care home, Christian Church, Christian faith, Hackney, North London, pampering day, Stoke Newington,
Thursday 16th December 2010
Pre-Christmas pampering days with facials, a special make up, manicures, pedicures and hair styling, are a ‘must’ for many young women these days. For older ladies living in care homes, they will be distant memories at most and many will never have had such treats.
However a team of young women volunteers from UCKG HelpCentres in north London recently changed all that. The volunteers all gave up a Saturday to provide a pampering day for the 50 residents of St Anne’s Care Home in Stoke Newington and another 35 older ladies living in The Red House, Tottenham.
At St Anne’s residents are typically in their eighties. They come from the local Hackney area and all over London; and while some have supportive families and plenty of visitors that is certainly not the case for everybody.
Gemma Leon, one young volunteer who helped to provide the pampering there, said: “I saw this as an opportunity to give back to women who had worked so hard for their entire lives and had probably never been pampered. The experience was rewarding and it was wonderful to see how a simple gesture could brighten up someone’s day.”
Sister Josephine who manages the home supported this, saying how the residents had “loved it” and appreciated one on one attention and the opportunity to share their time with someone.
She added: “A big thank you to all the volunteers who so generously gave their time to the residents. They were lovely people and made everyone so happy. We certainly hope to see them again some time.”
There were similar experiences at The Red House in Tottenham. As volunteer Keeley Rose noted: “We reached out to people who society doesn’t normally give much attention too, but I saw this as an opportunity to show the care and love we have for our elders. It was wonderful to know that the homes really loved receiving us and even insisted that we return again very soon.”
In extending her thanks, Joy Ohiri, manager at The Red House, said: “On behalf of the residents and staff I wish to thank you, the residents had a lovely day. Your team were wonderful they got on well with residents and staff. It was a day to remember.
Note to editors:
UCKG is a Christian church and registered charity that offers a range of practical support activities alongside spiritual support and comfort. It was formed in 1977 and is active in 176 countries as a church in the mainstream Pentecostal tradition. It reached the UK in 1995 and has gone from strength to strength, providing support and spreading the Christian faith. There are 39 UCKG branches in England and Wales.
For further information please contact Jenny Walton or Lucy Andrews at The Remarkable Group, tel 01962 893 893.
