Abbeyfield care home summer house is used by local charities

"By sharing the summer house with others, we can maximise use of our facilities whilst supporting other good causes in our neighbourhood."

Local charities have been given free use of a summer house at Abbeyfield Winnersh care home for older people to hold meetings, support sessions and other events.

Abbeyfield Winnersh has offered the space as part of its efforts to work more with the local community and to support the mutually beneficial work that other organisations do to support older people in the area.

The project is spearheaded by the home’s Customer Relations Manager, Amanda Sykes.

She explains, “We contacted a few charities to offer the use of our summer house and received positive responses from the local branches of the Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK.

“It’s a very nice large, open space, for around a dozen people. It is used a lot during the summer months, but our residents find it more difficult and less appealing to get outside in the winter.

“By sharing the summer house with others, we can maximise use of our facilities whilst supporting other good causes in our neighbourhood. The space is fully wheelchair accessible and complete with bathroom facilities, with heating for the winter months and a patio for warmer weather, so it is ideal for organisations that work with older people.

“Our wonderful kitchen staff also provide refreshments, including homemade cakes and biscuits, for any group that uses it.”

Age UK will be setting up sessions at the summer house, which overlooks Abbeyfield Winnersh’s beautiful landscaped gardens, to support young carers to get into work and other carers (mainly husbands and wives) to find suitable care arrangements for their loved ones.