News
Residents to show off their talents.
On Friday 26th and Saturday 27th September 2008 from 10.30am - 3.30pm there will be an exhibition at The British Home of art by the some of the Home's residents.
Entrance to this exhibition will be free and tea and coffee will be on sale at a reasonable price. There will also be a chance to buy the paintings on show.
Come to our Christmas Market
On Saturday 27th November there will be the chance to hunt out some great bargains at our Christmas market which will once again be open to the public. The market will also feature stalls from other charities and there will be tea and coffee on sale at a reasonable price and a special guest appearance by Santa. Watch this space for further details.
Residents enjoy superb concert
The concert by the Croydon Brass Band on Saturday 28th June was a great success - thanks are due not only to the band for a superb programme of music, but also to the staff who brought residents down to enjoy the afternoon, their help was much appreciated.
Residents enjoyed the day. We are hoping to repeat the day with different music in September.
Fiona is our new chief executive
Fiona Ritchie has been appointed chief executive of The British Home. Fiona has many years of experience in health management and was formerly general manager of Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership.
Now she has swapped the west coast of Scotland for Streatham, and she took over the leadership of the Home when matron Noelle Kelly retired on March 31 after 21 years of service.
Fiona has worked in the NHS across the country; she has a degree in information technology and an MBA. She has also worked as a volunteer in India and was involved with a learning disability charity.
"I am really looking forward to my future at the Home. This is a complex organisation that does wonderful work and my priority is to make sure that everyone hears about it and supports us," she explains.
Summer Fair 2008
The British Home Summer Fair was once again a great success. The weather was kind to us being not too hot and staying dry.
All in all it was a great family day out with the wonderful Earl Grey Band once again getting the afternoon off to a swinging start. Meanwhile our catering department served tasty hot lunches in our garden cafe and there was our usual fantastic range of stalls offering bargains galore. Bobbo the clown was there for the children and a very popular attraction was a return visit from "Kidsrome" - a mobile farm.
We are pleased to say that the Fair raised over £5,000 for our residents. Many thanks to all who helped out on the day.
The British Home donates dental equipment
The dentist chair, drills and other equipment is being stripped out of the surgery at The British Home and sent overseas to help patients in the developing world.
The British Home no longer needs its surgery and equipment and has donated it to Dentaid, a UK charity that promotes oral health services in the developing world.
The Home's severely disabled residents are now cared for by local dentists so the unused equipment, which has no market value in the UK, will go overseas to help people who have no access to modern dental care.
Mrs Noelle Kelly Matron said: "Our new arrangements mean we don't need our own surgery any more. It is full of modern equipment and we are delighted to be able to help Dentaid."
Choir sings for the Home
On December 7 The Beckenham Ladies Choir held a Carol Concert in aid of the British Home. Although entrance to the concert was free the Choir asked for donations from the audience who contributed a very impressive £700 which is a great tribute to the Choir's superb singing. Our thanks to them for their wonderful efforts on our behalf.
Carols at Christmas
The British Home's annual Carol Service was this year held on Thursday 20 December in our Chapel. The Lambeth Ladies Choir led us in singing carols, there were readings from the bible by residents and staff and also time to remember the residents who died during 2007.
Civil Servants become gardeners for a day
A group of 12 hardy civil servants from the Department of Innovation Universities and Skills became volunteer gardeners for the day when they cleared an area of the front lawn and created a beautiful flower bed.
The scientists and policy advisors are usually desk bound in Westminster making sure the government has the latest scientific information, but they enjoyed a day out at the Home for digging and planting.
"They worked hard and managed to transform part of the garden," said Sonja Curtis our activities manager.
"It was a great day and our residents enjoyed meeting them and making the refreshments."
Rob's run raises £2,000
Streatham police officer Rob Upham ran his first London Marathon and made £2,000 to support our residents.
Rob put himself forward for one of the 175 places reserved for the Metropolitan Police never expecting to be chosen, but he was.
He trained by running to work from his South Norwood home every morning and by pounding the pavements of Croydon and Crystal Palace.
And he chose to use his sponsorship money to benefit the Home.
"I wanted to help a local charity and when I heard about the work of the Home I knew I should support it," explained Rob.
Home History Book Launched
The British Home hosted the book launch of "The Incurables Movement - an illustrated history of The British Home" which explores the origin of the "incurables movement" - inspired by a call to action from Charles Dickens. Written by Professor Gordon Cook, a distinguished medical historian, it also looks at the lives of the patients and the nurses who cared for them.
Professor Cook addressed the gathering and gave a short presentation that highlighted some of the important issues that had affected The British Home's history. Tours of the magnificent Victorian structure were also on offer.
Anyone who would like to purchase this book can find more details on www.radcliffe- oxford.com.