Today Guild Care launched a £100,000 appeal for our Healthy Living Programme run at the Healthy Living Centre, Methold House, Worthing and the Lovett Centre in Goring-by-Sea.
Over 60 older people who benefit from the innovative programme enjoyed a dramatised performance by professional Sussex storyteller, Jamie Crawford.
The appeal was launched as part of National Storytelling Week and, every month for the next year, will feature a story on one of our service users. Read Pearl's Story
The Healthy Living Programme encourages wellbeing, fitness and quality of life through exercise, therapies, crafts, games, support and information.
Over 400 older people and carers up to the age of 99 participate in the programme over the year; with an average of over 70 a day across both centres. The programme also supports outreach work and health awareness raising events in the community, reaching many more.
This appeal will enable our charity to sustain the existing programme which is so vital to older people in the community. The target of £100K for the Healthy Living Programme, to cover the 2010 shortfall, will be split between trust fundraising applications and community fundraising. We really hope the local community and businesses will support us in 2010.
Jamie enthralled his audience with the story of 'Knucker's Hole' set in Lyminster, West Sussex and 'The Bosham Bell' about a raid by the Danes. These stories led onto how the Devil made the Dyke, the patron Saint of Sussex and a romantic Egyptian tale.