Pictured above: Whitefriars customer involvement team (from
left) Terry Rollings, Lynda Rule, Carley Farrell, Fiona Moran,
Joanna Selby and Donna Milliner entertain older people at the
Coundon Care Centre
Big hearted staff at a Coventry housing association have brought
festive cheer to a group of elderly residents in Coundon.
Dressed as elves, Santa and Mrs Claus and a Christmas tree, six
Whitefriars Housing staff got into the festive mood to serve a
special Christmas lunch to a community group for older people, at
the Coundon Care Centre on Friday, December 17.
The Whitefriars' customer involvement team has supported the
Coundon Care Centre throughout 2010. The centre provides day care
for older and disabled people, many of whom are aged between 80 and
90 and are housebound. To provide some festive fun staff donned
fancy dress to serve Christmas lunch and entertain centre
users.
The customer involvement team chose the Dallington Road day
centre as its charity for 2010 after the centre applied for funding
from the housing association's Pride in our Street
grants.
Customer involvement officer at Whitefriars, Donna Milliner,
explained: "When we received the funding application from the
centre earlier in the year we noted the age group and disabilities
of the centre users. We were delighted to support the centre by
fundraising and giving them a Pride in our Streets grant for a day
at Wicksteed Park.
"It was lovely to visit the centre and meet all the older people
we have been able to help throughout the year. It was great to see
the smiles our support made. They were certainly smiling at our
singing on Friday!"
Honorary fundraiser for the Coundon Care Centre, Pam Barnes,
said: "We are delighted with the support we have received from
Whitefriars. Without donations from organisations like Whitefriars
we would not be able to provide the service that we do to older
people, who without the centre might not leave their home.
"The staff from Whitefriars were brilliant at lifting spirits on
Friday and the older people thoroughly enjoyed their singing, and
joined in with them."
Whitefriars Housing also treated young people in Willenhall to
breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning. Whitefriars supported the
event at the Hagard Community Centre where children received a
present from Santa.