Colchester care teams on track to fundraise £40,000 for good causes

Care teams across Colchester are celebrating 40 years of providing specialist care to older people with a range of fundraising events.

Care UK, which was founded in Colchester in 1982 and has more than 150 purpose-built care homes across the country, is marking its 40^th anniversary with a very ambitious fundraising target.

Along with care homes across the country, Silversprings on Tenpenny Hill, Tall Trees on Mile End Road, and the Colchester head office team are working together to raise £40,000 to give back to local communities, including Brightlingsea Museum and Lido and the Care Workers Charity.

In honour of the milestone, Care UK’s head office team have been participating in a number of fundraising events, including a cycling challenge which saw CEO Andrew Knight, alongside other senior team members, undertake a 400-mile bike ride. The route took a total of five days and saw the trio cycle from the first-built home, Haven Lodge, in Clacton-on-Sea, to the newest, Oxbow Manor, in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, visiting 17 other Care UK homes on the way.

Residents and team members at Silversprings will be walking a combined total of 40km, just short of a marathon, as well as holding a 40-day knit-a-thon, to raise money for Brightlingsea Museum and Brightlingsea Lido. Over at Tall Trees, fundraising activities include a car boot sale, community quiz, and 40-day bike challenge.

Andrew Knight, CEO of Care UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud of all we have achieved at Care UK in the last 40 years, all thanks to the caring, hard-working team members and wonderful residents. We wouldn’t be where we are now without the support of the surrounding communities too, and we wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you.

“The bike ride was certainly a challenge, but it was an incredible opportunity to support a wonderful cause, as well as spend time with colleagues and residents along the way. 

“Looking to the future, I’m excited for what’s in store for Care UK over the next 40 years as we continue to deliver the best standards of care.”

Joanne Rix, Home Manager at Silversprings, added: “Here at Silversprings, we’re always keen to support our local community and take part in fundraising activities. All the team members and residents have been hard at work, walking, knitting, and creating – it was great to be able to show this to Andrew and the team, as well as to support them on their amazing challenge.”

Care UK has over 150 specialist care homes across England, Scotland and Wales designed to deliver the very best standards of care, and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives.

To find out more about Care UK’s homes in Colchester, visit careuk.com/colchester.