Martha

NEWS Autumn 2020

Alexandra having fun... at the end of the rainbow

Enjoying the shade Fundraising heros Thank you all! Throughout this newsletter, you will see tributes to our amazing staff Martha News online Contact Martha Trust at Martha. It is hard to put into words their wonderful dedication since we went into lockdown due to Covid. I wanted though to pay tribute We keep our production costs to an Julie Gayler to the families of our residents through these very difficult months. absolute minimum, but you could help us Deputy CEO Being parents to a person with profound and multiple disabilities is save even more money by signing up to our 07876 246198 hugely challenging but perhaps even more so when they cannot visit newsletter by email. [email protected] the homes and have to rely totally on the Martha staff to care for their Simply email us at Carol Baalham loved ones. To help them we have a wise Parents Representative Group who meet with the [email protected] Fundraising & Marketing Officer management team by Zoom each week, who have set up various social media support quoting ‘Martha News’ in the subject line. 01304 610448 groups to bring families together. Alongside, supporting all of us, have been a wide variety You will then receive your newsletter in pdf [email protected] of people and organisations who have provided financial help. I am proud to say that all format, so it won’t even clog up your inbox! Kerry Banks these things make Martha a very special place and I could not be more proud of being the Fundraising & Events Officer organisation’s Chief Executive. Follow us 01304 610448 George White on Facebook and Twitter [email protected] CEO Martha Trust

Of course, the As well as tinkering on the piano, Peter opportunity is a big fan of playing catch indoors Rising to the Challenge to have a and, having grown up on a farm, was so water fight excited to have lots of time to pursue his The Covid-19 pandemic has been a tirelessly through a very hot spring during the hobby out in the fresh air. challenging and distressing time for many and summer, valiantly dressed in full heatwave and we are very mindful of the impact PPE, with the sole focus of providing a Even recent high winds have not could not be this continues to have, not only on the safe and stimulating environment for deterred us. We have seen and heard missed - the wider community, but also the Martha everyone who lives here. residents and staff roaring with laughter unsuspecting community. It has been felt particularly by as they have flown kites together, often Technology has played an important management our residents and their families, who until wondering who is having the most fun! role, with most families team at Mary House very recently have not been able to visit taking advantage falling victim to many soggy ambushes. You may be wonder what their loved ones due to shielding. of Skype, we have been We are blessed with beautiful grounds At Martha we have been humbled by the Facetime and up to on days and shaded outdoor spaces at both Deal total dedication and commitment of our WhatsApp to when the and Hastings, which has provided many staff across all areas of the organisation have virtual weather has opportunities to take advantage of the during this difficult time. And so we want ‘visits’ with let us down? wonderful weather to take this opportunity to celebrate the their family Well, the in recent months. achievements of our care team and give members. Notting Hill Giant outdoor you an insight into the very different life Carnival may Even Panos, games have at Martha over the past few months. have been our music been in cancelled, but Having gone into lockdown in March, therapist, has managed to continue constant use the Martha we have had to be creative in our efforts with individual and group online music in shady spots Hill Carnival was in full swing. And the to keep the individuals we support sessions at Deal, which both residents beneath sail bright, cheery activity centre buzzed with engaged, entertained and healthy. and staff have participated in with awnings and excitement as decorations were created for Our amazing care teams have worked gusto! trees. the big day. ...Rising to the Challenge Martha’s Fundraising ‘Lockdown Heroes’ Although we can never take the place of We have also been communicating with a hug with their families, trips out to the families on a very regular basis, and are We’d like to say a huge well done and cinema, carriage riding or a visit to the very lucky to have such a supportive thank you to our lockdown heroes! sea front, it has been a joy to observe the and proactive Parent Representative staff working so hard to fill this void by Group. As well as attending fortnightly creating a fun, carefree and active home online meetings with the management Steven’s World Gone Wrong life for our residents. team, they have set up a family Facebook page and dedicated WhatsApp group to Children’s author Steven Vinacour As well as supporting our residents it has share their thoughts and give each other came on board to support Martha been equally important to support their support. We also held our first virtual with a children’s book he has written families. To enable them to feel closer to Family Forum by Zoom in June, which and produced in lockdown, with the what has been happening in their family enabled us to bring together families assistance of 191 co-authors! member’s daily lives, we have rolled out from both sites for the first time. access to our electronic care plan family He ran creative writing sessions online with portal called Care Note Story. It gives a The feedback from families during the his family, with the idea the viewers would snapshot each day of their loved one’s lockdown has been, without exception, come up with all the ideas for a story. health and wellbeing, giving reassurance both generous and supportive. Here are just The response was amazing and they had during this understandably worrying time. a few of the comments we have received: over 400,000 children tune in from all over the world! “Just wanted to let you know how much “We are so grateful for the support the The book can be downloaded free of charge, however Steven is encouraging people to we appreciate all the efforts management staff and home have given us over the make a donation to Martha. are making in order to protect our relatives last three months. We are also grateful at this extraordinarily difficult time. No to them for keeping our relative safe and Steven raised £140 via his Just Giving page, to support his fundraising at easy task, especially when you all have well. Thank you.” https://bit.ly/3e7O4q2 your own families to look after as well. The nurses and carers are doing a fantastic “We see a continuous improvement in job keeping us in touch…and we are so care, completely embraced by all the thankful that our son is living with such staff we meet. Martha Trust is holistically Dawn to Dusk caring and supportive staff.” caring, families are welcome members Pilot Nic undertook the Dawn - Dusk of the Martha Team. We would be lost Challenge in her G-TECC aeroplane “It has been very difficult not visiting without them.” along with one of her treasured bears, during the Covid 19 outbreak. However the raising over £1,000 for Martha. Facetiming facilities have been a godsend. “The adjectives that best describe all of you Delighted that Martha has remained at Martha Trust are – compassion, kindness The challenge took Nic over nine hours. pandemic free thanks to the efforts of the and commitment THANK YOU.” She covered 574 nautical miles and has staff and management.” written a book about the challenge which will now be sent in as her competition The restrictions of living with the threat of Covid-19 in a care home can at times feel entry to this worldwide challenge! overwhelming, but we are extremely proud of our support workers, senior support workers, nurses, management team and head office staff. They have supported each other and shown such resilience and determination, all the while ensuring there is laughter echoing around each of our three homes. We thank them all. 20,000 Pitch Challenge Masks for Martha Sir Roger Manwood’s School Senior Boys Rugby Team Long term supporter Pat Wilson undertook a 20,000 Pitch Challenge in aid of Martha. has raised an incredible £8,500 for Martha through making her fabric face masks! Pat is no stranger to supporting Martha, having embarked on two car challenges – Rome or Land’s End to Bust and Monte Carlo Madness, John O’Groats raising in excess of £13k with her friend Jill Burford. Nick Luckhurst’s Slimming World Pat started making the masks If you would like to order initially for neighbours and friends 20 players cycled, ran and groups took on the a face mask and support in the street she lives in, however as more people walked the equivalent Land’s End to John Pat’s project, please visit were asking for the masks and wanting to donate, she of 20,000 rugby pitches, O’Groats Challenge. her fundraising page at saw it as a perfect opportunity to raise money for the https://bit.ly/3cprV6s or which is approximately 38 group members charity that is close to her heart. contact our fundraising 2000km, however in took part. They cycled, team on 01304 610448 the week long challenge they ended up completing a swam and walked the Pat and her friend Mary are covering the cost of staggering 2977km and have so far raised over £1272! distance over a week materials so all monies donated go directly to our amazing residents. A HUGE “Well Done” and “Thank You!” and raised £200 for Martha.

