Pair who keep ‘oldies’ connected win hero award
Duo honoured for combatting loneliness
Two women who have dedicated their careers to combatting loneliness in older people have been named local heroes by a Maidstone care home.
Wendy Pfeiffer and Diane Bromley were awarded the top prize in a competition run by Care UK’s Invicta Court in Gidds Pond Way.
The win comes less than a year after they were made redundant from their roles at Age UK in Maidstone, where they helped launch and grow the charity’s West Kent Befriending Service. They now work for Inspired Villages, the firm behind the Ledian Gardens retirement development in Leeds, which launched a new service called Inspired Friendships to continue the good work they started. Through the lockdowns the duo continued to keep in touch with the group of people they would usually visit, called them weekly and, when restrictions were lifted, organised walks
in the park. They also ensured everyone understood the government advice and had access to community resources.
As a result of their efforts, they were awarded the top prize in the organisation’s Local Heroes competition, winning £300 each. Second place, and a £200 prize, was given to the Phoenix Community, a club that supports vulnerable individuals in Kent so they can live as independently as possible.
It provides services and advice for physically disabled people and those with mental health disorders and learning difficulties, as well as their carers and families.
Mrs Pfeiffer said: “We are proud to be accepting this award on behalf of our amazing ‘lovely oldies’ who have shown such strength and resilience over the past year.
“We both wish to acknowledge and thank all our volunteers and friends who have supported and encouraged us.
“Our gratitude also to Inspired Villages, for ensuring this much needed service for older people is here to stay.
“We would like to spend the prize money on arranging something very special for our team when we are eventually allowed to get together, what a celebration that will be.”
Ms Bromley added: “We really don’t expect to be rewarded. We are lucky to be doing a job we love, and to feel that one is making a difference to someone’s life is immeasurable. We genuinely love talking to all our lovely “oldies” and are counting the days until we can all get together again.”