KingsCare League of Friends, a small charity which helps elderly people in the Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot area, can offer its clients swimming lessons thanks to help from Linden Homes.
The company donated £400 to the local charity, a vital contribution towards the funds needed to run the weekly swimming lessons throughout the summer. People can be collected from their homes on a Thursday morning, taken to Kingsteignton’s open air pool and given assistance to get into the water and enjoy their swim in safety.
With over 1,800 individuals on their database and with up to 100 in regular contact, KingsCare provides support by transporting patients from Kingsteignton Medical Practice to appointments at the surgery and local hospitals. It also provides a carer support and befriending service as well as a memory cafe, home shopping, bus trips out and a range of groups, including walking, Tai Chi, singing, gardening and now swimming. The charity won the coveted Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which is an MBE for voluntary groups.
Maggie Bonnell, manager of KingsCare League of Friends, commented: “Many of our clients haven’t been able to go swimming for a long time and it’s wonderful to give them that independence and to see the joy on their faces. Our aim is to improve the quality of life, through voluntary help, for those in need within our community and Linden Homes has helped us to expand our support and further enrich our patients’ lives.”
Beverly Rickard, regional sales manager at Linden Homes, said: “We have been so impressed by KingsCare and the amazing work that they do – volunteers give their time to offer support to those in need and we are delighted to help them. I used to teach swimming so I know that it’s a proven fun way to keep people social and active; what a fantastic group for local people.”
Linden Homes is building homes locally at Kings Gate in Kingsteignton, Tithe Barn in Exeter, White Rock in Paignton and Camomile Lawn in Totnes.
Kings Gate is located on the edge of Kingsteignton with easy access to Newton Abbot and Exeter. For more information visit the show home, open daily from 10am to 5pm, off Pengelly Close, Kingsteignton, TQ12 3FZ. Call 01626 221633.
For details on the local support that KingsCare provides, call 01626 357090 or visit www.kingscare.co.uk
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Media can contact Emma Mackay on 077383 12960 for more information, images and interviews with Linden Homes.