The 2.6 Challenge Martha were fortunate to have a number of Kerry and Simon supporters take up the completed a 2.6 Challenge. 26 mile bike ride Brett took on the raising £170! #twopointsixchallenge with a 100km indoor cycle challenge in aid of Martha Trust and has raised over £3,000! His daughter Charlotte Tony took on a 50km bike who lives at Martha, was ride and raised £300! on Facetime with him as he crossed the finish line! 4 Make a difference when 7 Nominate Martha Ways to get involved shopping online Nominate Martha for the token scheme in your Next time you need to pick something local supermarket or for any charity of the year Martha, like our peers in the charity sector, has been significantly impacted by up online, visit easyfundraising.org.uk schemes in the local community or place of work. the current COVID-19 pandemic, especially our ability to fundraise. With many and support Martha Trust while you shop. 8 Support one of Martha’s of our fundraising events having to be cancelled it has left us with a big gap in Easyfundraising.org.uk is an extensive online fundraising events in 2020/21 our voluntary income. Our fundraising is crucial and pays for the extras like our shopping directory which boasts over 2,700 of the biggest names in online retailing hydropools, activities and specialist equipment, that make the difference between Book tickets for one of our organised fundraising including Amazon, M&S, Boots, Next, Argos sympathetic, holistic care and just minding someone. events set to take place later in the year or and John Lewis. It’s free to register and they in 2021. Have something to look forward Here are our Top Ten ways you can help to support Martha at this time... will donate up to 15% of the purchase price to – we’ve got a great line up to choose from. ...encourage your friends and family to do the same! back to Martha. Whether you’d like to join us for our Drive-in Or if you are shopping with Amazon, then use Cinema Christmas showing of Elf and Home 1 Support our Christmas raffle 2 Help us spread the word AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile works in the Alone, join us for live music next Summer at one of our Music4Martha events, or if you are a keen We have some amazing prizes this year, Follow us on Facebook and invite friends and same way as amazon.co.uk, the only difference being they will automatically donate 0.5% of golfer book a team at one of our charity golf including our top prize an overnight stay in family to do the same. Simply go to your liked days. Book online or call 01304 610448. London and theatre tickets for two! 2nd and pages, find Martha Trust and select ‘invite eligible purchases to Martha! Simply go to smile. 3rd prizes are £150 and £100 respectively. friends to like Martha Trust Facebook page’. amazon.co.uk and log on with your normal Amazon account and start shopping! 9 Donate unwanted bottles or gifts It is a great way to support Martha Trust at If all our current followers got just one more Martha are always in need of unopened Christmas. We’d love to hear from you if you person to follow us we could double our 5 Sign up to the Dover Lotto bottles of drink for our barrow of boozes, would like to be a raffle seller, taking extra reach from – 2,847 to 5,694! The Dover Lotto is a great way to support and new and unused gifts for our raffles and tickets to sell on to friends and family. Tickets Martha, and you are in with a chance of tombolas! We ask you simply bag them up cost £1 each and are available to purchase 3 Become a Martha Champion winning a £25,000 jackpot! Tickets cost £1 and get in touch with us on 01304 610448 or individually or in books of five. Join our team of Martha Champions and with 50% of the ticket sale going to Martha email [email protected] help make a difference to the lives of people Trust! Visit www.doverlotto.com or call 01304 To purchase tickets please complete the 10 Make a donation stubs of the tickets enclosed and return with profound disabilities! 776123 9am-5.30pm Monday – Friday. Making a donation to Martha, whatever the them along with your payment to Set yourself a personal challenge and raise 6 Set up a Facebook Fundraiser size, will help make a huge difference to us at Martha Trust, Homemead Lane, Hacklinge, sponsorship online by setting up a Virgin this time. Make a donation online at Deal, , CT14 0PG. Money Giving or Just Giving page. Or use a Search Martha Trust on your Facebook, click on ‘fundraiser’ and select ‘Raise Money’ and follow www.marthatrust.org.uk/donate or post to skill to raise money for Martha. If you would like to purchase extra tickets the steps to set up your own fundraiser. You’ll be Martha Trust, Homemead Lane, Hacklinge, please call us on 01304 610448. amazed by the generosity of your friends. Deal, CT14 0PG.

