Alex Wood House and sister home Langdon House in Cambridge are gearing up to host a 1940s-themed tea dance to raise funds for The Red Hen Project, a local charity supporting families in the area.
The event will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Arbury on Saturday, February 22nd, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Residents, the teams at the homes and the wider community are working together to ensure this event is a memorable one.
Bev Anderson, a friend of Alex Wood House’s Lifestyles Coordinator Nikki Renton, is one person who has been supporting the fundraising efforts and has been hard at work crafting embroidered felt gingerbread men and women as well as some beautiful bookmarks to sell at the event.
Bev previously supported Alex Wood House during their community Christmas event and was eager to contribute again.
“We decided to make the felt decorations tea dance-themed,” Bev explained. “They feature tea, hot chocolate, biscuits, and the traditional 1940s Battenberg cake. We’ve even made some Red Hen-themed decorations.” Bev expressed her delight at supporting Alex Wood House’s fundraising efforts for the Red Hen Project, which she sees as a vital resource for the community.
Bev, a resident of Waterbeach and a long-time Cambridge resident of 40 years, has always had a passion for knitting and crochet. Three years ago, she took up felt embroidery after inheriting an embroidery machine and materials from her late sister.
“When my sister passed away and left the machine and quite a lot of materials to me , it took me a while to want to use the machine,” Bev shared. “The first Christmas after she died, I made a 12 Days of Christmas display for my window as part of a village competition, and it received so many comments. That’s when I fell in love with the craft.”
Now retired from her career in HR at Cambridge University, Bev enjoys making crafts for her four granddaughters and charity events, often for cancer charities in memory of her sister.
“Having a hobby is great for mental health,” Bev added. “I’m part of an arts and crafts group run by Nikki, and we all support each other. It’s wonderful to learn new skills and enjoy the social side of crafting.”
Residents at both Alex Wood House and Langdon House have also been busy knitting and crafting for the Tea Dance. They have created bunting to decorate the church hall, as well as red hen pin badges for those attending the event to wear and small gonks stuffed with Crème Eggs.
Being involved in our local communities is something which is important to Athena Care Homes and fundraising for local and national charities is encouraged regularly at all seven homes in the Athena family across East Anglia.
Nikki Renton highlighted the Alex Wood House residents’ enthusiasm: “Our residents are fully on board with fundraising for the Red Hen Project and are excited about the 1940s theme for the event. Many of us have 1940s-style dresses and are planning to dance the afternoon away.”
The 1940s Tea Dance will be held on Saturday, February 22nd, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Arbury. The event is free to attend, but space is limited. To reserve your spot, please contact Amber Christou at amber.christou@athenacarehomes.co.uk.
Guests are encouraged to bring some extra pennies for the raffle and craft stalls, where Bev’s handmade creations and other resident crafts will be available for purchase. Join us for an afternoon of nostalgia, community, and charity in support of The Red Hen Project.
The Red Hen Project is a small but impactful local charity that has been working with primary school children in North Cambridge for over 20 years. Their family workers provide essential support to children and families, bridging the gap between home and school. They offer one-on-one support tailored to each family’s needs, addressing challenges such as behaviour difficulties, reluctance to attend school, family routines, and access to extracurricular activities.
The charity also runs a variety of outreach programmes, including parenting courses, coffee mornings, drop-in sessions, workshops and family activities.
You can discover more about our two brilliant care homes in Cambridge here: Alex Wood House, Arbury and Langdon House, Chesterton.
