The social scene

The social scene at Rutherford House also extends to a lively arts and crafts room, where many of the residents can be found on any given day of the week.

Along with the communal lounge, the room has become a real hive of activity with residents working on various arts and crafts whilst also having a good natter in the process.

They have become so prolific that they sell their work at local fayres and events, and they have even started taking orders for items such as cushions, birthday cards, placemats, bookmarks, and decorative Diamond art pieces.

All the money they raise goes back into buying other materials or for the residents’ social fund.

One of the crafters, Jackie says: “It’s not uncommon for us to spend the full day in the room and sometimes there are not enough chairs for everyone to sit down.

“We have our own kitchen and fridge in the room, so we can make our own food and refreshments, and our families joke that we spend so much time in here they now have to make appointments to visit us!”