Give in Memory Martha has seen a growth in ‘in memory’ 1 Make a gift in memory – give an 3 Set up an online in memory page It’s quick and easy to create an in memory donations, in the last three years we have online donation at www.marthatrust.org.uk/ – an in memory page is a great way for page by using sites like Memory Giving, received an incredible £17,000 donated in donate or send a cheque. friends and family to celebrate and remember Just Giving and Virgin Money Giving. They memory of a loved one. This makes a big someone special. You can do many things provide a simple, sensitive way to remember 2 Hold a funeral collection – collecting difference to a charity of our size. with an in memory page, including posting a loved one and take you through a simple donations at a funeral or a remembrance stories, sharing pictures and memories, make step-by-step process to create your page. Making a donation in memory of a loved one service is a simple way for family and friends a donation or use the page for events. An in is a positive way of commemorating a life. to join you in making a gift in memory of a If you’d like help or advice on in memory memory page also shows the total raised in There are three simple ways you can donate loved one. Most funeral directors are happy giving then please call us on 01304 610448 your loved one’s name, so that everyone can to Martha in this way to help with collections and will make sure all or email [email protected] see what they have achieved. donations are passed on to Martha Trust. T H A N K Y O U

The support for Martha from the local community and businesses is amazing! We’d like to say a HUGE thank you for the amazing support Martha have received during the pandemic.

To all the The donations received from our generous We have been extremely fortunate to secure donations of PPE from the key workers supporters during lockdown including local funding authorities, schools, businesses and sewing groups. across the UK who £10,000 from the National Lottery Coronavirus Special thanks go out to: kept the country Community Fund going throughout Arron Chandler Herringbone Kitchens £400 from Neighbourly Community Fund lockdown. With very Manna Hutte Garage special thanks to our £3,000 from Hastings Direct Community Fund Deal Co-op Maskeraid wonderful teams at £333 from Waitrose in Hythe, through their Martha Trust - who Community Matters Scheme Deal With It – Transition Deal Portal House School go above and beyond £1,000 from Dover Lions Dover Christ Church Safer Stronger Communities in each and every single Dover District £2,500 from Dover Rotary Dover for Boys day - we are extremely Sandwich Technology School £4,000 from Kent Community Foundation Esther for her batch of clear visor masks proud of you Sarah Vidler £2,000 from the Hospital Saturday Fund for PPE East Kent Freemasons Deal Judo Club Sir Roger Manwood’s School, £200 from Wellington Lodge and Warden Hasting Makers for NHS and keyworkers House £5,333 from Direction Law Hastings Supports our NHS staff The Towers School for their kind donation £2,591 from Jarmans Solicitors of Easter eggs for residents and staff All local businesses that supported our staff raffle Life in Lockdown

Martha Trust, Homemead Lane, Hacklinge, Deal, Kent CT14 0PG T 01304 610448 F 01304 615462 E [email protected] W www.marthatrust.org.uk

Registered Charity Number 1067885 Company Number 3467406