ABBEYFIELD Society at Camelford opened its doors recently to launch its fifth ‘Coping at Christmas’ campaign.
The campaign offers free meals, companionship and, in some homes, accommodation for those elderly and alone over the festive period.
Abbeyfield’s aim is to raise awareness of the isolation and loneliness felt by some elderly within our communities — not just at Christmas time but throughout the year.
The Abbeyfield Society was born out of the care and compassion of one man, Richard Carr Gomm, who used his army pension in 1956 to purchase the first Abbeyfield home in Bermondsey, South West London, and today the ethos remains the same.
To help launch the Coping at Christmas campaign, the president of Abbeyfield Baroness Dean was at hand to support the local Camelford staff, Lyn Orders and Linda Harley (senior house managers) and Linda Wilkins (housekeeper).
The mayor of Camelford Rob Rotchell also paid a visit — even joining in to stir the Christmas pud!
During the event Baroness Dean presented Lyn Orders with a hamper in recognition of her recent achievement in receiving two prestigious Abbeyfield Awards — ‘Making Time and Raising the Profile’ and the top award ‘The Abbeyfield Hero Award’.
Lyn said: “It was a real honor to receive not one but two awards, really amazing but without the residents and the support of my colleagues this would not have been possible — thank you to you all.”
To find out more about the Abbeyfield Society please visit the website www.abbeyfield.com or phone Lyn Orders at the Camelford branch about the Coping at Christmas campaign on 07710 068814.
Volunteers to help support this registered charity are always welcome, there are many roles available.
Go online or give the Abbeyfield Society a call.