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AROUND 50 guests, including mayors and past mayors, gathered to wish Wokingham In Need (WIN) many happy returns.
Alexandra Grange care home hosted a party with music and home-made food, to honour the charity which has been helping the homeless and vulnerable for a decade.
WIN founder Sue Jackson thanked the care home team, saying: “We are so grateful to the team at Alexander Grange for this wonderful party.
“We’ve enjoyed working with them for many years and look forward to many more in the future.
“The team here works really hard, and the residents here always look so happy.”
Over the years WIN has supported events and projects at the home, including dementia and mental health workshops, and a sensory garden for residents to enjoy.
Elspeth Wilkinson, Alexandra Grange’s lifestyle lead, said: “I first remember meeting Sue and her team when they delivered gifts to the staff here in hand-made bags during the pandemic.”
Sue and Wokingham In Need had noticed carers at Alexandra Grange were working very hard and decided to make goody bags for them.
They asked their Creative Nightingales to help; a group of 25 women who had volunteered during the pandemic to help make 2,500 theatre gowns wearable for Royal Berkshire Hospital staff.
“The hospital had all these gowns, but they were useless because they could only be pulled over the head,” explained Sue.
“They needed to be button fastened instead, so we appealed for help on the radio and these wonderful ladies, aged between 75 and 82, turned around all 2,500 gowns in three weeks for the hospital.
“I was reluctant to let them go after that, and asked if they would like to make gift bags for Alexander Grange, which they did.”
Since then WIN and the care home have enjoyed a strong working (and friendship) relationship.
As well as a 10 year celebration, the day also turned out to be one of noteable firsts and lasts.
Wokingham Borough Council Mayor Cllr Adrian Mather was a guest at the event.
He said: “This is one of my last engagements as mayor, and there are a lot of people here that I’ve met during my term in the role.
“It’s great that a party has been put on for Sue and her team, to recognise all the great work Wokingham In Need Does.”
Wokingham Town Mayor Cllr Louise Timlin was also there, photographed (left) with Alexandra Grange manager Pinky and WIN founder Sue Jackson.
She said: I’m delighted to have been invited today.
“This is my first engagement as mayor, and it’s lovely to be at Wokingham In Need’s 10th anniversary party.
“They do a lot for the community, and now the community is doing something for them.
“It’s so nice to be part of that.”
Artist and WIN ambassador Peter Izod brought his VE Day street party picture, copies of which had been sent to care homes in and around Wokingham for residents to colour in as part of a borough competition.
“I’m delighted to let Alexandra Grange know that they are the winners,” he said, as he presented the framed picture to Alexandra Grange resident Coral, who had completed the artwork.
Charlotte Bennett, just three weeks into her post as customer relationship manager thanked Wokingham In Need for all their support for the home over the years.
“It’s a pleasure to host you today, and may this relationship continue for many years,” she said.
For information, visit: wokinghaminneed.com and hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk
