Charlotte Straker House Strengthens Community Respite with New Wellbeing and Family Support Initiatives

For over 100 years, Charlotte Straker House has been at the heart of the Corbridge community, providing care and support to older people and their families. As a not-for-profit charity, our focus has always been on improving the lives of those we care for, with every surplus reinvested back into our services and facilities.

One of the ways we proudly support our community is through our free respite care service, offering local people up to two weeks of respite each year. While these stays provide much-needed support and peace of mind for families, we know that the need for guidance, reassurance and practical help doesn’t end when someone returns home.

That’s why we’re delighted to announce the next stage in the development of our community respite service. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Tyne Trust Healthcare, Charlotte Straker House is expanding its respite offer to ensure families receive support that extends far beyond their stay with us.

At the heart of this development is our new Post-Respite Support Pack. Created for both respite guests and their family carers, the package brings together information about local organisations, support services and community groups that can help throughout the year. Our aim is to ensure that every family leaves Charlotte Straker House not only feeling rested and supported, but also better connected to the wealth of resources available across Northumberland.

We’re also introducing a new wellbeing initiative to make every respite stay feel even more welcoming. Thanks to Tyne Trust Healthcare’s sponsorship and in partnership with Northumberland artisan business Lilac & Thyme, each respite guest will receive a beautifully presented lavender welcome pack on arrival. Featuring handcrafted lavender products, the packs have been carefully chosen to encourage relaxation, comfort and a sense of calm from the moment guests walk through our doors.

Throughout every respite stay, our team will also spend time talking with guests and their families about the support available once they leave us. By signposting local services and community groups, we hope to empower carers and older people with the knowledge and confidence to access help whenever they need it, not just during their two-week stay, but throughout the other 50 weeks of the year.

Samantha Willis, Home Manager at Charlotte Straker House, said Respite care is about so much more than providing a short break. It’s about giving families reassurance, helping people regain confidence, and making sure they know they’re not facing things alone. We wanted to develop our service so that the support we provide doesn’t end when someone leaves our doors. By connecting people with local services and offering practical guidance, we can continue supporting both our respite guests and their loved ones throughout the year.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Tyne Trust Healthcare for believing in our vision and helping us make these developments possible. Their sponsorship has enabled us to introduce initiatives that enhance the experience for our respite guests while strengthening the support we can offer to families across our community.”

As a charity, Charlotte Straker House is committed to continually developing services that respond to the changing needs of our community. Every penny we generate is reinvested into our home and services, allowing us to create meaningful improvements that directly benefit older people and their families.

We would like to extend our thanks to Tyne Trust Healthcare for supporting this important project and helping us continue our mission of delivering compassionate, person-centred care that reaches beyond our walls.

If you would like to find out more about our charity community respite service or any of the support available through Charlotte Straker House, we’d love to hear from you.