Dorset care home’s kind hearts deliver hampers to ‘frontline heroes’

Castle View Companionship Team Leader Katja Williams, left, hands over a basket to Dr Robert Koppenhol at the Poundbury Surgery.

Katja was accompanied by Enid Deakin, a Castle View resident, seated. With them are surgery staff Lynne Taylor, dispenser, Amy Gorham, dispensary assistant, and Sarah Dunn, receptionist.

Sarah said: “How kind your residents and team have been, thank you.”

Community-minded residents and staff at a Dorset care home have delivered hampers of goodies to frontline workers as a surprise thank-you for keeping us safe during the pandemic.

Police officers, staff at doctors’ surgeries and teams at fellow nursing homes have all received pamper boxes and treats from representatives of Colten Care’s Poundbury home, Castle View.

Residents there funded the initiative through an Easter raffle, building on a similar ‘Hearts of Kindness’ idea earlier in the year which saw hampers gifted to intensive care staff at Dorset County Hospital.

Two Castle View residents, Kay Davis and Enid Deakin helped bring deliveries to the Prince of Wales Surgery and the Poundbury Doctors Surgery respectively.

As well as the baskets of goodies, they brought along handwritten cards from the home expressing thanks and appreciation.

In response, Prince of Wales’ practice manager Sally Holland said: “This was such a kind thought from Castle View. I’m sure we will all enjoy the goodies. Our gratitude and good wishes go to all the residents and staff at the home.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by Dr Robert Koppenhol at Poundbury Doctors, who said: “It was lovely to see care home residents going out and about and making such a welcome gesture.”

Kay said: “We wanted to recognise all essential workers, including GPs and other surgery staff, for their continued commitment and dedication to the whole community during the pandemic.”

Katja Williams, Castle View’s Companionship Team Leader, who accompanied Kay and Enid on the surgery deliveries, said: “Everywhere we have visited with our gift hamper surprises we have had sincere thanks from people. It’s no more than they deserve for all their hard work and resilience over the past year. It has been so incredibly challenging for frontline heroes in all parts of the world to try to keep everyone safe.

“At Castle View, despite the pandemic restricting our usual community visits and fundraising for charities, residents still wanted to do their bit. As well as the gift hampers, we have used in-home events to continue to raise money for causes such as the Poundbury Community Group.”

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