Resource Centre 10th Anniversary

Bell View Celebrates First 10 Years of Ambition & Innovation in Style

A charity which started life as a protest about the closure of a village care home has celebrated 10 years last night at Belford.  In this time it has grown into a vital community resource, and testament to this fact was that the evening was attended by over 120 people.

The Duchess of Northumberland who has been involved with the charity from the outset was present at the event, which marked a decade since the Bell View Resource Centre and five “smart” adapted bungalows for older people, opened in Belford.

Bell View now runs a large and expanding range of services for people in need of care and their carers, from lunch clubs, daycare facilities and community transport to a new Help at Home Scheme, all designed to help older people to remain living in their own homes as long as possible and combat rural isolation.

The Duchess of Northumberland congratulated Bell View on reaching their ten year anniversary; she was most impressed that the services and the levels of care they offer to people in the community continue to expand.

Her Grace was presented with a poesy of flowers by Hilda Humpherson.  Hilda, who is aged 94, has utilised the day care facilities since they started at Bell View ten years ago.

Hilda commented: “Bell View really is the most fantastic facility, I do not know over the last ten years what I would have done without it.  From the care they offer through to the social aspect this really is a special place.  I was absolutely delighted to be chosen to present the Duchess of Northumberland with these beautiful flowers.”

Bell View’s current chairperson, Christine Harris, commenting on the event said: “The excitement is not just about surviving ten years which we’ve done, but that we have thrived within this time.

“It is only with the support of our volunteers and our dedicated managers, that we can continue to develop. All the trustees are also volunteers, and I’m very grateful for the support that they give me.

“The ten year celebration has been a truly momentous occasion, we are thrilled that so many members of the community have got involved over the years and continue to do so.”

The evening was supported kindly by volunteers who gave their time freely, and the following local companies and organisations; Tree Locate, Belford Community Group, BEDMAX, Belford Parish Council, Jus-Rol, Bamburgh Golf Club and The Klingons.  In addition the event was attended by past trustees, current trustee and past and future funders.

A presentation was made by Eileen Duncan, Bell View Treasurer, to the former chairperson Chris Leyland.  Chris has been involved with Bell View from its inception, and has been hugely instrumental in the success that Bell View has achieved.