Salisbury care home raises £1,000 for city youth project

The older generation's is giving its backing to the next generation!

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 15th May 2023

More than £1,000 has been raised by residents and staff at a Salisbury care home for city charity The Bridge Youth Project.

Colten Care’s Braemar Lodge collected the cash from activities including a summer garden party, selling crafts handmade by residents, a Christmas market and produce and clothes-swap sales.

One of the founders of the Bridge Youth Project back in 1994, Neville Jennings, lived at Braemar Lodge and suggested that fellow residents consider it as a charity to support.

Bridge Director Alex Ewing chats with 101-year-old Braemar Lodge resident Nora Davis

Another founder, Gaye Ridout, is the mother of Braemar Lodge gardener Sarah Ridout while Yvonne Ballard, wife of the home’s Companionship Team Leader Graham Ballard, is a Bridge volunteer.

Gaye and Neville’s widow Daphne joined Bridge Director Alex Ewing for the handover.

After speaking to residents about the work of the Bridge, Alex said:

“We rely heavily on the kindness of supporters such as the wonderful residents at Braemar Lodge.

“We have been blown away by their generosity and are simply thrilled with the amazing amount of money they have raised in the past year.”

Bridge co-founder Gaye Ridout, centre, with her daughter Sarah Ridout, who is a Braemar Lodge gardener. On the left is Gaye’s husband Tom.

The Bridge is a Christian charity with a team of more than 30 staff and volunteers who work in around 25 primary and secondary schools in the Salisbury area.

The aim is to raise young people’s aspirations and resilience through mentoring, emotional literacy and courses in social skills and wellbeing.

Home Manager Jackie Cash, who presented the cheque, said:

“Neville was a resident who was loved and respected by his peers and staff alike. When he suggested that the Bridge would be an ideal charity for us to support we all agreed wholeheartedly.”

Braemar Lodge’s main nominated charity for 2023/24 is Dogs for the Blind.

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