Guild Care Blog

Grand Fundraiser

Wed, 09 May 2012 13:27:00 GMT

Many thanks to all the local businessmen who attended a St George's Day lunch at the Indigo Restaurant in Worthing last month. They raised a grand total of £7,000 for Guild Care.

The annual lunch is organised by Guild Care Trustee Peter Kennard and Member Derek Steel. The fundraisers' guests were commentator John Motson and ex-footballer Ricky George who gave a very entertaining and amusing after-lunch speech followed by an superb auction of sporting lots including signed football boots from David Beckham and George Best.

Many thanks to both fundraisers and supporters!

Calling all quiz fiends

Wed, 02 May 2012 13:30:00 GMT

On Tuesday 29 May, we are holding a 'Right Royal Pub Quiz' at Methold House, North Street, Worthing.

Tickets are £5 per person and teams can consist of up to six people.

To book tickets phone Jo Longhurst on 01903 528613. Doors open at 7pm. Quiz starts at 7.30pm

New service for active over 50s

Wed, 02 May 2012 13:20:00 GMT

Following a busy Taster Day in April, we are launching our new service for active over 50s - aptly called 'Full of Beans' on Monday 14 May.

Come along on Mondays and try Yogo or Tai Chi in the morning or Zumba Gold in the afternoon. There is also a Music and Movement class between 1 and 2pm and Singing for Fun once a month.

The coffee bar will be serving up delicious light snacks and paninis and you can even get a cappuccino or latte!

New activities will be introduced every month so please come along and let us know what you might enjoy.

Ashmount - the Final Curtain

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:45:00 GMT

During the last few months we have been winding down at our Ashmount Care Home and today we said 'goodbye' to our final two residents Polly Richardson and John Bristow who have gone to The Martletts in East Preston.

It has been a very sad time for both residents and staff but we have accommodated 22 of the 40 residents within our other homes and virtually all of our staff have been found employment within Guild Care.

Ashmount, in Southey Road, Worthing has been a Guild Care home for nearly 50 years. It was St Bedes School for Ladies in 1918 and became the Palace Court Hotel in 1937.

GreenHouse Auction

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:36:00 GMT

Tomorrow at 11am we are holding our Annual Auction at the GreenHouse Charity Superstore in Meadow Road, East Worthing. Everyone is welcome to come along and snap up a real bargain.

Items under the hammer will include collectables, pictures, old Victorian chiming wall clocks, a Pentachord (stringed musical instrument), assorted china, jewellery, an ornate silver plated canteen of cutlery, a wind-up record player, assorted stamps and foreign coins. A first edition print of a Flight of Spitfires signed by Wing Commander R.R. Stanford-Tuck, DSO, DFC, RAF and a print of ‘The Last Halifax’ bomber from the original oil painting by Terence Cuneo.

Viewing is available between 9.30am and 10.30 am. Parking is free.

Fashion Show thanks

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:36:00 GMT

We held our first Catwalk Connections Fashion Show at the Healthy Living Centre in Worthing on Wednesday 29 February and raised a £581 for our Healthy Living Programme which supports local older people, carers and people with dementia.

Staff and volunteers, ranging in age from 29 to 73, modelled the latest High Street brands on the Catwalk. Anna Durkowska said ‘the room was bursting with bargains and guests browsed and tried on lots of fabulous fashions. ‘

Thank you to everyone who came along and supported us and to the fantastic local businesses who donated prizes including the Ardington and Burlington Hotels and the David Lloyd Centre. Thanks also to Brake Brothers and 3663 for their sponsorship.

No Golden Frying Pan this year

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:32:00 GMT

Worthing's charity Pancake Olympics took place on Saturday 18 February and Guild Care's team Flippin’ Fantastic (Rachael Duke, Anna Durkowska, Luke Knight and Jo Longhurst) raised £314 for Time Out For Carers which provides respite breaks to carers of people with dementia.

The team flipped, threw and sprinted their way to sixth place but sadly didn’t walk away with the prestigious Golden Frying Pan award. Although it’s the taking part that counts! Rachael Duke, Fundraising Manager said ‘The Pancake Olympics are a great opportunity to raise funds and a chance to work in partnership with other local charities. We'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who sponsored us. Next year, we'll practice more and walk away with that Golden Frying Pan!’

If you would like to sponsor the team it is not too late! You can donate here

Pancake Olympics

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:48:00 GMT

Some people run marathons, climb mountains or jump out of aeroplanes… we'll be flipping pancakes in Worthing town centre on a freezing Saturday in February!

The Pancake Olympics take place on Saturday 18th February 2012 in Montague Street, Worthing and we'll be doing our best to win the prestigous Golden Frying Pan, whilst raising funds for Guild Care's Time Out for Carers, which offers short respite breaks for people with dementia and their carers.

In 2012 we need to raise £30,000 for Time Out for Carers so please dig deep and support us through Just Giving

New volunteer opportunities

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:14:00 GMT

Today we have advertised 9 new volunteer opportunities at Guild Care. These vary from helping with a new bookstall to a Hair and Beauty Therapy Assistant.

Some of the roles require just an hour on 3 days a week while others are just occasional.

There are volunteer opportunities for strong healthy men and people who could take a craft session or help someone to access the internet.

For more details see the full list

Closure of Ashmount

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:38:00 GMT

Yesterday, was a very sad day in the life of our oldest care home Ashmount. During a series of planned meetings residents, relatives, staff and volunteers were told that the home would be closing.

