Newsletter – July 2026
3rd August 2026
Thought of the Month: “When you say yes to others, make sure you are not saying no to yourself.” – Paulo Coelho
The festive season is a time of giving, but it’s also a time when we can give too much of ourselves. Between buying presents, caring for family, cooking meals, and balancing work commitments, it’s easy to forget one important person—you.
Saying yes to everyone else’s needs shouldn’t mean saying no to your own well-being. At this time of year, it’s vital to take a moment to pause, recharge, and care for you. Whether it’s enjoying a quiet cup of tea, going for a walk, or simply saying no when you need to, prioritising your own health and happiness will ensure you don’t implode under the pressure.
Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. By taking care of yourself, you’ll be in a better place to care for others and truly enjoy this season. Be kind to yourself—you deserve it.
This month has been filled with festive cheer and heartwarming moments here at Ashdown Care. Together, staff and service users have been working hard to make a difference in our community. Fundraising efforts, as well as collections of food and toys, have made this season even more meaningful.
Paige had a fantastic time visiting Santa at Beamish. Christmas is her favourite time of year, and she’s got plenty of festive activities planned!
Kirsty’s Glam Time
Kirsty has been getting into the holiday spirit by getting her nails painted and glamming up for the season.
Faye, completed a sponsored silence on 22nd November to help raise money for Hebburn Helps.
She also had her 1st experience of bingo and loved it!
Our service users hosted a brilliant Christmas Disco on 12th December to raise funds for Hebburn Helps. We’re proud to announce an incredible £667.65 was raised!
A big shoutout to Chris from St Mary’s and Faye for delivering the funds raised, along with donated presents, to Hebburn Helps. You’ve made such a positive impact this season.
Special thanks to Jane McKeith, Senior at St Mary’s, for her exceptional teamwork in updating Quality-of-Life trackers. Your dedication doesn’t go unnoticed, Jane – thank you!
Ravenscroft have organised some wonderful charitable events this month! Everyone has contributed and gathered lots of food items and toys to donate to the Salvation Army, helping those in need during the holiday season.
A special “Tree of Remembrance” is set up, where both staff and service users can remember their loved ones. For a £1 donation, they can purchase a card to hang on the tree, and all funds raised will be donated to the Queen Elizabeth Butterfly Baby Unit, a cause that supports.
Kim from Ravenscroft has been dazzling us all after strutting her stuff on the runway at her recent fashion show. Well done, Kim!
Here is Scott from Ravenscroft, all ready for his Christmas party at Lawnmowers.
Georgia had a lovely festive outing to the Metro Centre for Christmas shopping, followed by a delicious lunch at Pizza Hut. It was a day full of holiday joy!
The service users at 289 Eastbourne have been getting into the Christmas spirit by decorating their space with a beautiful balloon arch.
We also have heartwarming progress to celebrate:
SW’s Journey: SW, who used to be frightened of animals, has made significant strides. With daily walks to Saltwell Park, he’s now happily interacting with dogs and even enjoying time on the swings. Well done, SW!
Adam: has been enjoying trips to Durham Cathedral, the cinema, and the arcades. He’s looking forward to celebrating Christmas with staff and friends.
Colin: Colin has been busy helping to put up Christmas decorations and playing pool at the teams’ club. It’s been a festive and active month for him!
Scott was super excited for Christmas Jumper Day at school. He showed off his festive style with pride!
Our first week with our new young person. We have been on many activities such as: Football at Power League, Winter Wonderland (many times!), Asda food shop, Cinema to see Red One, Playing pool at Spot White. He is settling in so well and has created some great relationships with staff.
Compliments from Medsolve Staff: A visiting member of staff from Medsolve shared her compliments about Ravenscroft. She mentioned how much she had missed being at Ravenscroft and commented on how lovely the staff are. She also noted that you can see how well the staff take care of the service users. When asked if she understood why certain things are done the way they are at Ravenscroft, she confirmed that she did and added that she would ask if she ever needed clarification. Great work, Ravenscroft team!
Craig’s Birthday Support: Craig’s sister had a family emergency and couldn’t attend his birthday party. The staff stepped in and made sure Craig had a memorable day. Throughout the day, they sent photos and videos to Craig’s sister, Amanda. Amanda messaged Lindsey to thank her for being so kind, making a fuss of Craig, and providing reassurance to her during the day. Amazing work by the team!
Johnson Lawson’s Kindness: Catherine White spoke with Johnson Lawson and thanked him for his support. She shared that he was proactive, kind, and approachable during a difficult day. Catherine also expressed her gratitude to the entire staff on duty, saying their kindness made a challenging day much easier.
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden but peaceful passing of Beccy on 28th November 2024.
Beccy’s infectious smile and positive outlook on life touched everyone she met. Her kindness and warmth will be dearly missed, but the beautiful memories she leaves behind will be cherished by all.
A celebration of Beccy’s life will take place on Wednesday, 18th December, at 9am at South Shields Crematorium. Family flowers only, please. Donations will be gratefully accepted on the day and shared between the clubs Beccy attended.
Following the service, refreshments will be held at The Elmsfield, Hebburn. All are welcome to continue celebrating Beccy’s remarkable life.
Our thoughts are with Beccy’s family and all who knew and loved her.
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As we wrap up another fantastic year, we want to extend our warmest wishes to all of you. Thank you for all your hard work and commitment. Your continued support and dedication have made this year truly special. Lets keep up the great work in the new year ahead!
Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a wonderful new year.
Kind regards,
Ashdown Care
3rd August 2026
3rd July 2026
31st May 2026