Veterans Use Interactive ‘Magic Table’ After £5,000 Donation From The Santander Foundation

An award-winning ‘magic table’ projector, which supports physical and mental well-being, has been delivered to The Royal Star & Garter Homes in Surbiton after a successful fundraising drive.

The omiVista Mobii interactive table was purchased following a £5,000 Discovery Grant from the Kingston Santander branch. Staff and volunteers at the Home also helped raise money to support the project.

The motion-activated projection system creates dynamic images on a surface and keeps residents physically and mentally active by stimulating movement, memory, reasoning and recall. It will prove particularly beneficial to residents at the Home who live with dementia.

The donation was provided by the Santander Foundation, which offers Discovery Grants to UK registered charities for projects that improve skills, knowledge and innovation for disadvantaged people in local communities.

The Charity also benefitted from the support of volunteer Rosemarie Swinfield, who raised £765 when she took part in a sponsored Memory Walk with her grandson Max. David Offield, a member of care staff at the Surbiton Home also contributed £820 following a sponsored 1,000km cycle ride from Surbiton to Normandy and Dunkirk.

Thanks to their generosity, the Charity, which provides award-winning care for ex-Servicemen and women and their partners living with disability or dementia, will be able to offer an interactive experience for the beneficiaries.

Pauline Shaw, the Charity’s Director of Care, said: “This table brings people together through technology. It is fun and interactive, and everyone can join in. It will help our residents, especially those who are living with dementia. We are grateful to Santander Foundation for its donation, and the fundraising efforts of Rosemarie and David. Thanks to their efforts we will further enhance the quality of life for the people we care for.”

Santander Kingston Branch manager Johnathon Muse visited the Home to see the impact of the Mobii magic table on residents. He said: “It’s amazing to see the projector and the benefits it’s bringing to the people that use it. It’s great to give something back to those that have given so much for us.”

A Santander spokesperson added: “The staff at our branch know the great work The Royal Star & Garter Homes does in our community and we hope this grant will help them in their support for local people.”

Rosemarie said: “I’m thrilled its finally here. It’s lovely to see residents, their relatives, staff and volunteers coming together and using it and having fun.”

David added: “I’m really excited seeing it being used. It will make a massive difference to people’s lives.”