A Wonderful Day at Our Annual Fete
A Wonderful Day at Our Annual Fete – Rain, Laughter and Community Spirit!
Despite the rain, our Annual Fete on Saturday 20th September was a huge success — and the weather certainly didn’t dampen any spirits! We were absolutely thrilled by the turnout, as residents, families, supporters, and friends came together to enjoy a joyful afternoon filled with laughter, connection, and community fun. Guests enjoyed a true fete atmosphere, complete with:
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Afternoon tea served with delicious cakes and scones
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A packed tombola stall with prizes galore
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Classic garden games, including our crowd-favourite Human Fruit Machine
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A stall full of freshly baked goods
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And even ice creams with Flakes – a summer staple, no matter the weather!
Shelters kept everyone dry as the rain came down, but the smiles never faded. Live music from Charlie’s Choir brought a fantastic soundtrack to the afternoon, creating a lovely buzz throughout the day. We were delighted to welcome Gayle Forster to officially open the fete. Gayle, who runs Vintage at the Tower in Corbridge, was recently linked to the film Mission: Impossible, named a High Street Hero in the National Small Awards, and leads Visit Corbridge. Her support of the local community and of Charlotte Straker House, is truly appreciated.
Pictured: Berenice Groves (Chair of Trustees) and Gayle Forster (Vintage at the Tower).
Why the Fete Matters
Our Chair of Trustees, Berenice Groves, addressed visitors to share the important reason behind the event: fundraising to support our vital services.
As a non-profit charitable care home, we must raise over £250,000 each year to bridge the gap between our operating costs and the funding we receive. This includes:
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£65,000 needed annually to run our vital Community Respite Bed
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An additional £99,000 shortfall between the cost of care and local authority funding
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Rising costs from National Insurance and minimum wage increases
Every donation and every penny raised helps us continue offering compassionate, high-quality care to residents and respite visitors, and supports our mission to serve the wider Tynedale community.
Our Thanks
We are incredibly proud to share that the event raised £2016.42, and every contribution will make a real difference.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special — whether you donated items, volunteered your time, ran a stall, or simply came along in support. Special thanks go to Tesco Hexham for donating a brilliant sweet stall, Charlie’s Choir for their live performance and to all the local businesses and individuals who baked, volunteered or provided prizes for our raffle and tombola.
Your generosity and community spirit mean the world to us.
