Charity calls for help to revamp therapy pool

Sunday 13 July 2014

Have you got an idea floating around that could help one local charity raise almost £200,000 and do up its hydrotherapy centre?

Jersey Cheshire Home’s fundraising campaign has been going swimmingly, but it still needs more money to revamp the pool, along with exercise and treatment rooms.

The Home’s General Manager David Lord said: “We are very pleased to announce that we have already obtained pledges for more than £100,000 for this project. It will also be the target for money raised by the Jersey Cheshire Home Trek Slovenia 2015 challenge. Nevertheless, that still leaves us a significant amount of money to raise. We hope that the many individuals, organisations and businesses who rallied to our worthy cause last year during our year to inspire, will now support the latest appeal.”

The Home’s 25 residents use the centre every day for physiotherapy and other activities that the charity says are vital for their rehabilitation, recovery and well-being.

The facilities are also used by more than 200 outside users each week including Islanders with MS and Parkinson’s.

Chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Jersey Karen Eeles said: “Jersey Cheshire Homes provides our members with a safe environment, with qualified staff in which to exercise and help stay active. Members enjoy meeting up and having exercise classes that are tailored to meet their specific needs.  The facilities Jersey Cheshire Homes offer, support many organisations and our members definitely enjoy the benefits from these services.”

Chairman of the Jersey Branch of Parkinson’s Eileen Smith also lent her support to the chairty’s fundraising campaign saying: “The service the Jersey Cheshire Home provides is fantastic. A core group of our members uses the facilities throughout the week for fun sessions with their carers and one-to-one sessions with the physiotherapists. This service is very important and we can see the benefit it has for all who use the facilities.”

Mr Lord wants to hear from anyone with ideas, pledges or simple cash donations and says all will be very welcome.

Last year’s 30^th anniversary celebrations and fundraising enabled the Home to put in a new lift as well as raising the charity’s profile across the Island.