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and being conducted by the Trials Department at the University of Bristol. The trial is also working in conjunction with the UK Health Security Agency, to research and develop understanding of the impact of air filters on respiratory infections (coughs, colds, flu and Covid19) in care home residents.

Respiratory infections can be spread when people breathe-in or swallow droplets containing germs which are produced when people cough or sneeze. Currently, infection control mainly relies on reducing the spread of germs by keeping floors and surfaces clean, washing hands, wearing gloves, and wearing face coverings. . It is believed that air filters can help remove germs from the air and their use is becoming more widespread in medical and care settings.

The research study will allocate care homes taking part in the AFRI-c study into one of two groups. One group will be provided with air filters to use as well as their usual infection measures (air filter group). The other group will carry on using their usual infection control measures (usual control care group). Scientists will then compare data collected about infections in each group to find out whether air filters prevent respiratory infections. As yet, we do not know if Charlotte Straker House will be allocated to the air filter or control care group. This process will be completed via anonymised and randomised computer programme.

Pam Crawley, our Registered Manager commented “This research study is very important, due to the seriousness of respiratory infections, including Covid-19, in the elderly, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to take part. As yet, we do not know if our care home is allocated to the air filter or control group, but the fact that our residents are able to take part in this vital study will be critical to gaining knowledge to inform best practice in future years. We will be liaising with all our residents and their relatives to gain their consent for the data to be collected and to explain the significance and future impact of the research.”

Corbridge Apple Juice Appeal

Corbridge Apple Juice Appeal: Can you spare an hour or two between 9am and 4pm on Saturday October 1 or Sunday October 2 to help with the 2022 Community Apple Pressing weekend at Corbridge Cricket Club? Volunteers are needed to help with washing, pulping and pressing apples to provide juice. No previous experience necessary. The aim is to produce even more cans of delicious Corbridge Sparkling Apple Juice than last year to be sold in aid of Charlotte Straker, Corbridge Youth Initiative and Corbridge Community Partnership. Hadrian Border Brewery will again provide the cans of apple juice at cost price. If you can help, please contact John Maude at: johnmaude100@gmail.com / 07791 590814.

 

If you have apples to donate to the project please leave them on the veranda at the front of the old pavilion at Corbridge Cricket Club from Monday September 26th onwards up to and including the Community Apple Pressing Weekend on Oct 1 and 2.