Unlocking Potential Through Arts & Crafts at Yew Tree House, by Alex Costa
Alex Costa, National Care Group’s Regional Operations Director for the Central Region, has recently donated some arts and crafts materials to the people we support at our Chosen Care Yew Tree House service in Gloucestershire. The gift was ultimately from his mother-in-law to be, Ann.
Read Ann’s story in Alex’s words below:
In September 2021 Ann Jenkins, my Mother-in-law to be, said goodbye to her family at home following an ongoing battle with cancer. Ann passed away at home where following her terminal diagnosis she was visited by the peoples lives she had impacted upon throughout her own life. Ann had spent a large part of her working life cooking for children’s services and had stayed in contact with people she had mentored and become friends with. Whilst supporting Ann, it really became clear to me that people were what mattered to her. Ann’s other passion was creativity through crochet and craft. Ann’s grandson has lived with Type 1 Diabetes from a young age and Ann has contributed to the Diabetes team fundraising efforts by providing her works f art for sale. Even though no longer with us Ann’s spirit lives on with the pieces she had finished being sold for charity: Our fundraising achievements in memory of Ann Jenkins (justgiving.com)
As well as enjoying people and craft Ann had a skill for hoarding materials for when the muses moved her and as a result had a room full of craft materials. Ann’s family felt that she would have been over the moon to know that the materials were going to people that also had a passion for crafts, so last week I took the items to Yew Tree House adding to the existing collection, as the people living there are known for their creativity.
Whilst visiting I saw that it wasn’t just the people we support that had a creative flair, but also our very own Paula, who works with us in a Support Worker role:
Registered manager Donna shared some of the work that has already been created by the people we support with the support of our colleagues:
It remains my honour to be around so many inspirational people.
Alex Costa, Regional Operations Director. August 2022.
