7/2013 16:28
20
The places available on next year’s Activities Week. Read more on p24
News
Jacqui Longden’s
BLESMA Blackpool round-up
Blackpool reaches the
gold standard. again!
BLESMA HOME SUPPORTS
armed forces week
BLESMA Blackpool has received
several official visits over the last
few months. First, the Care Quality
Commission made an unannounced
inspection that resulted in another
complimentary report.
The Blackpool Local Authority
is another body that visits us from
time to time because it has to be
satisfied that any residents funded
by Social Services get value for
money. That’s why it’s important
that BLESMA Blackpool maintains
its high markings from the likes
of Investors in People, the Care
Quality Commission and the Gold
Standards Framework.
Having satisfied the first two
earlier in the year, the Gold
Standards Framework review
took place over half a day in
July. The Home was once again
awarded “Beacon Status,” putting
it in a very small minority of UK
Care Homes that have been granted
the status twice. Read the full Gold
Standards Framework report on
the website at www.blesma.org
Armed Forces Week figures largely
in the Blackpool area and BLESMA
Blackpool always plays its part.
This year we were invited by the
Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire,
Lady Shuttleworth, to accompany
her at the flag-raising ceremony
at St. Anne’s Town Hall. The week
was packed with great activities and
concluded with a service and parade
at Blackpool Cenotaph and we were
exceptionally lucky that the sun
shone when it was most needed.
Advisory board
gets a new member
Derek Spence has been appointed
to BLESMA Blackpool’s Advisory
Board. Derek is an ex-professional
footballer who played for Blackpool
and Bury and, as an international,
represented Northern Ireland
alongside George Best. Derek now
works for Blackpool Community
Trust, arranging events that bring
the community closer together.
Derek’s activities are already
bringing our residents into closer
contact with the local community
and his relaxed, cheery approach is
raising an even greater awareness
of BLESMA in the North West.
remembering resident
arthur hannan
As Manager of BLESMA Blackpool,
I don’t make a practice of recording
arrivals and departures among
the residents, but in the case of
96-year-old Arthur Hannan, I will
make an exception. Arthur was
with us for 10 years and during
that time he was a first-class
ambassador for BLESMA and the
Home. Always first to volunteer to
meet and greet people, he had an
infectious enthusiasm that was
noticed by everyone who met him.
He particularly enjoyed talking
to school classes about our work
and loved chatting with all the
celebrities who came his way –
especially Vera Lynn at a Royal
Garden Party! He was still taking
holidays abroad in his nineties and
always said that he was confident
he would live to be 100. Sadly, he
didn’t, but we shall not forget him.
Left: Good food, great company
at the Home this summer
Above: St Anne’s Gala Day
Below: Ex-footballer Derek
Spence (standing)
www.blesma.org 13