Four Seasons Health Care is proud that our care homes form part of the communities around them, and we believe that being part of those communities gives us a responsibility to help where we can. This can include raising funds for causes that local communities believe in, as well as supporting the wider community by raising funds for national charities.

We also believe that encouraging our residents to maintain their links with their community forms an integral part of the care we provide.

These beliefs are reflected in our charitable giving strategy.

MacMillan Cancer Support

£10,000 in 2010 and 2011

Action on Elder Abuse

£3,500 in 2011

The main focus of our work for charities is centred around:

• Charities that help us engage with the communities we are part of
  
• Charities that provide care and support in areas that affect our residents
  
• Charities that are based in areas where we have care homes and facilities

Although these areas are not an exclusive list, we wouldn't generally support charities with a political aim, individuals looking for sponsorship, charities not related to our core business, or any charity that conflicts with our ethical beliefs or committment to equality.

County Durham Community Foundation

£17,000 since 2009

MacMillan Cancer Support

Each year our care homes, facilities and support offices are encouraged to participate in the Big Coffee Morning at the end of September. We have raised over £10,000 during 2010 and 2011 for this cause.

Dementia UK

This year (2012) FSHC supported the Dementia UK‘Time for a Cuppa Day in February and raised almost £4,000.

Action on Elder Abuse.

In 2010 we raised around £3500 on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

County Durham Community Foundation.

Four Seasons Health Care has a long association with the County Durham Community Foundation and has through an Endowment Fund been able to support a variety of local causes with donations of over £17,000. Since 2009 this has included:

• Wear Valley Kurling Club - £983 to fund running costs and additional equipment
• Easington Wednesday Club - £425 towards activities
• Age UK Darlington - £696 towards the ‘Rely on Me’ Befriending project.
• Chester-le Street club - £686 towards equipment for the new memory Lane craft group.
• Crookhall Community Association - £436 to fund the running costs for a lunch club
• Greencroft Ladies Club - £200 to fund speakers during the year.
• Yarm Road Women’s Group - £400 to fund rental of premises to enable weekly meetings to continue.
• Durham Indoor Bowling Association Disabled Persons Development group - £1,420 to fund an adapted wheelchair to enable disabled persons to continue to play bowls.

Local Fundraising

We support our homes at a local level in the many smaller fundraising events they may wish to promote.