Kent Care Home Residents Call For Care Community To Join Them In Beach Cleanup Efforts
Residents from a Kent care home are appealing to the care community to join them in cleaning up beaches for International Coastal Cleanup Day — a global initiative dedicated to preserving the coastlines and protecting wildlife that also coincides with the Great British Beach Clean (15th-24th September).
The Old Rectory is hoping to team up with members of their local community for a day of beach cleaning in Dymchurch – with its residents having expressed a desire to help maintain the environment for future generations.
As part of their efforts though, they’re appealing to the wider care community to get involved too – as they seek to sustain and maintain the environment for future generations.
In recent years, the growing problem of beach litter and pollution has been a cause for concern and hasn’t gone unnoticed by the residents of the New Hall Close home. Dorothy Latham, 88, said: “We are killing so many creatures. The plastic and all the other rubbish that people throw into the sea is dirty and it’s not nice smelling. You go into the country and the fields are just as bad. We were told it was a disgrace to deface the countryside with rubbish. There are many beaches around our coast at the moment that can’t be used for swimming because of pollution.”
These concerns led to conversations about what they could do, and this resulted in proposing a beach clean up, which is now set to take place on Saturday 16th September at 2pm, just over an hour after high tide – a peak time for coastal debris.
The care home is calling on other homes around the country to take part in the initiative too.
Kelly Parker, Registered Manager at The Old Rectory, said: “We’re really lucky to be so close to the sea, and our residents want to do their bit to help future generations enjoy it. And whilst we’re doing our own beach clean, we’re encouraging other coastally based care communities to get involved too and go to their own local beaches on the 16th September. A scenario where care communities around the country get involved would be fantastic – and would set a wonderful example to younger generations and communities.”
As part of the cleanup, the team from the Old Rectory will provide participants with litter pickers, gloves, rubbish bags, and high-vis jackets and ask in return that volunteers bring a positive attitude and a willingness to make a difference to the community.
Health Care Assistant at The Old Rectory, Paige Barry, said: “The management team and some of the carers will be taking residents out and up to the beach to do a clean up with the local community. If you’d like to participate in our International Coastal Cleanup Day efforts then please join us on 16th September at Dymchurch on the Romney Marsh. The residents are really looking forward to it and we hope to see lots of people there.”
Resident, Kathleen Davey, joked about the plans, saying: “Come and join us picking up filth!”
If other care communities from around the country look to get involved, the Old Rectory Team would love to hear from them – and invite them to email info@oldrectory.care to let them know their plans.
