Moments Together - Winter 2022

MOMENTS TOGETHER

Welcome From Alex

Welcome to our second edition of Moments Together!

Here at Guild Care we are passionate about making a lasting and positive impact on the lives of people within our community. We support older people, people living with dementia and people living with learning disabilities. We believe that everyone should have access to effective and lovingly delivered support and services - which is exactly how we aim to achieve our vision of ensuring that all people in need of care live fulfilling, safe and secure lives.

In this edition, you will read the story of one Creating Connections member who had a really tough year, but through the support and befriending services available from Guild Care she has been able to re-join her favourite clubs at Creating Connections and reunite with friends. This story clearly highlights the impact Guild Care has had on one individual’s life, but there are countless more stories, just like the one found on pages 7-8, demonstrating the variety and depth of impact Guild Care has on people’s lives.

We hope that you enjoy seeing a small glimpse of the ways Guild Care is supporting people within the local community and discover ways you can get involved or find support for yourself or a loved one.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank you for being a part of our journey so far. In 2023 Guild Care will be celebrating its 90th anniversary, and whether you have been a part of the journey from the beginning, or have joined somewhere along the way, your support is hugely valued and appreciated. We are looking forward to the next chapter and hope that you will journey along with us.

Alex Brooks-Johnson Guild Care CEO

Fitzalan Means Family

We couldn’t think of anyone better to talk about Fitzalan than Christine, who has been attending since 1997.

Asked what the centre means to her, she replied, “Fitzalan means a family.” She went on to add, “We know each other, we’re the same as each other. No one is different to one and other, so we don’t stare at each other. It just makes it be a bit easier.” This sense of family, comfort, and connectedness is felt strongly by Christine and others at Fitzalan.

Christine, who lives in Guild Care supported living, currently attends Fitzalan twice a week. Her favourite activities are crafts, drama and enjoying music with her friends.

Toby is mental health trained, can help Christine with clothes and doors, and can empty a washing machine. Eventually, he will be diabetic alert trained and will learn how to fill a washing machine – so he’ll be able to do the full load.

In addition to the activities at Fitzalan, Christine is also part of the centre’s Community Links group, which, before the pandemic, visited local schools. They would perform plays, teach Makaton signing, and talk about living with disabilities.

Christine explained, “We show the children that… we’re no different to everyone else. We might have a disability, but we’re exactly the same.”

Asked if she’s looking forward to Community Links returning now that it’s safer, she replied, “Yeah! I really missed doing it, because it gets us out and shows children we’re not different. It’s quite funny, we end up in hysterics sometimes with the plays we do. I really enjoy it.”

Christine brings Toby along to Fitzalan, not only is he a pretty face, he is also a service dog! Christine and Toby have been companions since October 2021 and have undergone most of their training through the pandemic. So far,

How Fitzalan helps her interact with others is clearly important to Christine –both at the centre with her friends, and outside the centre as part of Community Links. Asked how she would feel if she couldn’t attend Fitzalan anymore, she said, “I would feel quite sad because I’ve got friends here and we’re the same as each other. So, if I didn’t come here, I wouldn’t be able to mix with anyone.”

Christine and Toby at Fitzalan

Memory Café

The Memory Café has been a huge success since it launched in September 2021 at the Bradbury Wellbeing Centre. To date over 100 individuals have been supported by this service which, thanks to the generosity of trusts and Guild Care’s loyal donors, we can offer free-of-charge.

Attendees are a mixture of people who already access our Time Out for Carers dementia day service, plus individuals and their carers who have recently received a diagnosis of dementia. We find this combination works really well, as new carers benefit from peer support from those with more experience.

As a result of attending the Memory Café, over 20 new people are attending our Time Out for Carers day service, meaning their loved ones are benefiting from a much needed respite break.

Sarah, the Project Lead at the Bradbury Wellbeing Centre said “I love running the Memory Cafe. It’s such a worthwhile service with so many positive benefits for carers and cared for. I think it speaks volumes that every café session is always full well in advance of the day and people keep rebooking. It is a testament to the team and volunteers who work with me on the day and the amazing entertainers who come to perform.”

