Five sheltered scheme managers and their residents from Howard Cottage Housing Association have risen over £13,000 in the past five years for various local, national and international charities. All the sheltered schemes, which are based in various locations around Letchworth, have always prided themselves on their fundraising abilities but the past five years have surpassed even their expectations. The scheme managers have rallied their residents to donate their time, money and effort into a number of different methods of fundraising including a sponsored weight on, knitting toys for sale, darts matches, race and quiz nights, sales and raffles, 20ps in Smarties tubes and the list goes on!
The charities that have benefited from these events include Action Aid (Frances Satterthwaite, Hamonte's scheme manager, went on a trek across the Maasai Mara with Action Aid), the Lister Hospital Baby Unit, Letchworth Garden House Hospice, MacMillan Cancer Care, Cancer Research, Red Nose Day, Children in Need, The Willow Foundation, Hearing Dogs, Dogs for the Disabled, the Pakistan Earthquake Appeal, The Neuroblastoma Society, The Villages of Hope Appeal and Beslan Sun Appeal.
The schemes are lively places and the residents who are keen to get involved enjoy nothing more than to show their support for people less fortunate than themselves. Frances says 'Our older residents are fully aware that there is a world outside the sheltered schemes and I'm really proud of what we've all achieved for people who need help and support.' On top of all of this, the residents have also raised over £7,000 to improve their communal gardens and to subsidise coach trips, parties and entertainment. |
