Grace Cares Unit Archives - Page 2 of 2

Grace Cares and Barchester Care Home Host Successful Corporate Afternoon Tea During Care Home Open Week 2024

Grace Cares, in partnership with Barchester Care Home, hosted a memorable corporate afternoon tea event as part of the Care Home Open Week 2024. The event provided an engaging and insightful experience for the wider business community while offering delightful entertainment for both guests and residents.

The afternoon was filled with a harmonious performance by a barbershop quartet, adding a touch of nostalgia and charm to the atmosphere. Guests and residents alike enjoyed the melodic tunes, creating a joyful and communal spirit.

A highlight of the event was the raffle, organized to raise funds for Grace Cares. Participants eagerly took part in the heads and tails game, adding an element of fun and friendly competition to the afternoon. Both activities were met with enthusiasm, fostering a sense of unity and purpose among attendees.

In line with the theme of sustainability, Grace Cares shared important facts about sustainability in care, emphasising their commitment to environmentally conscious practices within the care home setting. These insights resonated with the audience, inspiring discussions about integrating sustainable measures into everyday operations.

The centerpiece of the event was the delicious afternoon tea, meticulously prepared to cater to diverse tastes. The spread included a variety of savory and sweet treats, ensuring that every guest found something to enjoy. The afternoon tea provided an excellent opportunity for networking, with business professionals and care home staff exchanging ideas and building connections.

“We are thrilled to have partnered with Barchester Care Home for this wonderful event,” said Emma Smith, Founder of Grace Cares. “It was heartening to see the business community come together to learn more about the care home environment and to share in the joy of our residents. Events like these highlight the importance of community, compassion, and sustainability in our industry.”

The corporate afternoon tea during Care Home Open Week 2024 successfully showcased the vibrant and caring environment of The Spires – Barchester Care Home, demonstrating the positive impact of community involvement and sustainable practices. Grace Cares looks forward to continuing its mission of fostering connections and promoting well-being within the care community.

For more information about Grace Cares’ mission, please call 01543 730189 or email hello@grace-cares.com .

Grace Cares, a Lichfield based not-for-profit dedicated to saving care equipment and supporting health and social care, is thrilled to announce its first highly anticipated event, “Pimp My Ride 2024.” Taking place at the vibrant The Hub at St. Mary’s in Lichfield, this exhibition showcases the imaginative prowess of local schools and colleges as they transform Zimmer Frames into remarkable works of art.

Hannah Montgomery, co-founder of Grace Cares, expressed her excitement about the event, stating, “Pimp My Ride embodies the spirit of creativity and community that Grace Cares stands for. We’re thrilled to see how each participant has brought their unique vision to life, while also supporting our mission of repurposing care equipment and fostering understanding across generations.”

Louise Fleming, CEO of The Hub at St. Mary’s, echoed Hannah’s sentiments, emphasising the significance of collaborative efforts. “We’re honored to host such a fantastic exhibition that brings together individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Pimp My Ride exemplifies the power of creativity to spark meaningful connections and inspire positive change.”

Maggie Candlish, Deputy Head Teacher at Saxon Hill Academy, shared her enthusiasm for the exhibition, highlighting its educational value. “Participating as judges in Pimp My Ride will be an incredible learning experience for our students. It’s not just about creating art; it’s about understanding the importance of empathy, collaboration, and making a difference in the community.”

The Pimp My Ride 2024 exhibition will run from 28th June to 2nd July at The Hub at St. Mary’s, inviting members of the community to explore the transformed Zimmer Frames and cast their votes for their favorite designs. Plus, the winning entrant will walk away with £200!

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about Grace Cares’ impactful initiatives such as their sustainability support for care providers nationwide, their monthly programme of activities for older people and the hardship grants they distribute and how they can get involved.

For more information about Pimp My Ride 2024 and Grace Cares’ mission, please call 01543 730189, email hello@grace-cares.com or visit our Annual Intergenerational Campaign page.

Partnering to champion ESG and Sustainability in Social Care

Attis Care by Attis Insurance Brokers, renowned for its innovative insurance solutions, proudly announces its collaboration with Grace Cares, a not-for-profit on a mission to support health and social care and the planet. This strategic alliance not only marks a milestone in community support but also underscores a shared commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and sustainability.

Who?

Attis Care is known for it integrity-driven approach and commitment to client-centric service. With a focus on ESG factors and sustainability, Attis Care has consistently sought to align its operations with responsible care business practices, recognising the interconnectedness between business success and societal well-being.

