care home, Christian Church, Christian faith, hair styiling, South London, Streatham, Wandsworth,
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, while men old enough to be in a care home are even less likely to have experienced this sort of grooming.
However a team of young women volunteers from UCKG HelpCentres in south London recently changed all that. The volunteers gave up a Saturday to provide a pampering day for the 15 residents of Joy Brook Care Home in Streatham and 36 seniors living in Camberwell Green Care Home.
For volunteer Jade who helped at Camberwell Green Care Home, the day was unforgettable. “The residents were so fragile and being able to show them some love was so wonderful.” In fact the residents in this facility range from the ripe old age of 1o5 years, right down to the 60s and 70s, and they come from Camberwell and all over London.
UCKG’s participation was arranged through the home’s activities coordinator Stephanie and the manager, Marie Contie commented how very much everyone had enjoyed the day.
The picture was similar at Joy Brook Care Home in Streatham, where the residents were aged from 66 to the 90s. All were drawn from the London boroughs of Lambeth and Wandsworth and, unusually, they included more men than women.
The volunteers were welcomed enthusiastically by seniors who were eagerly awaiting their arrival, as the event had been promoted with posters around the home. As the day unfolded all the residents came for various pampering treats which included manicures, pedicures, hand and foot massages and hair styling.
“It was an honour to be able to pamper these seniors,” said volunteer Rosie. “One lady who had her hair curled was 99! For us it was a privilege to spend time with these survivors of life. I will certainly go again.”
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.
