On 7th September we had a fabulous day hosting our first sewing day in our St John’s Community Room for our residents for The Fabric of Winchester. Both staff, volunteers and residents had such a brilliant time, getting creative and crafty and we collected some brilliant blocks and stories. A special thanks goes to Jayne, Regional Sales and Education Manager at Janome, and Hannah, Engagement Producer at Playmakers who came to support the session.
St John’s resident of 18 years, leaves for new beginnings in North Yorkshire
One of St John’s residents, who has been an integral part of St John’s for the past 18 years, is leaving for new beginnings in North Yorkshire.
Our lovely resident has done her fair share for the St John’s community during her resident years; organising walking clubs, dance and yoga classes, even throughout the COVID pandemic, and we will miss her presence and her service to St John’s, very much!
She worked at Devenish House as a Staff Nurse for eight years, before joining us as a resident. Beccy, St John’s Welfare Manager and another St John’s resident, were young nurses working at Devenish House at the time, our resident said she ‘kept them in line’.
Yesterday, we held a leaving gathering to say our farewells.
“I have loved it at St John’s and enjoyed everything we have done. Our BBQs, our strawberries and cream, our exercises with some people… who didn’t want to move ONE MUSCLE… but it was great fun and I really enjoyed it. Thank you very much for this very pleasant and joyous send-off.
I have a heck of a lot of memories to keep at the back of this old brain, BUT.. it is well stored.”
Our resident was presented with the gift of an apple tree to plant in her new garden and some flowers by St John’s CEO, Clive. Clive recalled her own words on her moving to Pastures New, as ‘a new beginning’.
We wish you every happiness in your new home, but we will all miss you!!!
Founders Day – 26th June 2022
This year, Founders Day is being held on Sunday 26th June at 11am in St John’s Chapel.
The Chapel is dedicated to John the Baptist, and our Founders Day always falls on the Sunday nearest his feast day.
At this service in the Chapel of St John the Baptist, residents and staff have the opportunity to remember and give thanks for the Founders of the Charity, and for those, who down the years have maintained and developed the Charity for future generations.
It also enables residents to come together as a community to give their own thanks for living at St John’s, with the assistance of our dedicated Welfare Team, and to join those prayers of thanks with the many who have worshipped in the Chapel before them.
All staff, friends, residents and trustees are invited to attend this community event.
If you would like further information on this years’ service, please contact our Chaplain via chaplain@stjohnswinchester.co.uk.
Ukraine; how we’re supporting
In light of the war in Ukraine, we are flying the Ukrainian flag over our Southside almshouses to show our support and solidarity with those suffering as a result of the terrors of the invasion. We are using our charitable services to do all we can to support.
We have donated equipment such as beds, hoists, furniture, and medical equipment from our former Moorside Care Home to a Polish charity, Pomagamy Foundation, which is transporting all manner of equipment and supplies to support refugees and local populations in the Ternopil Region, East of Lviv. We have worked with a Ukrainian colleague who is resident in the UK, to coordinate this operation. So far, 17 trips with donated equipment have been made. These have been organised by a Ukrainian colleague of St John’s, Inna Matthias, who lives in Southampton and is working with Pomagamy.
We are also supporting by opening recruitment to suitably qualified Ukrainian Refugees. If you know a Ukrainian Refugee or are a Ukrainian Refugee looking for employment and you have experience in Care and Welfare Support, please visit our Careers Page for our current Care Assistant vacancies. Please note that the role will require you to have good spoken English.
St John’s almshouses are also available for occupation by those Ukrainian evacuees coming to the country under the ‘Ukraine Family’ and ‘Homes for Ukraine’ Schemes who are resident in Hampshire – subject to age and other qualifications. Please get in touch if you would like further information.
In addition, the wonderful residents of our almshouses have been helping us to support in other ways. We have raised £731.79 through cash donations and a fundraising coffee morning, which we have donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee. Through the generosity of our residents and staff, we have also filled two cars with donations of clothing and supplies, which was delivered to the Polish Social Club, Southampton. For further information, please visit our News Event.
Photographs: Our former Moorside equipment being loaded into a lorry by local volunteers, supported by Inna Matthias – 6th June 2022.