Community market raises £550 for charities
As part of our 70th anniversary celebrations, the team at Speedwell Court in Southampton recently hosted a successful second-hand clothing market to bring the local community together for a fantastic cause.
Inspired by the modern popularity of resale apps combined with the appeal of a traditional jumble sale, the event welcomed over 60 visitors and raised a total of £550.70.
At Abbeyfield Living Society (ALS), we are committed to hosting events that benefit the wider community, not just our residents. We were delighted to split the proceeds equally between three incredible organisations, with Mountbatten Hampshire, the Alzheimer’s Society, and ALS each receiving a donation of £183.56.
The day was made possible through a partnership with Eastleigh Rotary Club and Blue Angel Care, who helped source donations and manage the busy stalls. We also owe a huge thank you to our volunteers, including family members of our residents, and our dedicated staff who provided everything from clothing rails to their own time to ensure the day ran smoothly.
Customer Relations Manager, Justine Owen, said, “The event was a great success, and we’d like to thank everyone who donated any of the many beautiful items we sold. We had a great mix of young and old people come to the market, and many of them asked if we could hold similar events in the future – watch this space!”
Justine continued, “We were thrilled to raise a total of £550.70, meaning £183.56 was donated to each charity. It is wonderful to feel we are contributing to ALS and other community charities during such a significant anniversary year.
A huge thank you must also go to two of our volunteers, who are family members of residents here, as well as the staff who kindly lent clothing rails, mirrors for the changing room, and their time to help on the day without hesitation. It was a great joint effort – a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun.”
Situated in a peaceful corner of West End with superb links to Southampton and the surrounding areas, Speedwell Court is a CQC-rated ‘Outstanding’ home providing high-quality residential and specialist dementia care.
The purpose-built layout is arranged into five small, friendly households designed to help residents feel right at home, featuring generous en-suite rooms and shared sun terraces. Life here centres on personal wellbeing and connection, from our welcoming on-site café and landscaped gardens to a varied activities programme rooted in the local community.
Every resident benefits from a tailored care plan and nutritious meals prepared by our on-site chef, with flexible respite stays also available to support families and caregivers.
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