Grace Cares, shares a similar ethos, placing emphasis on sustainability and social equity and has been at the forefront of driving positive change and fostering a more equitable and sustainable future for the care sector.

The decision to unite as partners reflects a mutual dedication to advancing ESG goals and sustainability initiatives. By combining their expertise and resources, Attis Care and Grace Cares aim to make meaningful progress in addressing pressing social and environmental challenges in the sector. They will collaborate on initiatives that support care providers to evolve their ESG strategies.

Why?

“This partnership exemplifies our firm belief in the power of collaboration to drive positive change,” remarked James Burgan, at Attis Care by Attis Insurance Brokers. “At Attis Care, we recognise the importance of integrating ESG considerations into our business strategy to support our care home customers. Partnering with Grace Cares allows us to further enhance our impact and contribute to building resilient and sustainable communities.”

Likewise, Hannah Montgomery at Grace Cares, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s potential, stating, “By joining forces with Attis Care, we are strengthening our collective ability to address challenges in the sector we love and create lasting positive change. We are very excited to launch some joint project work later on this year, watch this space! Be the change you want to see.”

For more information about Attis Care by Attis Insurance Brokers, please visit https://www.attisinsurancebrokers.com/

Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce have announced that their chosen charity for 2024-25 will be Grace Cares, after a charity selection event at Drayton Manor Hotel.

There were three charities shortlisted – Grace Cares, Heart of Tamworth Community Project and Pathway Project.

After the charities shared their pitches to be the charity of the year, a vote took place with Grace Cares chosen as the winning charity.

Grace Cares are a Lichfield based not-for-profit on a mission to save care equipment from landfill – making it available to the public, NHS, health and social care providers at less than half the original RRP and use those profits to support health and social care workers and older people nationwide.

The charity provides grants for health and social care workers and support for the local community of Lichfield and Tamworth with monthly sustainable activities and support such as companionship tea parties and dementia friendly, sustainable kindness rock painting.

Fiona Rouse, president of the Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce, said: “It was a fantastic event, and the committee and I are really looking forward to working with Grace Cares over the next couple of years.”

Pictured (L-R): Adam Gadsby (Future Faces committee), Clare Lubrano (Lichfield and Tamworth committee), Fiona Rouse (Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber president), Emma Smith (Grace Cares), Hannah Mongomery (Grace Cares), John Moore (Lichfield and Tamworth committee), Matthew Small (T150 Energy – sponsor), Richard Wileman (Burton committee)

Are you a Community Engagement & Volunteer Hero?

🕰 25 hours per week (flexible hours)

We are very much up for a discussion on how you see this role suiting you. Finding the right people is far more important to us.

💷 £19,500 pro rata based on 25 hours a week (depending on experience)
📍 Based at Elmhurst Business Park, Lichfield

Who are we?

Grace Cares are a Lichfield based not-for-profit on a mission to save care equipment from landfill – make it available to the public, NHS, health and social care providers at less than half the original RRP and use those profits to support health and social care workers and older people nationwide with grants and support our local community of Lichfield district with monthly sustainable activities and support such as companionship tea parties, befriending calls and dementia friendly, sustainable kindness rock painting.

We are looking for a hero to embrace the role of our Community Engagement and Volunteer Officer. We are very happy to offer flexible working hours for the right people. The role will be predominately based at the beautiful Elmhurst Business Park, Lichfield (there are horses and lots of lovely outdoor spaces), with travel to local community groups in the Lichfield district (travel costs will be covered).

What are the duties and responsibilities?

The role of the Community Engagement & Volunteer Hero will flex with the needs of the day. We can promise you won’t be bored, and you will feel immense job satisfaction – you’re going to be making a real difference. Some of your responsibilities will include:

Grace Cares Hub Support

Responding to customer enquiries via the phone, social media channels and emails to ensure they receive the very best experience when dealing with Grace Cares.
Showing people the care equipment that we have in stock when they come to the Grace Cares Hub.
Administration support, including monitoring and ordering required supplies, updating collection and delivery timetables, and updating display boards.
Assist in carrying out weekly and monthly sustainability and health and safety checks.
Open and close the Grace Cares hub as required, including ensuring adequate security and key holding.
Ensure the Grace Cares Hub is clean and tidy on a day-to-day basis.
Help to organise Grace Cares events, such as our birthday parties.

