LAUNCHED: MAIDSTONE’S SENIOR PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD Sponsored by Barty House Nursing Home

Pictured at the launch of Maidstone’s Senior Person of the Year Award, is MP Hugh Roberston, Minister for Sport and The Olympics with Jaqui Butler, General Manager and Donna Williams Administrator of Barty House Nursing Home, Bearsted. The Kent nursing home is proudly sponsoring the award.

The award’s scheme will run for six weeks in the Maidstone Kent Messenger, urging readers to nominate the Senior Person who has gone the extra mile for them or the community.

It couldn’t be easier to enter - simply tell the KM, in no more than 100 words; what makes your Senior Person so special? Nominations can be made by anyone – a friend, a colleague, a neighbour, family member or even nominate yourself!

MP Hugh Roberston is hoping to present the winning Senior Person with the Award in April. The winner will also scoop an all expenses day trip to London for them and a guest, to include a fabulous lunch, a specially organised visit to the Houses of Parliament plus train and taxi transport there and home.
Everyone who puts in a nomination will also be in with a chance of winning a £100 gift card that can be spent at over 17,000 retailers, nationwide.

Nominations must be for people aged 65+ and details of how to nominate can be found in the Kent Messenger for the next 5 weeks.

No water worries at Barty

Due to the water shortage and hosepipe ban this Summer, Barty House Nursing home, Bearsted, is doing its bit to help save water.

We are keen gardeners, and with a large plot to maintain we couldn't see our efforts being spoilt this year due to lack of water.

We have no worries now as we have purchased 4 large water butts from South East Water, so we will still be able to have a ‘blooming lovely' garden whilst not wasting water.

March 2012 updates

What's on in March at Barty House?

You can now read our March 2012 Newsletter online.

To open it in in a new window please click  here.

If you are looking for our diary of activities for March it is here.

Thank you once again to Brenda for a lovely programme of events this month.

If you would like to pick up a paper copy of either the newsletter or activities diary our receptionist on duty would be happy to print you one.

Support for children warms the heart

One might be excused for thinking residents at Barty House Nursing Home, Kent, were the ones being looked after!

Taking part in "Operation Christmas Child" gave residents a chance to look after children in need . They were able to show support and love via the shoebox scheme.

Operation Christmas Child is the world's largest children's Christmas project, run by the Christian charity Samaritan's Purse. They have been sending gift-filled shoeboxes around the world since 1990, bringing joy into the lives of over 80 million underprivileged children.

In 2010 over 500,000 people from across the UK and Ireland got involved - including many churches, schools and workplaces. Children and adults alike wrapped and packed around 1.12 million shoeboxes full of gifts and goodies, which were then sent to disadvantaged children across Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

In 2011, Barty House residents, with the help of their families and  a willing team of staff filled 20 boxes for the scheme.

One resident said "When I heard some of the sad stories of these children, and I thought of how much my own grandchildren have, I told the staff I wanted to take part".

Residents enjoyed choosing appropriate items from the guidelines provided by the charity, and then wrapped the boxes.  It made for some sociable gatherings and General Manager Jacqui Butler was delighted at how many families joined in the efforts.

Read more about the children receiving shoeboxes and what these gifts have meant to them here.