Herefordshire Care Homes Raise Over £2,350 For Local Charities In Community Partnership Drive
Three Ashberry Healthcare care homes in Herefordshire have raised over £2,350 for local causes and built lasting community partnerships as part of a Charity of the Year initiative running throughout 2026.
Holmer Court Care Home, Broomy Hill Nursing Home and The Weir Nursing Home each chose a charity with personal meaning to their residents: The Royal British Legion, Herefordshire Mind, and We Are Farming Minds.
At Holmer Court, residents completed 135 laps of the garden in a sponsored walk on 21 August, more than doubling their £250 target and raising £593 for the Poppy Appeal. Families, friends and staff joined in, adding a further 350 laps between them.
97-year-old resident Pat shared how The Royal British Legion supported her and her family when she was a child: “They were helping everybody they looked after you – not because of your name, but because of your condition.”
Darren Maynard, The Royal British Legion’s Appeal Manager for Herefordshire, attended the home’s employee awards ceremony and received a £500 donation from Ashberry Healthcare. He said: “Thank you very much for everything that you do. But that’s not just the staff – that’s the residents, that’s families as well, who indirectly help the RBL Poppy Appeal and donate.”
At Broomy Hill, staff and residents chose Herefordshire Mind, a charity providing mental health support across the county for decades. Administrator Steph has trained as a Herefordshire Mind Ambassador, helping colleagues and residents access support and open up conversations around mental health. She said: “It’s very humbling to know I am thought of as someone who can be trusted to offer support and help others with their mental health.”
Staff, residents’ families and friends collectively cycled 123.3 miles for the Move for Mental Health challenge, while a further walking challenge raised £248.40.
Alicia Potter from Herefordshire Mind received a £500 donation at the home’s employee awards ceremony. She said: “I just wanted to say a massive thank you to you for your kind and generous donation to Mind. It is hard to put into words the value that donations like yours bring, but truly the impact they make is incredible.”
At The Weir, residents chose We Are Farming Minds, reflecting the home’s strong ties to the local farming community. The charity supports farmers and their families, tackling isolation and stigma around mental health in agriculture.
The home has hosted monthly “One Foot in the Grain” gatherings, bringing residents and the charity’s team together over homemade cakes and scones.
Sam Stabels, Founder and Charity Director at We Are Farming Minds, said: “There’s such a huge stigma surrounding mental health in the farming community, and it’s incredibly unfair that we face the challenges we face on a daily basis, often in isolation. So coming together like this is fantastic.”
Claire Fry, Operations Director at Ashberry Healthcare, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the connections our homes have built with these charities this year. It’s a brilliant reminder that supporting a cause isn’t just about fundraising, it’s about the relationships and awareness that come with it too.”
