2000 - 2008

In 2000, Guild Care lost a long standing member of its executive.  Robert Cushing had succeeded his father as Hon. Solicitor in 1947, and subsequently been both Chairman and President.  Better news arrived in the form of three government Charter Marks for Excellence and a special New Year Award from the Borough of Worthing.   Worthing Mayor Ann Lynn chose Guild Care as her charity of the year, raising £9,000.

By 2000 demand for the Carers Liaison Project had more than doubled.  In 2001 it became the Carers Liaison Service and launched Carers’ Health Matters, providing one-to-one carers’ surgeries in GP practices.

The Time Out for Carers service was launched offering a safe, stimulating and supportive environment for people with dementia, to allow their carers a break. Guild Care also started Breaks-Out, now known as Time Out and About, enabling carers and the people they care for the chance to enjoy occasional outings together, for example to the theatre, countryside, stately homes or afternoon tea.  Both services have thrived and since expanded due to high demand.

A youth club for 10 – 14 year olds with special needs started at the Ashdown Centre.

Guild Care’s third charity shop opened in the heart of Broadwater.

In September 2002 a £2.3 million refurbishment of Caer Gwent was completed, and the modernised and extended home was officially opened by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon.

Duke of Richmond and Gordon talking to residents at the opening of Caer Gwent

In 2003 the charity’s patron Sir Philip Ward passed away following a long illness and the Duke of Richmond and Gordon became Guild Care’s new patron.

Following a successful £880,000 funding application to the National Lottery, major building works began to create the Healthy Living Centre.  Methold House staff and users moved temporarily to Frazer Lodge during this period.  The Centre opened in 2003 at a completely refurbished and extended Methold House. The exciting Healthy Living programme quickly gained a reputation for promoting good health and wellbeing in older people. Funded by the Big Lottery Fund the innovative services include complementary therapies, cookery and computer courses, health and nutritional advice, social events and a wide range of exercise classes. The physical changes to Methold House provided disabled access, a large training room, therapy room, purpose built assisted bathing room and a private area for counselling.  Guild Care’s headquarters were established on the first floor with staff returning from Frazer Lodge and relocating from Aldsworth Parade.

In 2003, planning permission was granted for a new 54 bed state-of-the-art care home with a specialist dementia suite, on the site of the old Frazer Lodge.  Guild Care secured £1.25 million from trust funds for the project.   The new home was to be named Linfield, after Guild Care co-founder Sir Arthur Linfield.  It was decided to move the residents of Whitcomb House to Linfield on completion as Whitcomb was showing its age and no longer met modern standards.

In November 2005, work on Linfield was completed.  Staff and residents moved in, including those transferring from Whitcomb House, and in May 2006 Linfield was officially opened at a garden party attended by local MPs Tim Loughton and Peter Bottomley, along with the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, Mayor of Worthing, Major Tom Wye, and many invited guests.  Since the home’s opening, it has swiftly gained an excellent reputation, and the 11-bed dementia unit, the Richmond Suite, has been independently assessed as one of the best in the country.

2005 saw the rapid expansion of Guild Care’s shops and furniture recycling project.  With funding from the National Lottery New Opportunities Fund, Guild Care was able to open the GreenHouse Charity Superstore in Meadow Road, East Worthing, in May 2005 on the site of a former dustcart depot, and incorporating a massively expanded Furniture Recycling scheme.  The scheme has enabled thousands of tonnes of furniture and other unwanted goods to be saved from landfill, and refurbished and recycled instead.  Later in 2005 Guild Care’s Rustington charity shop opened, and a further shop was opened in Shoreham in 2006.

	The GreenHouse Charity Superstore and Furniture Warehouse in Meadow Road, East Worthing

In October 2006 Antonia Bunnin replaced Robin Benfield as Chief Executive.

During 2007 a new charity shop opened in Rowlands Road, Worthing. A new minibus was launched and named Harry in memory of Harry Pressley who made an outstanding contribution to the charity over 30 years from 1947 to 1977.

Rowlands Road Charity shop was opend by Guild Care's oldest resident Phyllis Bish from Irene House

Guild Care's new minibus was named Harry after past vice-president Harry Pressley