Member Article

Community fund helps loneliness sufferers

A Wiltshire-based charity that helps elderly people who have suffered the effects of loneliness and isolation has benefitted from a charity initiative from David Wilson Homes.

Arts Together has been chosen as one of the recipients of the David Wilson Homes Community Fund, which was launched earlier this year.

The David Wilson Homes Community Fund donates £1,000 each month to a charity or organisation which improves the quality of life for those living in the region. The new initiative is part of the company’s pledge to strengthen its ties with the areas in which it is building new homes.

For 20 years Arts Together has worked with older people living in the community to counteract the damage caused to their physical and mental health by isolation and extreme loneliness. The charity runs six groups across Wiltshire and uses a varied programme of arts projects to provide interest, stimulation, challenge, companionship and fun for its members.

The charity’s 80 members, aged from 60 to 98, live with conditions such as Alzheimer’s, severe sight or hearing loss, poor mental health, Parkinson’s, limited mobility and learning disabilities.

Arts Together manager, Karolyne Fudge-Malik said she was thrilled to hear that the charity would be receiving the fund.

Karolyne said “The money donated through the fund will help provide the support that enables our very frail members to attend and participate fully in their groups. It will help them to rediscover their zest for life and remain living independently in the community for as long as possible.

“We would like to thank everyone at David Wilson Homes for their generous support, which will make a real difference to the lives of elderly people here in Wiltshire.”

Ian Menham, managing director of David Wilson Homes, said: “Arts Together is a wonderful charity which is doing great work with the elderly community. We are very happy that the David Wilson Homes Community Fund payment can help in some way.”

Arts Together projects are designed and delivered by professional artists supported by volunteers, all trained by the charity so they can understand members’ needs.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Wilson Homes South West .