Jubilee House Care Trust
Friends of Jubilee House
NEWSLETTER NO. 1
Welcome to our first newsletter; here’s hoping it will be the first of many.
Firstly, we would like to introduce ourselves and give a little information on some of the members of ‘The Friends’.
‘The Committee’
I’m Martin Webster, Chairman of ‘The Friends’. I became involved through James Overman, my brother-in-law and best man at my marriage.
I am a Director of a local architectural practice based in Stevenage, husband to Nicola and father of two wonderful girls, Francesca and Sophia.
I was keen to get involved with ‘The Friends’ as I had seen how James’s parents had benefited from the short break care provided by Jubilee House. They were content in the knowledge that their son was happy and well cared for. For me, this is a chance to say thank you for all the years of support they received.
Our aim is to raise the profile and awareness of what Jubilee House Care Trust does for local families. As a side to this, it is our aim to involve service users, families and staff in social events. This will give us the chance to meet up, enjoy ourselves and share our experiences. Of course we also hope to raise well deserved funds along the way.
We appreciate it may be very difficult for you to attend all events, but we would love to see you at some of our forthcoming events, which we hope will be fun for all!
Martin Webster – Chairman
I’m Clare and I have the honour of being the ‘The Friends’ Vice Chairman. I’m married to the long suffering Steve; Mum to Charlotte and Natalie; Partner/Mother Out of Law to Paul and Michael.
By day, I manage an NVQ Assessment Centre for a large, not for profit company that specialise in elderly, dementia care. It’s a busy, stressful job but I love it passionately. I feel strongly that care staff should achieve recognition for the superb work they do and enjoy promoting high standards of dementia care.
My involvement with Jubilee House came about because of my cousin James. James loved his visits to Jubilee House and his parents appreciated the respite it offered them. Sadly, James died in February but Jubilee House continue to offer support. If I’m totally honest, setting up ‘The Friends’ is part of my healing process.
Part of our induction to Jubilee House, apart from the obligatory form filling, was a whistle stop visit to the 5 units. Was I impressed? I met up with a few of the guys that I used to care for when I was working in the community… I couldn’t believe how much my little friends had grown up. Where on earth have all the years gone? And how could I not be impressed with the children’s sensory garden. I so want a garden like that! Each unit felt different and reflected its purpose. I was amazed by the variety of gadgets, gizmos and equipment. But I think more than anything, I was impressed by the pride each of our guides had for their unit. What a lovely, motivating work ethic to have.
Thank you for allowing me to become part of Jubilee House. I hope it’s a partnership that will continue and develop for many more years.
Clare Ding – Vice Chairman
Hi, my name is Natalie and I am ‘The Friends’ Treasurer. I became involved with Jubilee House through my cousin James. I am a real ‘people’ person and will talk to anyone, about anything. I love meeting new people and can’t wait to meet everyone associated with Jubilee House.
When I heard the idea about ‘The Friends’ I knew straight away it was something I wanted to be involved with.
I work in the accounts department of a company in Welwyn Garden City but would really love a job helping people. However, I do still love my current job, so I thought this would be an ideal way to stay in my job and help people at the same time.
I am currently planning my wedding to my fiancé. Is is booked for May next year, so it’s all a bit of a juggling act at times but everything I do I love so I can’t complain.
I look forward to meeting many of you at our next event.
Natalie Ding – Treasurer
The Care Trust
From modest beginnings....
I joined Jubilee House as an Assistant Manager in 1994.
Arriving at the children’s short break centre in Grove Meadow, where I was to be based, I was greeted by a member of staff who guided me through a rather small hallway and into an equally small lounge. There seemed to be so many bodies in this tiny space, lots of children making lots of noise, lots of staff performing lots of various duties.
To find my way from room to room, I not only had to negotiate my way past all the people, but also past the many toys, wheelchairs and walking frames that took up much of the floor space!
I had been told that I would have an office, a place of my own, I had not been told that this ‘place’ would be shared with the food storage and the freezer!! My office comprised a small desk inside the ‘cupboard’! How things have changed! Not just in terms of my office, but in terms of all the buildings from which we provide services.
Over the last six years we have embarked on ‘new build’ and ‘complete refurbishment’ and have managed to achieve a very high standard in both. We are very proud of a recent CQC inspection which awarded our new Adult Short Break service with ‘exceeding the standard’ on four areas of the environment.
It is really important to have buildings that are fully ‘fit for purpose’ but it has to be recognised that the quality of our service is dependent on the staff that deliver it.
Jubilee House recognises the skills required to deliver very complex services and the expectations of both those receiving services and those purchasing services.