One lady who cares for her mother, said how nice it was to attend a social event with her mum, in a relaxed and supportive environment,

without worrying about any social embarrassment.

The Memory Café is supported by some of our amazing volunteers who keep everyone supplied with tea, coffee and friendly chat.

One volunteer recently relocated to Worthing from London, and said volunteering has been a great way for him to meet new people, keep busy, and “give something back”.

Another volunteer attends a local Sixth Form College, and has been volunteering at the Memory Café for several months. She is pleased to have the opportunity to do something useful with her spare time.

To find out more about any of the services run by Guild Care or if you are interested in volunteering please call our friendly team on 01903 528600 or visit our website guildcare.org

Sarah getting ready for the Memory Café

Help @Home

This year, on the 1st of May we launched the new Help@Home Service which supports older people to maximise their independence and prevent the need for residential care. The team is run by Help@Home Manager Jo Sherman (pictured right). Let us introduce you to some of the team members and what they do...

Tony Phillips & Karan Smith Support at Home After Hospital

Our Support at Home after Hospital Service provides emotional and practical support following discharge from hospital. This aids recovery, rebuilds confidence and independence which reduces the risk of hospital re-admission. We also refer individuals to other short-term and longer-term services if required, to enable them to continue living independently.

Kate Barber Domestic Co-ordinator

Our domestic service provides shopping and cleaning for people in the Worthing, Lancing and Shoreham areas. We also have a small team of friendly, trusted Home Helps.

Claire Presslie & Janet Stow PAT Team

Our Prevention and Assessment Team are commissioned to support adults and older people to maintain their independence, physical, mental health and emotional wellbeing. This is a community approach that is key to supporting people to find their own solutions to maintain their independence and to prevent the need for more intensive services.

Nicki Butcher & Clare McIntyre Take Home and Settle

Our Take Home and Settle Service provides support to vulnerable older people who do not have a network of local support and are ready to be discharged from a ward stay, to return home. The service provides immediate support upon discharge from hospital, during the journey and on return home after attendance at accident and emergency, medical assessment units or, after discharge from ward stays.

To find out more about Help@Home please call our friendly team on 01903 528635 or visit our website guildcare.org

Creating Connections

Befriending ServiceMaggie’s story

Maggie is 83 and lives independently in an annexe adjoining the family home, where her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren live. Maggie registered with the Creating Connections service in November 2021 and was able to drive herself to her favourite PE Pete session held every Wednesday in a local church. The PE Pete sessions encourage older people to keep exercising and to stay active. She also regularly attended the Creating Connections monthly Sunday Lunch Club where she had made lots of friends. However, in January 2022 Maggie had a very bad fall; fractured her pelvis and had a lengthy stay in hospital. Whilst in hospital she also contracted Covid, UTIs and developed sores on her legs which delayed her rehabilitation.

Maggie was finally discharged from hospital in the spring and was given a care plan with additional support from carers to support her recuperation and rehabilitation at home, alongside family support. The rehabilitation team were keen to focus on getting Maggie up and about, focusing on her mobility and regaining her strength by devising an exercise programme for her.

Maggie really missed seeing her friends and was frustrated that she couldn’t return to her old PE Pete sessions.

That’s when the Creating Connections befriending service became involved providing some 1:1 support for her, with regular visits to keep her spirits up and also to take her for short walks around the garden. This helped regain some of Maggie’s strength, while also improving her confidence and mobility.

Our Guild Care Befriending Community Support Worker carried out an assessment but sadly it was felt that it wasn’t safe for Maggie to return to clubs just yet as she didn’t meet the personal independence criteria at that time.

Following a conversation with Maggie and her family it was agreed that the befriending service would arrange six weekly 1:1 sessions with PE Pete at home with a personalised exercise plan to help

Christine enjoying her PE session

build up Maggie’s strength, mobility and confidence. Alongside this, our befriending service support worker also visited regularly to help build up her confidence using her rollator.

