Macclesfield care employee raises hundreds of pounds for resident activities
By Alex Greensmith
5th Feb 2024 | Advertisement Features
An employee of a Macclesfield dementia care village has raised almost £500 to boost their activity programme.
Chris Kelly has had his hair shaved off, to see how much money he can raise for Belong Macclesfield.
The funds will be spent on fun things for residents to do, who will get to share their views on how Chris' hair-raising amount will be spent.
Macclesfield Nub News met with Chris to find more about the challenge.
"I've been at Belong for 16 years, just after it opened," he said.
"I work as an Experience Day Support Worker, which means I care for residents and support them to be as independent as possible with a focus to help them to enjoy experiences and activities.
"I only started working in Experience Days in late October, prior to that I working solely as a Support Worker. So the activities side is quite new to me.
"And because Belong is a not-for-profit organisation, we were talking about the ways to raise money.
"We were going through all the usual ideas, like jumping out of a plane.
"While I would want to do that, you have to raise money before you do it and pay a fee.
"Whereas with shaving your hair you don't have to."
Belong's hairdresser Jackie Green, who last month won an award for her services, did the honours of shaving Chris' hair.
Meanwhile, his colleague Anna Seaton has been a big help in organising the challenge and rallying up donations.
Donations can be made online via this link.
And as the village is open to the public, you can donate towards Chris' crowdfunder in person at the Reception (to the left of the Belong bistro).
The Reception total has yet to be calculated, but the JustGiving total currently stands at £398.
"I've had a few funny comments like 'hair today, gone tomorrow', but I'm getting a lot of positive feedback from people," revealed Chris.
"Some people are saying 'I'll give you a slap on the head', but I've said 'It will cost you a fiver.'
"And a couple of people have done!
"Thank you so much to the people who have donated. I don't do this for the recognition, I want to make our residents' lives better by buying them some new gear.
"The funds are going to be used to buy stuff for activities for the residents to use, and we'll be getting their input so we can put the money toward bringing to life their ideas for the things they want to do.
"We thought let's see how much money comes in first then we can be talking about what they want to buy.
"It could be new craft stuff, books, music, movies, all things that can stimulate people's minds. There is a lot of reminiscent stuff you can get out there."
Activities residents already enjoy and benefit from at Belong Macclesfield includes singing, pets for therapy visits, quizzes, board games, coffee mornings and breakfast clubs.
"I love working for Belong as you can make difference in people's lives, if I can make myself look ridiculous and make them laugh," he added.
"I don't care about how I look. I should, but as long as it makes them smile and gives them something to talk about, that's all I care about."
Once again you can donate in-person at Belong Macclesfield, Kennedy Avenue, Upton Priory or by clicking on this link.
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