Volunteer Program

Help to develop, recruit, evaluate, and maintain our volunteer program, including supporting volunteers, and records skills, performance, availability, and scheduling when they will be in each week (we need to make sure we have enough lunch in!) or when they will be supporting sustainable activities or hosting/driving for a companionship tea party.
Develop a volunteer manual for internal use that provides information and guidelines for our lovely volunteers.
Maintain high levels of communication to keep volunteers properly informed about what’s happening at Grace Cares Hub each week and be on hand for a chinwag when they come in.
Ensure compliance with volunteer-specific and organisational guidelines, policies and procedures, including actioning DBS checks when the volunteers come on board.
Assist the co-founders to report on our volunteer program.

Community Interaction

Support us to deliver sustainable activities in more local care homes such as Kindness Rock Painting Sessions, including communications with the care homes, ensuring we have the supplies to deliver the sessions and the supporting volunteers.
Support us to offer more companionship tea parties to the local community, including calling the older people to see if they still want to come to the tea party and double checking the guest volunteers can still host.
Support the delivery of our annual school focused Intergenerational community project. This year we have a pimp my ride exhibition happening in July at St Mary’s The Hub.
Reach out and collaborate with our local community group partners, including Lichfield Dementia Community and Lichfield Repair and Share café. We are strong all working and supporting each other.
Assist the co-founders to report on our community interaction.

We need you to…

Able to communicate effectively with the team, customers and our community partners by telephone, face to face and email.

Self-motivated with very strong interpersonal, organisational and IT skills
Ability to analyse information from a variety of sources, together with written and verbal skills needed to present and discuss opinions and conclusions.

Have a high attention to detail.

Ability to prioritise and manage own working hours with flexibility.
Ability to confidently recruit, train and manage volunteers.
Ability to communicate with people of all ages and abilities effectively.

Be passionate about great quality service and working together as a team.
Be organised, proactive and efficient.
Track and manage projects to ensure deadlines are met and timescales maintained.
Be passionate about the Grace Cares mission.

It would be nice for you to have…

An understanding of health and social care and the demographics of the local community we support.
Customer service experience.
Experience of delivering activities to older people.
Experience of working with volunteers.
Worked in an office environment in a previous role.
Have experience working in or with an administrative role.

Expected Start Date:

As soon as possible, but happy to be flexible for the right people.

Benefits:

On-site free parking
Tea, coffee and snacks – we are feeders!
Company pension
Health & wellbeing programme
Company uniform provided – have a look on the website – don’t worry they are nice, branded hoodies and t-shirts.
External independent HR services
Travel expenses.

Education:

We don’t care – its all about your attitude and what experience you have in the real world.

If you would like to make a real difference to the sustainability of our planet, our precious health and social care system and within the local community please send the following to hello@grace-cares.com :

CV
Covering letter to better describe you as an individual and how you could fit into the team – this could be a video snippet if you preferred.

Grace Cares CIC Hosts Successful Volunteer Day with HBFS Equity Release, Prizm Insurance, and Aviva

Grace Cares, a Lichfield not-for-profit organisation based in Lichfield, recently organised a rewarding volunteer day in collaboration with the dedicated staff from HBFS Equity Release, Prizm Insurance, and Aviva. The event aimed to contribute to the community by engaging in various activities, with a particular focus on promoting well-being among residents of local care homes.

The volunteer day kicked off with teams from HBFS Equity Release, Prizm Insurance, and Aviva joining forces at local care homes – The Spires Barchester and Rosemary Lodge. The primary activity for the day was kindness rock painting, a therapeutic and creative pursuit known to benefit individuals, especially those with dementia. The teams actively interacted with residents, fostering a sense of joy and connection through artistic expression.

In addition to the engaging activities, volunteers received hands-on training in care equipment cleaning at the Grace Cares Hub, had insightful discussions with the Grace Cares fixer team, and participated in a photography session capturing images of care equipment. Notably, the volunteers also took part in uploading information about the care equipment onto the Grace Cares website and various reseller platforms.

One heartwarming highlight of the day was a volunteer from the team delivering a wheelchair to a local resident on their way home. This act of kindness exemplifies the commitment of Grace Cares and its partners to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals within the community.

“We believe in the power of collaboration and community engagement,” said Emma Smith, Founder of Grace Cares CIC. “The volunteer day was a wonderful opportunity for our team and the staff from HBFS Equity Release, Prizm Insurance, and Aviva to come together, share experiences, and make a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.”

Aviva, one of the participating organisations, expressed their enthusiasm for the initiative. “At Aviva, we are committed to supporting initiatives that create positive change in communities and the environment. Grace Cares offers both and we look forward to future collaborations that make a meaningful impact,” said Stacey Combellack, Broker Development Manager, Aviva

Grace Cares CIC encourages other organisations to join in and contribute to the community and the environment. If your company is interested in volunteering with Grace Cares, please contact hello@grace-cares.com or 01543 326819.

