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Martha Trust celebrates
20 years |
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The High Sheriff of Kent, attended a party at Martha Trust to celebrate 20 years of working with people with profound disabilities in Kent.
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| Nigel Wheeler In his official office of High Sheriff cut the 20th anniversary cake with residents and staff at Martha House. Local vicar of St George’s of Deal, Reverend Chris Spencer delivered a short blessing for the charity and guests included representatives of trusts, businesses and groups who have supported the charity over the last 20 years. |
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| The Chief Executive of Martha Trust, Graham Simmons, made a short presentation in which detailed the last 20 years and looked forward to the next 10 years. He explained: “Martha Trust started 20 years ago by local people who created a home for 8 people with profound disabilities, where individuals could enjoy a family approach to living.” Mr Simmons continued; “20 years on and Martha Trust runs 3 homes, a daycare centre and hydrotherapy pool, all of which provide vital, quality services for people with multiple disabilities. Over the next 10 years we hope to increase our services to help more people in need.” Commenting finally he said: “We are grateful to all the individuals, groups, businesses and trusts who have supported us over the years – It is only with this support that we can make an impact on the lives of so many people.” |
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| Martha Trust can provide talks about their 20 year history to groups and businesses. For more information call 01304 615223 or email contact@marthatrust.org.uk |
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Mary House wins Award
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| Mary House picked up a highly commended award at the 2007 Sussex Heritage Trust awards in July.
Builders, Quadric Ltd and Architect Paul Dowinton were praised for constructing and designing a home which so effectively meets the needs of young people with profound and multiple disabilities. Gary Williams, Managing Director of Quadric Ltd received the award at the high profile awards dinner at the East Sussex National Hotel in Uckfield.
Martha Trust are working with the same architect and builders on plans for phase 3 at the home on The Ridge in Hastings. Construction will commence early in 2008 and will include a hydrotherapy pool for residents and for use by people in the community, plus a further 4 bedrooms providing further much needed residential and respite care.
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Martin Peters entertains
June 2007 |
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1966 World Cup winner, Martin Peters entertained a large crowd at a Charity Sporting Dinner in Canterbury on May 10th to raise money for Martha Trust.
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| 1966 World Cup winner, Martin Peters MBE entertained a large crowd at a Charity Sporting Dinner in Canterbury on May 10th to raise money for Martha Trust. |
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| The England star described his successful football career including scoring one of England’s goals in the 1966 World Cup final. Martin Peters also detailed his career at Spurs, West Ham and Norwich and shared his views on what it takes to be a winner. |
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| The dinner, attracted over 100 guests and included a performance by top comedian Micky Pugh a raffle and an auction of sporting memorabilia. |
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| Martha Trust Chief Executive, Graham Simmons remarked: “The evening was a huge success. Martin Peters has led a fascinating life, and the audience were transfixed by his tales.” He continued: “Guests were generous on the night and the money raised will help provide loving care for people with profound disabilities.” |
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Martha Trust Win 'Charity of the Year'
May 2007 |
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2007 Business of the Year from
Channel Chamber of Commerce
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| Martha Trust have been honoured as ‘Charity of the Year’ at the 2007 Channel Chamber Business of the Year Awards during the awards dinner held for 250 guests at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone on Friday 27th April. |
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| Staff are absolutely delighted to win the ‘Charity of the Year’ award. Chief Executive, Graham Simmons said: “This award recognises the high standards achieved in every part of our organisation from the care we provide, through to fundraising and all aspects of how the organisation is run.” He continued: “We employ a fantastic team of staff, and this award is due to their hard work and commitment.” |
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See press release >>
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Artist's impression of proposed new wing
at Mary House
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New plans for Mary House revealed
February 2007 |
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Martha Trust has launched a campaign to build a hydrotherapy pool and further accommodation at Mary House in Hastings, just one year after the home opened.
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The proposed hydrotherapy pool will provide an essential service for residents at Mary House and for people with disabilities in the local area. As a form of physiotherapy, hydrotherapy has been documented to help strengthen muscles, improve circulation, and relieve pain. Hydrotherapy also allows users with physical disabilities to exercise safely and feel weightless, and free from their disabilities.
The pool will be fitted with the very latest equipment including an impressive IT system, operated by users in the water, which co-ordinates music, aromatherapy, sounds and special effects for a truly sensory experience. It is envisaged that the pool will not only provide daily therapy for the young residents of Mary House, but also help around 15 local people each week through regular open sessions.
The new building project at Mary House will include further high quality accommodation, with two respite care rooms and two residential places for use by people with profound disabilities. The new ‘home within a home’ will include spacious living areas and conservatory built around a feature courtyard.
It is hoped through the two respite care places, that Martha Trust will be able to help up to 40 families each year, with occasional and regular respite breaks.
For further details of the appeal, please contact Barry O'Sullivan, Development Manager on 01424 757960 or e-mail him via this link.
If you are interested in using the services, please complete our questionnaire>>
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Martha Trust’s plans to expand care services at Mary House, Hastings
December
2006 |
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Now that Mary House in Hastings is fully open, our thoughts have turned to the piece of land adjoining the home.
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The hydropool at our Deal site |
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At Mary House we are
currently working to develop plans for a
hydrotherapy pool so that our
residents and other local people may enjoy
the therapeutic benefits of hydrotherapy. We
also intend to provide
more care facilities
and accommodation which could include
respite provision, along with further
residential places. |
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A local
requirement?
Before
embarking on this project we are keen to
hear from local people who represent
individuals or groups with disabilities.