CEO, Suzanne Millard explained that following a survey of remedial works by Guild Care's maintenance department and a recent review by the West Sussex Fire Service, the Trustees regretfully took a very difficult decision to close Ashmount earlier than expected.

Residents at Ashmount will be assisted to move into one of Guild Care's other homes in Worthing and staff will be offered positions within our other services.

Debbie Dollner, Operations Director (Care Homes) said 'the reason for the closure is that we are unable to guarantee continued delivery of the quality of service our residents have a right to expect at Ashmount. In particular we have a duty of care to our residents and wish to avoid an emergency closure situation arising from a serious failure of equipment such as the lift or the fabric of the building such as the roof.'

Ashmount opened as a care home in 1963 and we have a very committed and dedicated staff team at the home. Whilst everyone was clearly upset after the meetings yesterday, the offer of alternative accommodation and employment has greatly relieved people's fears and will make the process far less stressful.

Not the New Year's Eve Ball

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:17:00 GMT

The 6th ‘Not the New Years Eve’ fundraising ball took place at Worthing Golf Club on Saturday 7 January with over 100 guests raising around £5,000 which will go towards a new service for people with dementia, their carers, family and friends.

Tables were booked by Worthing companies and included Southern Water, Carpenter Box and Spofforths. On the night guests bid for auction prizes that included a private box in the 02 Arena; lunch at the House of Commons with Worthing M.P., Sir Peter Bottomley; sporting tickets at Stamford Bridge, the Amex Stadium, the Oval and Twickenham. Swing singer, Lee Everett entertained and a fun casino was great attraction.

Organisers, Peter Kennard and Derek Steel, two of our most dedicated supporters and fundraisers, were extremely pleased with the evening. Peter said ‘Everyone really enjoyed themselves and once again we would like to thank everyone who kindly donated prizes as well as the generous guests who bid for them.’

Rachael Duke, our Fundraising Manager said ‘Many thanks to Peter and Derek for their organisational skills. The monies raised will support Time Out Together in its first year which enables couples experiencing dementia to socialise together again. We would like to thank all the companies who attended for their generous support.’

Local Solicitors raise over £400

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:35:00 GMT

Wannop Fox Staffurth and Bray presented us with a cheque for £401.23 from their Christmas Pamper Evening and Bazaar held on 24 November at Barneys, Portland Road, Worthing.

The evening included a prize raffle and stalls from local businesses; Cheeky Top Toys, The Perfume Studio, Phoenix Trading, Debbie Stevens Wellbeing and Grapes. The event was well attended by clients of Wannop Fox Staffurth & Bray and Mandy Tourle partner at the firm said ‘We are most pleased at the excellent turn out to the event and the generous contributions made by the stall holders and the purchase of raffle tickets. All of us involved had a very enjoyable time organising the event and we are so glad it was a success.’

This is the first time that the company has held an event in aid of Guild Care and we are gremendously thankful for their stirling efforts and to the companies and clients who supported the evening. The proceeds raised will go towards providing much needed support for Worthing’s older people during the winter months'.

Mini channel 5 appearance

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:35:00 GMT

Last Monday our Healthy Living Centre 'Sing for your Life' group appeared on Channel 5's 'Celebrity Wish List.'

It was the second appearance for George as his story had featured in episode 4 when celebrity Sheree Murphy went on a musical treasure hunt for charity 'Sing for your Life.'

We were approached by the charity to support them with the documentary to raise the profile of the excellent work they do improving the health and wellbeing of older people through song. The Healthy Living Centre was one of the first Silver Songs clubs in West Sussex in 2007 and following on from that we worked with their now Programme Director, Adrian Bawtree on Guild Care's 75th Anniversary concert 'Live and Kicking'.

George was interviewed about his role as carer to his wife who had dementia and what they had both gained from attending Silver Songs sessions. This was all edited into an episode of Celebrity Wish List with Sheree Murphy who dashed around the countryside trying to obtain instruments, keyboards and a special music box. Sheree met George to hear about the difference 'Sing for your Life' sessions made with his wife and mentioned that he would love to meet the charity’s founder Stuart to thank him.

This was all arranged at Seaford and the programme culminated in Stuart and Adrian being surprised with the equipment that Sherree had acquired and a new website for the charity.

Employee Awards presented by Olympic Gold Medallist

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:49:00 GMT

Tina Cook, Guild Care's Patron and Olympic Gold Medallist presented Guild Care's staff awards to the delight of everyone concerned. Read the full story on our news item.

35th Anniversary for Irene House

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:12:00 GMT

Residents and staff at Irene House, Parkfield Road, Worthing celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the home being opened in 1970s style.

Staff dressed in zany colourful bell-bottomed outfits and crazy wigs much to the delight of residents. It was a great atmosphere and those heady days of the 70s were recaptured with live music, dancing and a party buffet.

Irene House was Guild Care’s fifth residential home following a surprise gift from a generous benefactor, Mr Tom Gowland, who wished to set up a worthwhile memorial to his wife who died in 1966.

The property was originally built in 1924 as a private home before it became known as Marlposts. The home had numerous changes over the years but on 26 September 1975 Mr Gowland laid the foundation stone for the extension. The home officially opened under Guild Care in October 1976.

Mr Gowland spent his last couple of years at Irene House and, as requested, he was treated like all the other residents even as far as paying for his own care.