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Community turns out for nursing home fete

Three elderly men standing behind a charity stall under a white gazebo. The table is covered in a blue cloth and filled with Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal items, a red donation bucket, and a

Residents, their families, and the local community enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment and stalls at a nursing home’s annual fete.

Three women smiling together outdoors at a community event, standing in front of stalls under a clear blue sky. Two wear dark blue healthcare scrubs and lanyards, while the woman in the center wears a colorful tropical print dress and a mayoral chain.

Staff and volunteers at Rawreth Court nursing home in Rayleigh held the event on Saturday 8 August and raised £300, which will go towards activities and items for the residents. Rawreth Court is run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and provides care for older people, including those with dementia.

Visitors to the fete were entertained by live music from ukelele player Mick Cope, and magic tricks from Simon, a local magician.

Five smiling women standing together outside on a bright, sunny day. Two women on the ends are dressed in full Pearly Queen traditional outfits with ornate mother-of-pearl buttons and feathered hats, flanked around three care home staff members.

Pearly Queens Teresa Watts and Jackie Murphy also met visitors and collected baby toiletries and nappies, which had been donated by visitors and staff for families and babies in need.

Guests included Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, and Councillor Elizabeth Brewer, chairman of Rayleigh Town Council, who runs a club for people living with dementia and their families.

Activity coordinators Kim Maxwell and Claire Davis said: “We had an amazing day with families, residents, local community also joining us as well as special guests.

“We’d like to thank everyone who attended, and to all those who supported us with organising the fete, including our entertainers Simon and Mick, Clive who supports us with the sound system, Pearly Queens Teresa and Jackie, and Richard our ice cream man.

“Huge thanks also to our wonderful volunteers who help in so many ways, including our staff members who helped with running a stall and our wonderful families who donated, made handmade items and supported us on the day.”

About EPUT:

  • EPUT provides services to more than 100,000 patients at any one time and our staff are focused on providing high quality care in often complex situations.
  • The organisation has invested in inpatient facilities and community services to make them safer and more therapeutic. We have extensively invested in technology to keep patients safer, enhanced training, and are continuously working with our staff, patients, their families and carers to use learning and best practice to enhance our quality of care.
  • While there is more to do, the Trust has made significant progress through innovation:
    • Our 111 mental health crisis phone line ensures people in need can access support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
    • People with lived experience have been employed in designated roles across the Trust, ensuring patient voice is heart of the organisation and all that we do.
    • A number of new initiatives have been launched, helping people access the support they need when they need it most. These include a mental health urgent care department, By Your Side maternal mental health service, Rough Sleeper team, mental health crisis ambulance cars, virtual wards and neuromodulation service.
  • EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 and provides community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex, Luton and Bedfordshire and Suffolk.  We employ more than 7,200 staff working across more than 200 sites.