Latest News from our Chair of Trustees
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
