Newsletter – July 2026
3rd August 2026
🌟 Ashdown Care Monthly Newsletter – December 2025 🌟
Welcome to our December round-up- a festive edition full of warmth, celebration and meaningful moments from across our Ashdown homes. As the final newsletter of the year, it’s a chance to pause and enjoy the joy and togetherness that the festive season brings. We hope this special edition gives you a lovely glimpse into the moments that made December so special for our staff and the people we support.
🌊Whitley
Michael enjoyed spending time at the local soup kitchen🍜, reconnecting with familiar faces and visiting friends. Alongside this, Michael has been making the most of the festive season with Christmas shopping🛍️ and taking part in some Christmas baking. These moments reflect the true spirit of community, independence, and kindness at this special time of year🧁.
Brandon achieved one of his personal goals by working out at the gym, a fantastic accomplishment🤸🏻. He also enjoyed putting up Christmas decorations and shopping trips🎄.
🏠 Denmark Street
This Christmas, staff at Denmark Street chose to give back to the local community by supporting Hebburn Helps❤️. Emma and the people we support helped choose and deliver essential items for local young people, reflecting Ashdown’s values of care, inclusion and community✨. Thank you to everyone involved for making a meaningful difference this festive season🎉.
Ron and Ed enjoyed a festive shopping trip to Trinity Square with staff member Alison🛍️. They chose and purchased gifts for friends and family, supported to make their own decisions and manage spending💰. While out, they were delighted to meet Santa Claus and enjoyed chatting with him. Both returned home full of excitement, happily sharing their experience with others🎅🏻🕺🏻
Craig celebrated his birthday surrounded by his favourites, Laurel and Hardy and Doctor Who💐🎈. A visit from his sister Amanda was the highlight of the day, followed by a tea party🍵 with friends and an ABBA singalong led by Ian and Emma🎤. A joyful celebration from start to finish.
🏡 St Mary’s
Henry enjoyed a magical day out Christmas shopping at the beautiful York Christmas Markets🎁. Surrounded by twinkling lights and festive cheer, he took his time exploring the stalls, choosing gifts, and soaking up the joyful atmosphere💃
🪴Waverley
Scott celebrated his birthday surrounded by family and staff, making it a truly special day🎁. The festivities were made even more memorable with a surprise visit from the Grinch, spreading smiles and laughter all around🎀!
👻 Cheshire
Jonah, Gary and Murray celebrated Christmas🎄 with our staff sharing good company, plenty of smiles and festive cheer🎉. It was a lovely way to mark the season and enjoy a special moment together⛄.
🚂Ravenscroft
Rona had a magical visit to see Santa and was clearly full of excitement, a heart warming festive moment🎅🏻🧨.
Kim and Lynne delivered food and toys🧸 to the Salvation Army, helping spread festive cheer to those in need👏🏻
Mistletoe the Elf 🧝🏻caused plenty of mischief at Ravenscroft! After being very naughty, Mistletoe was firmly scolded and grounded by Rona, much to everyone’s amusement🌸.
Scott and Margaret helped decorate Ravenscroft, filling the home with festive warmth and cheer🎄🎀.
Scott celebrated his 45th birthday🥳 on 14.12.25, enjoying a special and joyful day🎂🎁.
Ravenscroft has successfully completed the Mouth Care for Adults 🦷in a Residential Setting programme, demonstrating their commitment to the highest standards of care🏅. Elizabeth Moore has become Ravenscroft’s Oral Health Champion, a fantastic achievement supporting health and wellbeing for everyone at the home🥳. This dual success highlights both Elizabeth’s dedication and Ravenscroft’s ongoing efforts to promote positive health outcomes and quality care🩷
Ravenscroft completed a sponsored walk🚶🏻♀️ to raise funds for new flooring and blinds in Mark’s living room🏡, raising an impressive amount. Well done to everyone involved👏🏻!
🏔️South Hill
Stephen enjoyed a special meet and greet with Santa Claus🎅🏻. A true believer, Stephen loved having his photo taken and finished the day with a delicious Christmas dinner🍝🍕
South Hill enjoyed a brilliant Christmas Pyjama Day🍾, with service users and staff taking part. The day included Christmas music🎵, films, takeaway lunch🍜, sweet treats, and festive arts and crafts, lots of fun, laughter, and smiles🎬🎉
🏃 EastBourne
Gillian, Ian, and Michael🎡 worked alongside staff Lindsey, Sarah-Anne, and Gemma to put up Christmas decorations together🎄⛄.
Stuart enjoyed a great night out seeing Madness with staff member Gillian🎬. He even treated himself to a new scarf, proudly showing it to family and friends🧣.
Chris enjoyed another tribute night, this time seeing Diana Ross🎤. He even got to meet her and had a fantastic evening dancing the night away🕺🏻🪇.
🌞Thurston
Paige and staff made beautiful Christmas cards to share with the residents of Harton Grange Care Home, who were absolutely delighted to receive them.
🚣🏻♂️South Tyneside
Across St Mary’s, Thurston, Willow and York Street🎀, service users came together for a joyful Secret Santa celebration🎉, sharing gifts🎁 and laughter at a restaurant🍜 in Hebburn.
🌊10 Tynevale
Paul enjoyed a busy December, including a visit to Winter Wonderland⛄, celebrating his first year at 10 Tynevale, and a cinema trip to see The Elf🎬. We are also thrilled to congratulate him on being nominated for the ‘Be the Difference’ Award🏆for his positive change, eagerness to learn new skills, and wonderful enthusiasm, a truly fantastic achievement👏🏻!
Staff at 10 Tynevale came together for their monthly meeting wearing Christmas jumpers👕 and raised money for Save the Children, combining festive fun with generosity🩷🎀.
🍰5 York Close
Joanne successfully completed her three-month goal of making a homemade corned beef pie🥧. With guidance from Catherine, she gathered ingredients, learned each step, and built confidence in the kitchen👩🏻🍳. Sharing the finished pie with family and friends made the achievement even more meaningful🍾🎉
🚗4 York Close
Scott has been enjoying his new car and heading out on trips with staff, embracing independence and new experiences.
🌟Compliments and Shoutouts🌟
🎁4 York Close
Huge congratulations to Okunrounmu Abiodun and the team for their amazing work supporting Scott! A recent assessment showed great progress in his eating and drinking, and the speech assessor praised the team for their dedication and positive impact. This is wonderful recognition of the difference our staff make every day, truly something to celebrate!
🎇Nevinson
A big shout-out to Gareth and the team for the outstanding support they provide! During a recent visit, Mano’s aunty noticed the progress he has made and personally thanked staff for their care and dedication. This feedback highlights the incredible work our staff do every day — a real reason to celebrate!
🥳Denmark Street
A huge well done to Emma and the team for their fantastic work supporting Margaret! Margaret’s sister- in-law praised Emma for ensuring Margaret attends all her appointments and noted the positive difference it has made. She also commented on how smart Margaret looked and thanked the team for their dedication, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Wonderful recognition of the hard work and care our staff provide every day!
🍰Ravenscroft
Scott made a lovely cup of coffee for Lilly, Margaret, and Shirley, saying, “yous work hard enough and deserve to be treated, especially after getting soaked during the sponsored walk.” It’s such a sweet reminder of how much your hard work and care mean to the people here. Thank you, Lilly, Margaret, and Shirley, for always going above and beyond—you make a real difference every day!
🌳Greenside
During Isabelle’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Annual Review Meeting, it was shared that the support provided by Julia and the team at Ashdown Care has been exceptional. The feedback highlighted how happy they are with the care and support Isabelle receives, noting that the team is doing a great job. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication!
🎇 Gary’s Section
🎄End of Year Message – Looking Ahead to 2026
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
As we step into 2025 and begin looking ahead to 2026, it feels like the right time to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come together. The past year has brought its share of challenges and learning, but it has also highlighted the strength, kindness, and resilience within our teams. Every day, you continue to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of the people we support and to each other.
Looking towards 2026, our focus remains rooted in our CARE values — Commitment to quality Care, Always Work as a Team, Respect and Dignity, and Education and Reflection. These values guide how we work, how we support one another, and how we continue to grow as an organisation.
✨Thank You
Thank you for your dedication, compassion, and professionalism. Whatever 2026 brings, we move forward together — stronger, wiser, and proud of the care we provide. Wishing you and your loved ones a healthy, positive, and fulfilling year ahead.🩷
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