News The Orders of St John Care Trust and The Fremantle Trust to merge


Care provider The Orders of St John Care Trust has announced its merger with The Fremantle Trust.


Established in 1991, OSJCT is a charitable trust which supports nearly 3,000 older people, employs just over 4,400 staff, and manages over 500 volunteers in 61 care homes and eight extra care housing schemes across Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, West Sussex, and Wiltshire. The Fremantle Trust, also a charitable trust,


supports over 750 people and employs over 1,300 staff across Buckinghamshire, including 11 care homes and residential and supported living services for people with learning disabilities.


OSJCT chief executive Dan Hayes OBE said: “I am delighted that The Orders of St John Care Trust and The Fremantle Trust are coming together.


“Our two organisations share so many core


values which ensures that this merger is an ideal fit. We are both not-for-profit charities, absolutely dedicated to those who depend on


Brendoncare celebrates 40th anniversary


Hampshire-based charity The Brendoncare Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary with events across its care homes and community clubs. To launch the charity’s 40th year, a time capsule will be filled with photographs, stories, and poems that will show the many different ways in which the charity improves the quality of life for older people. At the end of the anniversary year, the time capsule will be buried in the grounds of Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill in Winchester.


The Brendoncare Foundation was


established on 14 February 1984. Its founder, Winchester GP Sir Ronald Gibson, chaired the British Medical Association. Convinced that older people were often let down by the institutions caring for them, he believed they should never have to move into a different care facility should their


health fail or mobility deteriorate. Sir Ronald pioneered the idea of tailoring a full range of care to fit the changing needs of people, always offering care with discretion, respect, and dignity. These principles continue to guide Brendoncare’s work today at its seven care homes across the south of England. Brendoncare chief executive Marianne Wanstall said: “This is a significant milestone in Brendoncare’s continuing work in providing care homes and a community services that enhance the quality of older people’s lives. This includes constantly finding new, innovative ways to meet their ever-changing needs. “Our anniversary gives us the perfect opportunity to celebrate with all the wonderful people – our residents and mews residents and their relatives, community members, our colleagues and volunteers, who make Brendoncare the vibrant, forward-thinking organisation it is today. “Our status as a charitable organisation


means we measure success by the impact on people’s lives. We also continue to ensure that the principles on which Brendoncare were founded are still central to our work today and in the future. “This includes our Care for Life promise that ensures that when we welcome a permanent resident into one of our care homes, they will never be asked to leave due to lack of funds.”


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us and those that deliver life-changing care and support.


“Pooling resources makes us stronger, more


able to invest in our future, and fundamentally, more sustainable. We expect to learn a great deal from our new colleagues, and we see this opportunity as a great privilege.” Jim Burness, outgoing chair of trustees at The Fremantle Trust said: “I am really delighted that The Fremantle Trust has found such a like-minded partner organisation as The Orders of St John Care Trust. This merger is a testament to our collective dedication to caring for some of the most vulnerable people in society.


“These are challenging times for social care. Together we have greater capacity to provide residential social care services, by charitable organisations, for the benefit of those that need it.”


MHA encourages public to support annual awareness event


MHA is asking the public to support its MHA Sunday event, which encourage churches to hold services to raise awareness of Methodist Homes. MHA Sunday is an annual event held


on the second Sunday of June. In 2024, this falls on Sunday 9 June. MHA Sunday is an opportunity for:


n Celebration of the work of MHA and the value of older people.


n Awareness of future needs and ways to respond.


n Fundraising to make a difference to t he quality of life for older people.


n Volunteers to work together. n Recognition of the Church in action for older people.


Abigail Ogier, head of chaplaincy at MHA, said: “Our links with the Methodist Church are highly valued at MHA, and MHA Sunday is one of the key times when we come together to give thanks for our work, to give local churches and congregations insight into a particular part of our work and to reflect, pray and worship together. “The gifts that congregations give at


their MHA Sunday services also make a massive contribution to supporting our charitable work.”


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com March 2024


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