After six weeks, Maggie seemed to moving much better and generally seemed more positive and engaged, rather than displaying the signs of frustration she had felt before. In addition, she had new hearing aids fitted to help with her difficulties in communicating and getting herself understood.

Following a further two 1:1 sessions with PE Pete, our befriending support worker carried out another assessment to check to see if Maggie met the criteria and was ready return to clubs and activities. She also spoke to the family and Pete to seek their views and it was agreed that all parties felt Maggie was ready to return.

At the end of June, Maggie attended her first PE Pete session since her fall. Although she was not able to drive herself any more she was able to mobilise using her rollator, board the Guild Care minibus herself and happily participate fully in the PE Pete session.

Members of our Creating Connections team warmly welcomed her back, as did many of the friends she had missed so much. Maggie seemed to really enjoy herself and was laughing and chatting to all the other members and as a special treat enjoyed a slice of delicious cake to celebrate one of the other member’s birthday.

Our Community Support Worker called

Maggie later in the afternoon, just to check that she had arrived home safely. Delightedly Maggie said, “It was great to see everyone again. It has bought back so many happy memories for me”. She has already booked herself in for Sunday Lunch Club and plans to attend further PE Pete sessions on a regular basis.

Maggie’s name has been changed for the purposes of this article.

Some of the group limbering up!

George stretching before PE

Caring Corporates

We’d like to give a special shout out to just few of the amazing local corporates who have been loyal supporters of Guild Care. Firstly, Jonny’s who have kindly been donating a portion of their tips to Guild Care. To date they have given over £1,500! To find out more about Jonny’s visit jonnysrestaurant.com

Bowers & Wilkins recently held a donation day for us donating an amazing 30 bags with hundreds of items ready for new homes!

Secondly, special thanks to Wall Bros who support us with various activities each year. Namely this year, the Golf Day and the Bowls night in aid of Guild Care at Worthing Indoors Bowls Club. To find out more about Wall Bros visit wallbroscarpets.co.uk

Finally, thank you to all who joined us for Guild Care’s 29th Annual Golf Tournament. It was a great day and the event raised over £7,100!

If you are interested in playing in our very special 30th Golf Tournament on 9th June 2023 please contact us at fundraising@guildcare.org

Are you part of a local business? Or a member of the local community looking for your next charity challenge? We’d love to hear from you! Please email us at fundraising@guildcare.org so we can chat about how we can help.

Ashdown Extra

At Guild Care, we believe that everyone has a right to enjoy a social life and develop friendships. Our Ashdown Extra social club provides opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs to enjoy social activities that many of us take for granted, such as parties and meals out.

The free weekly club is held every Thursday evening at our Fitzalan Centre in Worthing. The club is led by qualified activity coordinators, with an emphasis on having fun, learning new skills, offering support and reducing loneliness. Club members help to design the service, creating a varied timetable with lots of enjoyable and entertaining opportunities.

Maisy says “I really like coming here, I like the dancing and seeing my friends”, and Chris loves the fact that “We get to do lot of fun things like cooking, and having exotic animals come and visit”.

The Ashdown Extra club is sponsored by Peter & Mavis Robinson; it is thanks to their wonderful generosity that we can

run the club and offer it free-of-charge to members.

Peter & Mavis have lived in Worthing for over 40 years and are long-term supporters of Guild Care. Peter served as a Guild Care Trustee for ten years, including a period as Chair, whilst Mavis served as a Trustee and fundraiser at Worthing Littlehampton and District Scope, a local independent charity for adults with learning disabilities, which has since merged with Guild Care.

We are so grateful to Peter & Mavis for their ongoing support, which really does make the world of difference to the Ashdown Extra club members.

Thank you Peter & Mavis!

Our work relies on the generosity of people like you. If you have been inspired and would like to sponsor a service or make a donation please email us at fundraising@guildcare.org we’d love to hear from you!

Love To Shop? Love To Save?

We’re all looking for way to save the pennies this year. Charity shopping is a great way, not only to save a bit of money but also reduce the environmental impact of buying new on the planet.

