Worthing-based charity Guild Care on the frontline

Like many other businesses and fellow charities, Guild Care has changed the way it delivers its services in order to fulfil their duties to the local community amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

The charity is still operating its three care homes and home care service supporting around 1,000 vulnerable people in the Worthing area.

Debbie Dollner, chief operating officer, said: “We wouldn’t be able to keep running these frontline services during these extremely challenging times if it wasn’t for the dedication and hard work of our amazing staff. We are extremely proud of them, they are going above and beyond each day to ensure our residents and clients are cared for in the best possible way.”

Even though the three care homes are closed to external visitors, staff still pulled out all the stops to bring Easter cheer to all Guild Care residents, including the dementia care home Haviland House, where celebrations involved an Easter bonnet competition, songs and prayers and an egg for every resident.

Another member of staff who made Easter special was community liaison worker Kerry, who dropped off chocolate treats to the tenants in Guild Care’s supported housing for adults with learning disabilities.

Kerry said: “As you know being asked to stay at home during these difficult times is hard for everyone and I wanted them to know we were thinking of them and to spread some Easter cheer.”

The charity is also grateful to the support it has received from the community.

This includes generous donations of face masks from 7thSense, delivered by MP Tim Loughton, visors from Highdown Car Audio & Security, handmade masks by Emma Davidson and Sybille Ulinski, as well as donations of hand creams and gels from Savers. It is generosity and support like this which proves that we are a community that pulls together in times of need to ensure no one is left behind.

But it’s Guild Care’s key worker heroes, working on the frontline, who are really making such a difference to the most vulnerable people in Worthing. That’s why the charity is supporting the 2.6 Challenge, which will officially launch on Sunday.

This should have been the date of the London Marathon but instead, like many other charity fundraising events, it was postponed. The campaign is encouraging people to think of an activity that is based around the number 2.6 or 26.

Guild Care has around 300 care workers who are going through an incredibly tough time right now. To give something back, their 2.6 challenge is to get at least 260 people to raise £26 each. That is because £26 will pay for one hour of bespoke counselling to help with the emotional wellbeing of its care staff, as the mental health of its staff is of upmost importance.

If you would like to take part in the challenge by either donating £26, raising the money through a fun activity or sharing this with your friends, then please follow the Guild Care Facebook page or visit its website www.guildcare.org/2point6challenge. Please do, donate or share.

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