9:48 am, July 9, 2018
INCHCAPE UK’s Toyota retail centre in Basingstoke has made a donation of £1,550 to support a project which brings different generations together to help combat loneliness.
The money will enable youngsters from the Happy Faces Playgroup in Sherfield-on-Loddon continue to visit residents at Cherry Blossom Manor Care Home in Bramley.
The visits involve activity sessions for both the children and elderly residents including arts and crafts, board games, singing, baking and picnics.
The joint initiative was inspired by a recent television documentary called Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds.
The programme highlighted the plight of loneliness in the elderly and showed how the presence of children can have a positive effect on their well-being, as well as being an equally valuable experience for the youngsters.
The donation to help fund this project was presented to the playgroup as part of the Toyota Fund for a Better Tomorrow – a nationwide programme of grants which Toyota retail centres can bid for to support charities, schools and community projects in their area.
The cheque was presented by general manager Andy Hollis and general sales manager Karen Watters from Inchcape Toyota Basingstoke, based on the Houndmills Industrial Estate.
Mr Hollis said: ‘The playgroup visits help the residents at Cherry Blossom Manor Care Home enormously. It brings joy and laughter to the home, brightening up the day for some of the elderly residents.
‘Karen and I witnessed this on a recent visit. The whole atmosphere of the home changed instantly with smiles all round as the children rushed in. The Toyota Fund for a Better Tomorrow is a fantastic initiative.’
This is the second successful local community grant bid by Inchcape Toyota Basingstoke this year. The team also successfully applied for money to support SeeAbility’s Heather House in Tadley.
A donation of £1,550 was presented to the residential home, which provides high-quality specialist nursing services to people with rare and life-limiting conditions, to help refurbish its gym and buy new physiotherapy equipment.
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