Winning care home residents’ cards to raise cash for Sheffield older persons charity

Crafty Sheffield care home residents are celebrating after their Christmas card artwork outshone the competition to be named winners of a charity design contest.

Twelve Tree Care Home residents Freda Armstrong and Joan Hunter won the Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) challenge, which called on older people from across the city’s care homes to put pen to paper to design a festive greeting.

Now the pair’s multi-faith designs- named winners following an online poll- are adorning the SCCCC’s official cards this year. The greetings will be sold to raise money to help the charity continue its work helping isolated, older people across Sheffield.

Carole Miller, activities coordinator at Twelve Trees, said: “I spotted the request for care home residents to design cards, so invited residents to take part in a craft session to come up with some designs.

“We just thought it was a wonderful idea and the residents were very excited by the prospect of seeing their designs turned into actual cards which would raise money for an important local charity.

''When we found out that our residents had won, Freda and Joan couldn't wait to tell their families. We’re pretty sure relatives will be queuing up to buy the cards designed by their loved ones!''

The multi-faith cards will double up as a vital source of winter income for SCCCC, which has restored key face-to-face services this year after long months of pandemic restrictions.

SCCCC Fundraiser Ericka Hill, said: “The giving and receiving of cards at Christmas holds huge significance, particularly for people living in care homes who’ve had limited contact with friends and family because of the pandemic. We had a fantastic response to the competition and it was lovely to be able to present Freda and Joan with copies of the final product which they worked so hard to design.”

The SCCCC cards cost £4.50 for a pack of 10, plus £1.50 postage. You can purchase your cards via  eBay