7th July 2015

An innovative dementia care home with community facilities was officially opened by HRH Duchess of Gloucester, GCVO on 7 July.

Haviland House, on Robin Road, Goring-by-Sea, was blessed with a royal visit to celebrate the culmination of Sussex charity Guild Care’s £1.5million fundraising campaign, Building a Home to Remember.

HRH was met by the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, Mrs Susan Pyper; the Mayor of Worthing, Councillor Michael Donin; Chief Executive of Adur & Worthing Councils, Alex Bailey; Guild Care’s Chairman of Trustees, Roger Smith and Chief Executive, Suzanne Millard.

A tour of the Angmering suite followed, where HRH was delighted to meet volunteers, staff, residents and guests, before the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in the Bradbury Wellbeing Centre.

Chief Executive, Suzanne Millard, said: “We were delighted to welcome HRH Duchess of Gloucester to the official opening of Haviland House. When we set out to raise £1.5 million, we knew that it was an ambitious fundraising target. It simply would not have been possible without the fantastic support of the people of Sussex and further afield, who recognised the difference we could make, and gave time or money to make these dreams happen. In just a couple of years, we’ve created a home from home for 60 people with dementia and are making a real difference to the 3,000 people living with the condition in the local area.

On behalf of Guild Care, I would like to thank every single person who donated to our Building a Home to Remember appeal to raise this incredible amount of money.”

The charity still need to raise £300,000 every year to run the services at the Bradbury Wellbeing Centre, which provides invaluable support to Sussex carers and helps people with dementia live well in the community. If you’d like to make a donation, take part in a fundraising challenge or become a volunteer, please call the fundraising team on 01903 528613 or contact them here.