Kenwith Castle care home raises £1,000 for North Devon Hospice through candlelit celebration

Residents and staff at Kenwith Castle have proudly presented £1,000 to North Devon Hospice following a heartfelt candlelit remembrance event.

Run by not-for-profit charity Care South, the team at Kenwith Castle care home hosted their third Candles on the Lake event in December last year, bringing residents, families and the wider community together. It is just one of many initiatives the home organises throughout the year in partnership with the local community.

The community gathered to watch battery-powered candles light up the lake which is part of the grounds of the wider care village in which the home is based. Candles bags bearing messages to loved ones were blessed by Reverend Jules Harris, Team Rector for Torridge Coastal Mission Community, followed by performances from Abbotsham Primary School pupils and Emma and The Shanty Singers.

Donations at the event went to North Devon Hospice, which provides specialist care support to people with life-limiting conditions. Kenwith Castle’s fundraising total was presented to Claire Paine, Business Relationship Manager at North Devon Hospice, by Jo Passmore, Home Manager at Kenwith Castle, alongside the care home team and residents.

Claire said: “We are so grateful to the residents and team at Kenwith Castle and visitors who attended Candles on the Lake for their incredibly generous donations. Community events like this make a real difference to the patients and families that we care for. The evening was a beautiful tribute to loved ones, and we were proud to be part of something that brings people together in such a meaningful way.”

Jo Passmore, Home Manager at Kenwith Castle, said: “Candles on the Lake is always a very special event for us, giving residents, their families and the wider community an opportunity to come together, reflect and remember loved ones in our peaceful location. We are delighted to support North Devon Hospice, a charity that provides vital support to those in need locally. At Kenwith Castle, we are proud to work alongside our local community by welcoming them in to enjoy the facilities we have available while making a positive impact on people’s lives.”