Be the change you want to see.

Following a heartwarming 1st Year Birthday Brunch celebration, Grace Cares, the dedicated not-for-profit providing Pre-Loved Care Equipment, extends a massive thank you to everyone who has contributed to their success. Co-founders Emma, Adam, and Hannah have tirelessly worked on Grace Cares without financial gain, investing their own resources and pouring heart and soul into the cause because they believe it is the right thing to do.

Why Grace Cares?

The past year has highlighted the critical need for support in various aspects of our society. Grace Cares is on a mission to fight for older individuals who find themselves without anyone in their corner. Additionally, they aim to support the health and social care workforce, advocate for sustainability, and create a planet worth living in for the future. The co-founders are passionate about being the change they want to see in the world and many people now are believing in their mission and becoming part of their tribe.

Celebrating Milestones at the 1st Year Birthday Brunch:

The 1st Year Birthday Brunch, held on Valentine’s Day, was a heartfelt celebration and a moment of reflection on the incredible journey and progress made over the past year. Reflecting on the people they have been able to support, the difference they have already made to the environment, the awards from Aviva, Lichfield District Council and the health and social care sector already under their belts and support from Kartcher and the Commonwealth Games. Attendees enjoyed a delightful brunch featuring croissants, pastries, and beverages, capturing memories during the selfie time, and indulging in self-care with hand and Indian head massages provided by professional therapists from Senses and Siam and Serenity.

The event also provided a valuable networking opportunity, allowing attendees to learn more about Friends of Grace Cares and explore potential collaborations to further their mission of positive impact.

Ways to Support Grace Cares:

For those unable to attend the celebration, there are still various ways to support Grace Cares, whether that be volunteering, donating care equipment, becoming a friend of Grace Cares, or becoming a Corporate Partnership.

A Heartfelt Thank You from Grace Cares:

Emma, Adam, and Hannah express their deep appreciation and love to everyone who has joined their tribe and believed in their mission. In the words of Emma, one of the founders, “Grace Cares has been a journey of passion and purpose. We are immensely grateful for the support we’ve received and in turn the amount of people we have been able to help. Together, we are making a positive impact, and this celebration is a testament to the power of collective effort. THANK YOU”

Grace Cares, the renowned not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing pre-loved care equipment and fostering community engagement, is thrilled to announce the official opening of its new unit at Elmhurst Business Park in Lichfield. The recycled paper chain ceremony, graced by the presence of the Mayor of Lichfield and the President of the Chamber of Commerce, marks a significant milestone in Grace Cares mission to make care equipment accessible, reduce landfill waste, and support those in need.

Less than a year since its inception, Grace Cares has experienced exponential growth, prompting the move to a larger unit. This expansion allows the team to process more pre-loved care equipment, host additional events, and further contribute to its overarching goals of sustainability and community support.

The not-for-profit’s commitment to sustainability has not gone unnoticed. As the Grace Cares team recently earned the prestigious title of “Sustainable Business of the Year” from the Lichfield District Council. This recognition highlights the positive impact the team has had in promoting environmental responsibility and addressing the pressing issue of care equipment waste.

Grace Cares operates with a unique model – providing pre-loved care equipment at less than half the retail price, preventing unnecessary waste, and channeling profits to support care workers, older individuals, and their families through hardship grants nationwide. Additionally, they actively contribute to the local community by organising social groups and activities, offering a sense of belonging and camaraderie to local residents.

Reflecting on this achievement, Emma Smith, Co-Founder of Grace Cares 11.11 CIC, expressed gratitude, stating, “Our new unit symbolises not just growth but our collective commitment to sustainability and community welfare. We are excited about the positive impact we can make in the lives of individuals and the environment.”

The Mayor of Lichfield, Ann Hughes, conveyed congratulations, saying, “Grace Cares is a wonderful idea and exemplifies the spirit of community support. The opening of their new unit is a testament to their dedication to make a difference.”

The President of the Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce, Fiona Rouse, added, “It’s inspiring to witness the success of organisations like Grace Cares that combine business acumen with a deep sense of social responsibility. We look forward to their continued positive impact on our community.”

Grace Cares 11.11 CIC invites the public to join in the celebration of their new unit at their 1st birthday party next year on Valentine’s day emphasising the importance of collaboration in building a sustainable and caring community. In the meantime, please drop in and say hello!

Why not click here to see the video of the official paper chain cutting! Be the change you want to see.