A Grant From Kent Police Will Help Realise The Dreams Of Residents At A Kent Care Home

Amherst Court Care Home has been awarded £500 from the Chief Constable’s Property Fund for its “Wishing Well Appeal Fund”. The Wishing Well grants resident’s wishes, maybe to visit places from their youth, go to the theatre for example, or to revisit an old experience.

Amherst Court, in Palmerston Road, Chatham, is run by Avante Care and Support, caring for people living with dementia. The home offers Kent Police trainees the opportunity to meet residents as part of their training, to learn how best to communicate with those living with dementia and gain an understanding of how the disease may affect them in their daily lives.

The home was nominated for the award by Amanda Withrington, Placement Officer with Kent Police.

Amanda Withrington said;

“Kent Police’s Property Fund regularly benefits local charities through the proceeds of auctions when stolen or confiscated property can’t be reunited with their rightful owners. On this occasion Kent Police is delighted to support Amherst Court.

In addition, the experience and learning that some of our officers and staff receive by going to Amherst Court for their placement is invaluable. The force runs a community and diversity placements programme and Amherst Court has supported the scheme by providing many placements over the years.

The aim of the placements is to maximise the learning experience and to give an understanding to officers and staff of other organisations, diverse communities and groups within their policing divisions. When placed with an organisation like Amherst Court, officers and staff learn how the police force can work in partnership with the organisation and the communities it serves.

This enables the organisations and communities to contribute to the training of Kent Police officers and staff. This, in turn, strengthens the partnership and enhances the working relationship by better understanding. The proposed outcome is to improve police performance, increase trust and personal development.

Our visit to Amherst Court was very inspiring and Kent Police is delighted to have made this donation to such a worthwhile service supporting the local community.”

Amanda Odd, General Manager at Amherst Court care home said;

“Our residents will benefit greatly from this generous donation. We are pleased to host police trainees at Amherst Court and our residents enjoy regular visits of our local PCSOs Rachael Delahay and Rowen Cornwall. Links with organisations such as Kent Police are very important to us.

Not only are they of benefit to our residents, but they help build a wider understanding of a condition which is affecting more and more people in society.”