Drumahoe’s YMCA hosting a craft fair and coffee morning raising funds for local care home

Drumahoe’s YMCA will host a craft fair and coffee morning to raise funds for a local care home.

Ann's Ardlough care home in Drumahoe has arranged his event to help raise funds for their resident activities fund.

Mark Collins, the nursing home manager, said it enables residents to have more quality activities and outings.

He said: “Our budget would be quite low, and we hope to raise money to give us an opportunity to have more activities.

“There is a lot of asking local people to come in for free, like singers or other acts, but the likes of day trips, that would cost money.

“There are some residents that would not have family or a lot of finance, so it will go towards them being more involved.

"We are trying to raise money to make their lives as good as they can be through various activities."

The event will have 15 stalls, with local businesses selling their products, including arts and crafts and activities for children, while the residents of the home will be selling their own Christmas decorations as we edge closer to the festive period.

The event is inviting all from Derry, cityside and waterside, on Saturday, November 2, from 10 am until 1 pm.

Mr Collins said: “We would like as many people to come as possible; we will have face painting and a lot of stuff for children to keep them entertained. 

“We want to bring awareness and make ourselves known in Ardlough—that we are approachable, part of the community, and willing to work with everyone.

“We are trying to link the community with the nursing home, so basically integrate our residents with the community because they are a part of it, a valued part of it.”

Mr Collins also hopes that these links to the community will help reduce the stigma around people living in care homes.

Events like this are helping bring their residents into the community, and we are hopeful this and other events can help this goal.

Mr Collins said: “Their lives matter.

“The likes of the YMCA are starting a Christmas tree, where the community would purchase gifts. We would explain the type of resident with their likes, and they take the tag from the tree and leave the gift in, so they are not feeling left out to feel included and get a gift on Christmas day.

“For the likes of the residents who do not have families, they value the staff as part of the family, and working in a nursing home is 24 hours a day, so the likes of our staff will have to work over Christmas with the residents so it will give them a sense of value and worth.”