Whether you are looking for a bargain, hoping to find some furniture to upcycle or some affordable presents for your loved ones, shopping in our charity stores is the way to go! Plus you are helping to reduce waste by giving items a second chance to be loved.

Each individual shop is unique and the friendly team will be ready to welcome you, answering any questions you may have, accept your kind donations and help you find that special something.

Gifts, furniture, books and more in store

There are 11 Guild Care charity shops from Lancing to Littlehampton packed full of clothes, books, bric-a-brac, furniture and much more!

If you would be interested in volunteering in one of our charity shops please visit guildcare.org/volunteer or call us on 01903 528600 to find out more.

Support Guild Care by playing the Unity lottery for just £1 a week. You will be in with the chance of winning up to £25k every week as well as other weekly prizes.

Scan this QR code or visit guildcare.org/lottery to start playing today!

Meet The Team: Heidi

Heidi is a Night Care Assistant at Linfield House. She said “I’m part of the Guild Care night staff team and I love it! I’ve worked for Guild Care for four years, initially as a part-time care assistant. With the support of Guild Care, I then went on to complete my Administration of Medicines, as well as studying for an NVQ Level 3.

As night staff, we have so many wonderful opportunities to interact with and care for our residents. For those that perhaps don’t sleep well, for example, we can provide valuable company and care, helping to soothe any anxiety. It’s not uncommon to find myself chatting to them about their families and their loved ones, which is endlessly fascinating. It’s about being there to comfort and reassure them, to make sure they feel comfortable and cosy. We share giggles, laughter and tears and these are the special moments that stay with us forever. Greeting residents at the start

Join our Team

We are currently on the look out for some amazing people to join the growing Guild Care family in a variety of roles and teams. Plus we are now offering a generous £1,000 welcome bonus for care roles (T&Cs apply).

of a night shift knowing you will make a difference to that person is so rewarding and heart-warming for us as care givers. It’s why we love what we do.

We are the people who are there to follow a resident’s own bedtime routine, to understand that one person may like a night light, and another may not, one might prefer warm milk or tea, while another enjoys conversation or company. To say goodnight knowing residents are happy, relaxed and comfortable, and to wake them with a smile ready to start a new day...it’s priceless!

This is more than a job to me. I treasure all those special moments, the sad ones, the funny ones and those that will stay long in my heart”

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WE’RE RECRUITING

To find out more about joining the team please visit guildcare.org/jobs or get in touch with our friendly Recruitment Team on 01903 863154 or email us at recruitment@guildcare.org

Time to

It’s why we find time for the small things each day, like debating who REALLY should have been voted off Strictly this week. Kathy certainly knows her Charleston from her Cha-Cha. 01903 327327 enquiry@guildcare.org www.guildcare.org

Our three homes cater for a range of needs

Caer Gwent

A beautiful care home, set in a quiet residential area of Worthing.

• Nursing, residential and palliative care

• Large en-suite living accommodation and multiple activity rooms

• Stunning landscaped garden

• Dedicated wellbeing and activities team including choirs, gardening and book clubs

• Resident voice group to discuss and inform life in their home

Haviland House

A dedicated dementia care home, which was a Best Dementia Care Home finalist in the National Dementia Care Awards, 2019.

• Five distinct households with dedicated care teams that create that family feeling

• Access to specialist dementia therapists, including music and reminiscence

• ‘Together group’ our family and relative support group

• Beautifully landscaped gardens with a sensory summer house

Linfield House

Our residential and nursing ‘home-fromhome’ with spectacular views of Victoria Park.

• Two dedicated residential dementia suites with access to private gardens

• Open to couples, particularly where one has dementia and the other does not

• Daily activities and clubs including baking, gardening, cinema and crafts and free physio to promote an independent and active lifestyle

• Award winning wellbeing and activities coordinator

Leave a lasting legacy in Worthing

If you are interested in leaving Guild Care a gift in your will to support future generations in Worthing, or simply want to find out more, you can contact us on 01903 528613 or email fundraising@guildcare.org