Investment in training and developing the staff provides us with a very competent professional team, but it is the ‘culture ‘of the organisation that makes us ‘special’.
Jubilee House has managed to achieve a really healthy balance, acknowledging the need to operate as a professional, responsible team whilst retaining the core value which is treating every individual with kindness and respect.
I am very proud to head up this organisation and am looking forward to supporting “The Friends” as they become an integral part of Jubilee House.
Catharine Hopper - Chief Executive Officer
‘Looking Ahead’
First of all let me introduce myself! I am Pat Holmes and our family have been involved with Jubilee House for the past 27 years!! In fact, since our son Craig was 5 years of age. Craig has Downs Syndrome and “Special Needs”.
Craig has lived at Lincoln Close, for 14 years, since he was 19 years old. Prior to that, he lived at home with my husband and I, elder brother Paul and two sisters, Nicky and Charlotte. From the age of 3 to 19 he attended Lakeside School.
However, when Craig was about 5 years old, a very caring member of the Lakeside staff, pointed out to us, that it may be wise to “wean” Craig from his cosseted family home. She then told us about Jubilee House short break care, the fact that Craig might be able to attend for tea visits after school and which perhaps could progress to the occasional weekend stay. We decided to follow this advice and before long Craig was spending one weekend a month at Grove Meadow, the children’s short break care unit. He would go straight from school, on a Friday evening and we would collect him on the Sunday afternoon. Craig really enjoyed these stays, it was the family who missed him, more than him missing us!! We felt that this was preparing Craig to eventually have a more independent life.
This continued for many years. We always considered that Jubilee House was certainly the type of organisation where we would like Craig to be a resident, one day!
In the summer of 1995, when Craig was just 19, we were asked if we would like Craig to be considered for a place that had become available in one of the Jubilee House residential units. We were rather stunned as we were not sure we wanted to part with him yet!! In fact it was one of those issues that we would have probably postponed time and time again!! We were encouraged to give this proposition some serious thought, which of course we did. We decided that this was too good an opportunity for him to miss and with certain reservations we decided to accept the place on Craig’s behalf.
This was a hard decision, but we tried to console ourselves by remembering that all “children” leave home at some stage and why should Craig be any different. He is also entitled to some independence in his adult life. The most important thing was that Craig should be eased gently in to his new life. This was done with great patience and understanding by all the Jubilee House staff, over the course of several months.
Craig has never looked back! He is totally settled and happy with his relatively independent lifestyle, with all the necessary staff support. He spends holidays with us but is always happy to return to his home and his routine. He leads the life appropriate for a young man of his age. He attends a day centre and has a very full social life, going out to the “pub” with his friends, bowling, youth clubs etc., etc.
His sister Nicky and Brother Paul and their families live locally and regularly see Craig and take him out or to their homes. His younger sister Charlotte and her husband, live in Canada and we take Craig to visit them from time to time. Craig has always been a much loved member of our family.
We KNOW we did the right thing. It was very hard at the time. We still miss him. However, we have no illusions that we are getting older and none of us is immortal. We have to consider that if Craig had stayed at home with us, one day that would have had to change. The upheaval would be so terribly traumatic for him, he would undoubtedly lose his family home and his parents and his carers all at the same time!!
It is so hard to look ahead when our children are young, but with careful planning the future is not nearly as scary as one imagines.
Pat Holmes – Parent & Member of ‘The Friends’
‘The Friends’
I’m Larry Shaw, and a member of ‘The Friends’. My involvement goes back many years when my daughter Karen attended for short break care. The home was initially called ‘Jubilee House’. It later changed to ‘Grove Meadow’ as the company adopted the name Jubilee House Care Trust. The company has been through tremendous changes since those early days. It now boasts a successful children and adult operation.
Karen presently lives in ‘Jonquil Close’, with five other adult residents. She is very happy in a lovely bungalow which suits her restricted mobility. The big garden is frequently utilised, especially on sunny days. I can visit Karen whenever I choose and she comes home for one day a month. The staff are very supportive, caring and professional in all that they do.
I have several roles in the trust. On the board of trustees, part of my remit is to attend meetings. Trustees are also expected to carry out inspections in the childrens and adults units. I enjoy the contact with staff and the young people. It is expected that on a monthly rota basis, we carry out this service with either the C.E.O – Catharine Hopper or the D.S.M – Amanda Mair.
