Newsletter – July 2026
3rd August 2026
Welcome to the June edition of our Ashdown Care Newsletter! This month has been filled with exciting adventures, celebrations, and heartfelt moments that truly showcase the dedication and enthusiasm of our service users and staff. As always, we are incredibly proud of the progress our service users have made, and we continue to be amazed by the hard work and compassion of our staff teams who support them every day. We’ve gathered some highlights of the month to share with you, from memorable outings to well-deserved celebrations. Thank you for your continued commitment to providing the best possible care and making a positive impact in the lives of those we support.
Celebrating John Farrimond’s Memorial Birthday
On the 25th of May, we gathered at Ravenscroft for a wonderful day of celebration in memory of John Farrimond. The memorial birthday party was a heartwarming occasion, with fantastic support from all involved. Thanks to everyone who contributed, and to the homes that attended, we raised an impressive £281.00 for their garden fund. The day was a huge success, Thank you to everyone who attended!
Ralph’s Busy Week
Ralph is always excited about his work at the head office, where he follows his cleaning list with pride and enjoys chatting with the office staff. His monthly meetings with Pauline are something he looks forward to, and he enjoys collecting his wages from Joe upstairs.
Ralph is saving up for a holiday to Skegness in September with his housemates, and we wish him an amazing trip!
Recently, Ralph went on a mystery tour with support worker Chioma, organized by Caledonia Travel. The adventure took them to Lake Windermere, where Ralph had a great time buying a cap, enjoying an ice cream, and feeding the swans. He’s already looking forward to his next mystery tour and the excitement it will bring.
Ron, Ralph, and Ed’s Summer Project
Together with staff member Alison, Ron, Ralph, and Ed decided to clean and decorate Denmark Yard for summer. They’ve created a quiet space to relax in the sunshine, which everyone has enjoyed. Ron and Ed especially loved the activity, and Ralph was happy to help Alison with rearranging the yard. A great teamwork effort!
Scott’s Half-Term Adventure
Scott had a fantastic half-term, filled with fun and engaging activities. His week began with a visit to The Gold Medal pub, enjoying quality time with his family. Later, Scott had a sensory-rich outing to the beach, followed by a fun-filled day at InflateSpace. He also enjoyed an arcade and bowling session, where he demonstrated great coordination. His confidence continues to grow, and we’re excited for more adventures ahead!
Henry’s Trip to Benidorm
Henry had an unforgettable time in Benidorm, supported by Pearl and Susanne. Before the trip, he treated himself to a shave and a wax at the Turkish barbers. Henry thoroughly enjoyed his time away and is already planning his next adventure, with Greece in mind for next year!
Chris and Faye Enjoy Wrestling
Chris and Faye had an action-packed day attending a wrestling event. They even had the chance to meet one of the wrestlers! It was a day filled with excitement, and they had a great time together.
Joanne’s Fun Outings
Joanne had a wonderful walk along Roker Beach with her staff member Beverley, finishing off the evening with a delicious kebab. The next night, Joanne visited The Stack in Seaham, where she enjoyed a drink and a live band. It was lovely to hear that Joanne looked happy and content, and she is already looking forward to returning to The Stack for her next visit!
Faye’s 30th Birthday Celebration
Faye Baxter had a fantastic 30th birthday party at the Elmfield Pub in Hebburn. Surrounded by family and friends, Faye had a wonderful time. Happy 30th Birthday Faye!!
Thurston’s Enjoyable Activities
Paige and Erin enjoyed some great activities together. They were also pictured enjoying the lovely weather, with Erin taking her dog, Monty, for a walk along the beach. It’s always heartwarming to see our service users making the most of their time.
John’s Deep Clean Success
At St. Mary’s, John really took pride in keeping his flat spotless, even in the sweltering heat. On Thursday, he completed a thorough deep clean and enjoyed a cool can of his favorite drink, Madri, once the task was done. Well done, John!
Julia’s Leavers Prom
We’re thrilled to share these photos of Isobel and Taai at their Leavers Prom. It was a fantastic event, and everyone had a great time celebrating together.
Compliments and Recognition
John Farrimond’s sister, Linda, praised Emmanuel (Ashdown bank) and South Hill staff for their wonderful interaction with service users at the memorial event. Linda mentioned how lovely it was to see Emmanuel dancing with the service users and ensuring everyone was enjoying themselves.
Lisa Fearon complimented Ashdown for the smooth transitions in our services, expressing how pleased she was to work with us.
During a visit to Ravenscroft, Donna shared how impressed she was with Carolyn Palmer’s dedication to the service users’ well-being and the investment being made in improving their lives.
Garys Section
Thought of the Month: “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
In care, we’re often flat out—responding to needs, managing routines, juggling rotas. It’s easy to slip into ‘just get through the day’ mode. But life isn’t meant to be just about surviving shifts—it’s about living with purpose.
We all have things that bring us joy: time with family, walking the dog, music, baking, or even just a good cuppa in peace. These are not luxuries—they are essentials. The better we are at living our own lives fully, the better we can support others to do the same.
Let’s remember our CARE values:
So this month, ask yourself: am I making time for life, not just a living? If not, maybe it’s time to start.
South Tyneside Parade Reminder
We’re excited to invite you, service users, staff teams, and families to join us for the South Tyneside Parade on Saturday, 5th July 2025. This vibrant event celebrates community and sustainability, and we’d love to showcase the amazing work we do at Ashdown Care. Let’s get creative with costumes and props for the theme of Environment and Sustainability, and enjoy the festivities at Bents Park after the parade. We hope to see you all there!
CQC Quality Statement Focus – Environmental Sustainability
As shared with you on 11th June 2025, we’ve launched a new initiative to support our ongoing commitment to the CQC Quality Statements. Each month, we’ll be focusing on one statement — using it as a lens to reflect on our practice, gather evidence, and celebrate the amazing work happening across our services.
This month, our spotlight is on a crucial area: Environmental Sustainability.
“We understand any negative impact of our activities on the environment, and we strive to make a positive contribution in reducing it and support people to do the same.”
We’ve seen an inspiring level of engagement already, with teams getting creative, thinking locally, and involving both staff and service users in meaningful, sustainable action. Here are just a few brilliant examples:
🍀 Melanie’s Green Action Day
Melanie led a same-day Green Champion meeting involving both staff and service users, kickstarting a day of impactful action. Her team promoted small, everyday behaviours like switching off lights, reducing food waste, and better recycling. The garden was given a sustainable facelift using recycled materials, colour-coded bins were introduced, and energy-saving lighting and TV timers were installed.
✅ Supports CQC Regulations 10, 17, 18 – dignity, governance, staff involvement
🌍 Environmental Workshop & Parade (Laura & Yvonne)
Laura and Yvonne delivered interactive workshops on recycling, waste, and sustainable living, involving participants in fun and educational activities. They made recycled costumes and took their message to the community, proudly representing Ashdown at the South Tyneside Summer Parade with their eco-stall.
✅ Supports CQC Regulations 10, 17, 18 – inclusion, governance, education
🌱 Julia’s Local Leadership
Julia has taken practical steps toward long-term sustainability by overseeing the installation of LED lighting and championing energy-saving habits. She also brought the community together through a public litter-picking event and encouraged shared travel and electric bus use to cut carbon emissions.
✅ Supports CQC Regulations 10, 17, 18 – community involvement, sustainability in care
🌾 Ron & Ed’s Eco-Education
Ron and Ed have taken their green learning to the next level by gaining hands-on experience in sustainable farming, habitat care, and animal welfare. They’ve grown their own food in a greenhouse and are currently raising chicks at Bill Quay Farm — with plans to rent an allotment to further their food independence.
✅ Supports CQC Regulations 10, 17, 18 – empowerment, independence, eco-awareness
⭐ Why We Believe We’re Outstanding
🌿 Practical, inclusive environmental education
👥 Full engagement of staff and service users
🌎 Real impact on our carbon footprint and wider community
📚 A culture of reflection, learning & continuous improvement
Together, these inspiring initiatives show how small, meaningful actions can drive real, lasting change. We’re incredibly proud of the creativity, leadership, and teamwork demonstrated — and this is just the beginning.
Let’s keep the momentum going! Next month’s CQC focus will be announced soon — watch this space.
Thank you
Finally, we’d like to take a moment to thank all of our incredible staff for their ongoing hard work, dedication, and support. Your efforts make a world of difference in the lives of those we care for, and we are grateful for everything you do. From organizing fun activities to providing compassionate care, your commitment is truly appreciated. Let’s keep up the fantastic work and continue making a positive impact together!
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Kind regards,
Ashdown Care
3rd August 2026
3rd July 2026
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