Every Kind Of Care

What a widely embracing word is 'care', with so many connotations. It has a number of dictionary definitions too, but the one with which we are this week mainly concerned is 'the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something'. Which all sounds very matter of fact. When as we know, 'care' is often an exceptionally emotional matter.

Our National Health Service of course has the giant care role to play and appreciates the help it gets from communities. See below for a special appeal by our tirelessly caring Rotary Club of Lymington for its Fundraising Quiz, to buy furniture, toys and a portable TV to make the Children's Waiting Room at Lymington New Forest Hospital a more relaxing environment. A mention here too for the brilliant Lymington Hospital Friends - and New Forest Hospital Radio!

Sometimes the most in need of 'care' is actually the 'carer'.  Which Oakhaven Hospice knows only too well, hence the additional wellbeing support it provides at the Coates Centre, for as long as it's needed to the partners and families of the patients who receive its tender care most directly, and to the community as a whole.

Hospice care is there for people when they need it most, providing comfort, dignity and support to those facing dying, death and grief. But to make sure this care is always available, hospices need to plan for the future. And now alongside 143 other hospices across England, Wales and Scotland, Oakhaven is part of a new campaign led by Hospice UK called 'This Is Hospice Care', which highlights the vital role hospices play in communities and the importance of legacy giving in securing their future. Do watch the campaign's TV ad in the article.

'Dementia' is a still very much a one way road which also becomes increasingly challenging and stressful for partners; Lymington Dementia Action Group's Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions providing art, music and other activities for people with dementia brings carers together too, for welcome chat with others who know what they're going through.

In our local care homes and particularly supporting people who may be lonely in their own homes, monthly 'Tea and Togetherness' are now served by Colten Care at Woodpeckers and Court Lodge, for dates see also Diary below. And at Sway Place Care Home (formerly Gracewell of Sway), an afternoon of 'Musical Moments' is becoming a monthly diary date for people with dementia and their carers. (The next one is 18 March, click here!)

Last week we mentioned mental health charity Hammersley Homes (do sign up for its Spinnaker Tower Abseil Challenge in June!) which is now also running FREE mental health Wellbeing Drop In Sessions, on Wednesday mornings in Ringwood.

If you know of people who might benefit from these opportunities, please do let them know!

Care 'at home' is for some a preferred alternative to moving lock stock and barrel to a care home, and Oakhaven Care, a 'Social Enterprise' company all of whose profits go to support the work of Oakhaven Hospice, is a highly regarded local option.

Following a week of increasingly disturbing news for Ukraine, it's lovely to learn that Balmer Lawn Hotel has via the wonderful ‘New Forest for Ukraine’ charity, itself run by an amazing team of caring people, donated its multi-gym equipment to care for injured Ukrainians in their rehabilitation and recovery. 

Balmer Lawn is also creating space - for an upgraded and extended spa and wellness area, which will include a 15-person sauna with volcanic salt wall, 12-person steam room, 2 'monsoon' showers, and, roll of drums... the only ice room in the entire New Forest! Watch out for news of its opening in early April. Notwithstanding the financial challenges they along with most businesses currently face, Chris and Alison Wilson who own Balmer Lawn are bravely investing to make their hotel better than ever.

Which brings me to this week's newsletter from Matthew at New Forest Business Partnership, which reminds us that we as a community can all make conscious choices to care about and support local businesses, also to give them feedback and share our positive experiences with others: it all helps!

In other news, the arrival of wheelie bins in the New Forest is now imminent. South New Forest (includes Ashley, Barton On Sea, Bashley, parts of Beaulieu, Boldre, East Boldre, Brockenhurst, Buckland, Hordle, Pennington, Lymington, Milford On Sea, New Milton, Sway) is in 'Phase One' which means new collections start from 6 June, with the new bins arriving from April. Click here for information and to sign up for update emails.

Also, consultation is now open on proposals to set up a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Hampshire and the Solent, with potentially big implications for us on its western periphery. Click here to read more and give your views.

Whilst we await the arrival of weather to entice us into our gardens and generally outdoors (and here's wishing warmth and less wind, for next weekend's Crew Match at Royal Lymington Yacht Club), do read below about an indoor opportunity at 'Out of the Grey'.

In addition to some potentially exciting rugby games (don't forget you can watch them all in convivial company at the Turfcutters where there's also live music tonight) there are lots of interesting events taking place this weekend and next week, as you will see in the Diary below. A special mention for Wednesday's fascinating sounding evening talk by environmental champion Dom Langley which has just been added to our Events Calendar by the Countryside Education Trust: The rivers and streams of the New Forest and the fish that live in them.

Best wishes Jane
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Read the rest of this week's newsletter here

And check out What's On in the Diary of Upcoming Events!

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