Member Article

David Wilson Homes combats loneliness in the community with Christmas initiative in Hexham

Local housebuilder, David Wilson Homes North East, is continuing to support the communities in which it builds by launching a Christmas initiative to help combat loneliness amongst Hexham’s elderly over the festive period.

The housebuilder teamed up with pupils from local Hexham Middle School to write Christmas letters of well-wishes for the residents at neighbouring Acomb Court Care Home, close to David Wilson Homes’ Woodland Rise development in Hexham. The partnership aims to put a smile on the faces of those who have spent the majority of the year away from their loved ones.

With new research1 stating that 6.4 million people aged 70 and over are worried about the effect that COVID-19 is having on their lives, the campaign was launched in response to what has been a particularly difficult year for elderly people across the region.

In addition to this, David Wilson Homes North East is supporting Acomb Court Care Home with a £1,000 donation as part of its Community Fund initiative with the plan for the funds will go towards outdoor Christmas decorations to spread further joy this festive season, as well as going towards enhancing any other facilities the care home needs.

On receiving the letters and donation, Louise Clayton-Hibbott, Home Administrator at Acomb Court Care Home, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has kept so many families apart this year, and has had a huge effect on wellbeing. Loneliness is something that has affected so many of our residents, especially at this time of year when they haven’t been able to see their friends and families as often as they usually would.

“The residents all loved reading the letters from the children of Hexham Middle School and we’re really grateful to David Wilson Homes for arranging this, it was definitely a much-needed morale boost this year! We’re also so grateful for the generous donation, it really has been a challenging time and we’re going to put some of the funds towards Christmas decorations to spread joy around the home, and look into what would benefit our residents most in the new year - we’re really excited!”

Ashlea Wright, Sales Manager at nearby David Wilson Homes’ Woodland Rise development in Hexham, commented: “It was a pleasure to be able to connect with a local school and get the children thinking creatively and writing personal letters to residents at a nearby care home. We understand how difficult it has been for older people, the struggles that they face and how loneliness can affect them, and we wanted to offer our support.

“On top of this, we know it is so important that we continue to help our communities around us over the Christmas period and beyond. We’d like to thank both the school and the care home for taking the time to get involved in this wonderful activity!”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .