The Friends delivered cash for Christmas to the wards in the Epping Forest Unit and the Mental Health Unit.
The gift – totalling £2,400 – was gratefully received by the nursing staff in the wards, who used it to provide presents and seasonal cheer for patients. As always, this was much appreciated, especially by those who spent the actual festive days in hospital.
The Friends now look forward to a busy year of fundraising – getting ready to provide items requested by the wards, which the NHS budget can’t supply.
The latest request is a large one, which the team of occupational and physio therapists have devised following the publication of a global movement called ‘GET UP, GET DRESSED, GET MOVING.‘
This innovation is especially relevant to this St. Margaret’s team; they work to restore patient mobility and social interaction, helping patients recover positively and be well enough to return home successfully.
An essential space in a ward is a welcoming day room, a place which will motivate recovering patients to leave their beds in the wards and GET UP AND GO TO! At present, there’s no room which meets the therapists’ plans. But there can be if enough money can be raised to equip and enhance existing spaces.
So, they have asked the Friends for fundraising support so that patients can have comfortable seating, attractive furnishings, pictures on the walls, books to read, games to play together, TV to entertain and generate conversation and attractive plants to enhance the environment.
The framed pictures planned to decorate the day room walls are a selection created by art students from Harlow College, specifically for this project.
The team of therapists are organising fundraising events, which will be rolled out over the next few months, which the Friends will support. The Friends’ first fundraiser is the Spring Fayre, repeating the successful lunchtime events of the past few years, held in Theydon Bois Village Hall.
In 2025, the ‘GET UP, GET DRESSED, GET MOVING‘ project budgets have set high targets. So the Friends are hoping high numbers of people will come and enjoy home-made cakes, stalls selling plants, jewellery, cards, bric-a-brac and more. Plus, chances to win prizes on the tombola and raffle.
Make a note of the date. All the details are on our poster below! The venue is on the main road in Theydon Bois Village, there’s a huge car park at the Hall and Theydon Bois Underground station (on the Central line) is a five-minute walk away.