Your views will help us develop services
which are genuinely needed. |
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If you would
like to complete our questionnaire and keep
informed about our progress, please go to
our
questionnaire page>> |
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HRH Sophie Countess of Wessex officially opens Mary House
May 2006 |
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On April 26th 2006 The Countess of Wessex officially opened our new home, Mary House in Hastings, East Sussex. The home is for young adults with profound disabilities.
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| During the tour of Mary House, Martha Trusts' new purpose-built residential home, The Countess met and talked to the young residents, their families and care staff. Her Royal Highness also spoke to key supporters of the project and observed the use of specialist sensory therapies in the home. |
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Praise for Care Team
The visit concluded with a short speech by Her Royal Highness who commented; “Congratulations to all of you for having the foresight and tenacity to see the project through. It has been a great pleasure to meet all of you, particularly the dedicated care team". Her Royal Highness continued; “The looks on the families’ faces show they trust you to do the important job of looking after their children. It’s a truly wonderful place to be and I wish you every success in the future.” |
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Commemorative Plaque
The Countess unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion and was presented with a small framed collage created by residents and staff at Mary House. |
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| The collage consisted of embroidered hand prints representing each of the young residents involved in the project. The Countess was delighted with the gift, and recognised immediately which hand belonged to which resident. |
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| The day was a wonderful occasion for the residents, families and staff at Martha Trust, many of whom commented on the special atmosphere on the day. |
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| All photographs from the day may be viewed and purchased from this link>> |
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Plans for sensory gardens at Frances House and Mary House April 2006 |
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Summer is coming, and we are working on two campaigns to create beautiful sensory gardens at Frances House,
Deal, and at our new home in Hastings, Mary House.
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Mary House
In April three teams of volunteers from Barclays Sales Financing Team in Hastings, spent time improving the garden at Mary House. Over the course of the three volunteer days, they transformed large areas of mud and weeds, to beautifully planted borders and beds. They concentrated on the areas closest to the home, so that our residents may now sit outside and enjoy the sight and smells of the new bulbs, shrubs and trees.
We are currently fundraising towards the next phases of the garden, with plans to create a huge sensory garden around the home. The garden will include many areas which can be used for sensory activities. The garden will include running water, flags, windsocks and coloured glass walls. It will
be stocked with brightly coloured plants and scented herbs. An over-sized wooden table shaded by pergolas and climbing plants will provide space for all residents and staff to sit and enjoy meals, games and craft activities.
The Mary House garden will bring pleasure to residents for decades to come. The total cost to landscape the garden to meet our specialist needs comes to approx £70,000. We welcome donations towards this project.
Find out more about Mary House>
Frances House
Thanks to Deal Fire Brigade and 30 volunteers from
Pfizer, work has already started on our new sensory garden at Frances House.
The garden is designed to allow our
young adults to access the outside environment to enjoy nature and all the sensory pleasures within a beautiful garden. Activity areas for playing, relaxing or socialising are linked by shaded wheelchair accessible paths. There will also be a water feature and creative lighting.
We are hugely grateful to our volunteers from the Fire Brigade who took down the trees which prevented sunshine from entering the garden for many years. Pfizer have also been incredibly generous and have provided significant funds and two large teams of volunteers to clear and plant the garden.
Find
out more about Frances House>
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Mary House opens
February 2006 |
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Martha Trust’s new residential home for people with profound and multiple disabilities has now opened in Hastings. Mary House will provide care for eight young people from Hastings and East Sussex and the South East.
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Martha Trust’s Chief Executive, Graham Simmons said “Mary House has been built to a high specification, and we are delighted with it. The home provides eight young people with lots of space, and up-to-date specialised equipment along with a range of sensory and therapy rooms.”
Mr. Simmons continued “We have been fortunate to recruit a high calibre team to work at Mary House. We have already welcomed our first two residents to the home, and look forward to welcoming the final six young people over the next few weeks.” Mr. Simmons finished by saying “Over the next 2 years we hope to raise more money to build a hydrotherapy pool on site, as this will have enormous benefits for our residents.”
The opening of the home has been eagerly awaited by many families in Hastings who have battled for 10 years to find their children somewhere suitable to live.
Find out more about Mary House>
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| Summer 2006 |
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Recently we started our fundraising campaign to create a magnificent sensory garden at Mary House. The project has started well, and to date we have raised around £22,500 towards the project.
We are grateful to Barclays Sales Financing Team who took responsibility for the initial stages of the project in April, and who plan to spend more time working in the garden in the Autumn.
We
are also delighted that we are
linking up with Hastings College
of Art and Technology to produce
a sculpture project in the
garden, with a grant from
Hastings Borough Council Small
Grant Fund. Students from the
college will work closely with
our young residents to produce a
sculpture centrepiece for the
garden.
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Autumn 2005 |
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In Autumn
2005 we
raised the
final
£15,000 of
our Autumn
appeal for
Mary House,
our new home
in Hastings. The money raised for Mary House has been used towards equipping the therapy rooms with IT, music and sensory equipment. Above, one of Mary House's residents and home manager, Phil, are inspecting an 'AirFX' module designed to allow residents to create sound by interacting with sound beams. |
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Over the last 18 months we have invested in a new Mini bus for our residents at Martha House and Frances House.
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| We have also successfully fundraised for a sensory garden area for Frances House. The garden will include a wheelchair accessible woodland walkway, along with a wheelchair platform swing and Magic Planet roundabout with full support seating. |
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