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.