Another role is one of fund raiser. With the building of the new children’s unit ‘Peartree’, the refurbishment of ‘Grove Meadow’, (now known as ‘The Meadows’) and updating ‘Jonquil Close’, I have been kept quite busy. ‘Lincoln Close’ has already prepared a wish list, so it is great to have the newly formed, enthusiastic ‘Friends of Jubilee House’. As a group we hope to raise much needed funds by organising events.
I wish you all every success with this new venture for Jubilee House.
Larry Shaw – Parent & Member of ‘The Friends’
‘It’s Nice To Have Friends!!’
I have been associated with Jubilee House since February 1977. As Chairman of the District Council, I had the honour and privilege, together with my wife Gill, to open the original building in Grove Meadow. I was present at the opening of the Peartree facility and then, earlier this year I was delighted to have been asked to open “The Meadows” – the original building, beautifully refurbished.
Therefore, as the Council’s representative on the Trust Board and latterly as a Trustee, I have seen Jubilee House Care Trust develop and expand over three decades. I am full of admiration for the way our Chief Executive, Catharine Hopper and her staff show their dedication and commitment to their charges. The Trustees also take their responsibilities very seriously and the whole machine works smoothly for the benefit of those for whom we all care.
From my experience in setting up the Friends of the Museum Service, and knowing at first hand how the Friends of the QE2 Hospital provide such wonderful support, I suggested to Catharine a year or so ago that we should set up a Friends organisation which would be of help and support to Jubilee House. My fellow Trustees readily agreed and now, driven by Catharine and Viv, it has come to fruition, thanks to a small band of volunteers we have a small but active ‘Friends of Jubilee House’.
I hope that the Friends will develop and prosper, providing the “social cement” whereby parents, staff and Trustees all get to know one another better through social events – and raise a bit of money to help with those things which the budget doesn’t quite allow for!
Dr Dennis Lewis – Jubilee House Trustee & ‘Friend’
The story so far ………..
After a meeting to form a constitution and a naming ceremony we decided on our first event – The Teddy Bears Picnic.
The Teddy Bears Picnic
The Meadows kindly agreed
to our using their garden for our inaugural function. I think it’s safe to say that everyone that attended had a fun afternoon. How could you have not when Larry kindly organised an entire afternoon of sun (how do you do that Larry!?!).
A table groaning under the weight of cakes and crisps definitely added to the pleasure. As if sun, cakes and crisps weren’t enough our visitors also had the chance to:
• plant a house leek to take home
• eat cakes
• colour in a teddy bear picture
• eat crisps
• take home freshly picked tomatoes straight from Steve Ding’s greenhouse.
• eat another slice of cake
• take seeds to scatter at home
• and eat crisps and cakes!!!
All the teddies that came along were very well behaved. They sat
together chatting and enjoying their own picnic.
I bet you wish you’d come now don’t you? Well don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities to join in the fun again soon.
Thank you to all the guys who helped with preparations. Many thanks to the staff of The Meadows for your generous hospitality. Also, many thanks to the staff at St David’s for your administration support.
Garden Contributions
Grateful thanks to Chas Lowe & Sons in Knebworth for providing off cuts of wood. Thanks to Dougie Overman for turning it into planters. Last but not least, thanks to Steve Ding for filling them with beautiful flowers. The planters are now on The Meadows lovely new patio.
Race Night
Although we cannot
take any praise for this idea, we offered to run the bar. All we asked for in return was that someone passed us the odd chip or two and tips on which gee-gee’s to back. If you don’t receive any further newsletters it might mean we backed the right one and we’re now living a life of luxury in the sun!!!
Great North Run
Huge congratulations to Martin and Natalie who recently took part in the Great North Run, along with 54,000 other runner’s. As you can see from the photo, our amazing runners wore t-shirts bearing a picture of James and the Jubilee House logo. Martin trained hard and crossed his first ever finishing line in a superb time of 1:45:56 . All the runners completed the gruelling 13.1 miles in admirable times. Natalie was unable to join the evening celebrations as she was in considerable pain. Even the next day she found getting out of the car somewhat difficult. She actually said she wished she’s worn her medal so people understood why she walked in such a strange way!!
An amazing amount of money was collected for Epilepsy Research and Jubilee House
Newsletter
Our first newsletter has gone to print. Do let us know what you think. The newsletter is about you, for you so please send in contributions. Let us know what you’d like to see in our next issue. Don’t forget, we’re new at this and we really need your help to make it work. You really don’t want to keep reading our ‘stuff’ do you??
We hope you enjoyed our first newsletter. Don’t forget to add your bit, we look forward to hearing from you. Please contact Clare Ding on 01438 221630 or my email address clare.ding@gmail.com
