Elborough Care Services

14/09/2026

Inclusion is not simply about inviting everyone to take part. Someone can be physically present and still feel excluded, unheard or unable to participate fully.
One simple way to be more inclusive is to ask before assuming.

We may not always see the barriers someone is experiencing, and it can be easy to assume we know what someone needs or why they are not participating.

Instead, we can ask:
“Is there anything that would help you take part?”
“How would you prefer to do this?”
“Would you like some help, or would you rather have a go yourself?”

Asking gives people the opportunity to tell us what would actually be helpful. It gives them choice, control and a voice in how they participate.

Sometimes inclusion is not about noticing what someone needs. It is about creating the space for them to tell us.

13/09/2026

Today is Sepsis Awareness Day.

Sepsis can affect anyone and can sometimes be difficult to recognise, as symptoms may initially look like other illnesses.

Knowing the signs, noticing when someone is becoming significantly more unwell and trusting your instincts can make a difference.

If you are concerned that someone may have sepsis, seek urgent medical advice and explain your concerns.

Early recognition and treatment can save lives.

10/09/2026

This is such an impactful story and an important message for World Su***de Prevention Day.

Talking about su***de can feel incredibly difficult, but creating space for honest conversations can help people feel less alone and more able to reach out for support.

When suicidal thoughts feel overwhelming or all consuming, finding a little space between the thought and what happens next can matter. Talking to someone you trust, moving away from a situation that feels overwhelming or finding something grounding can help.

And when someone else is struggling, we do not need to have the right words or be able to fix what they are experiencing. Listening, staying with them, taking what they say seriously and helping them find the right support can matter.

Looking after our mental health every day is important too. Staying connected, making time for the things that help us feel well and asking for support when we need it can all help protect our wellbeing.

There is no shame in struggling, and there is no weakness in asking for help.

***dePreventionDay ***dePrevention

“A few years ago, I was really struggling. I was working 80-100 hour weeks in a very senior role which came with a lot of pressure. Having been away all week, I’d get home at weekends and need to squeeze family time into two days, alongside managing a million and one other things. It felt like a constant treadmill of trying to please everyone else and living up to expectations. I felt tired, burnt out and broken. It was from here that things started to go wrong.”

“Although this wasn’t the reality, I started to feel like I was the root cause of every problem and if I removed myself, that would fix everything. I tried to access support from my GP and found it near impossible. It seemed that because I was managing to go into work every day, I had a nice house and kids, there was nothing to worry about. To them I was just a bit tired, I wasn’t dying.”

“One evening, when I was away on a work trip, I decided I was going to end my life. I headed out and was crossing the road unobservantly when a taxi stopped me. The driver must’ve recognised that something wasn’t right. He got out and started to chat to me, asking if I was OK and what was going on. He then went back to his taxi and got a card with the number for Samaritans. He said something like, ‘you need to talk to someone, so talk to Samaritans.’ I wandered around for about an hour and a half, as I didn’t know what I was going to say if I called. I felt like I needed to have a story prepared.”

“I don’t remember much about that first call. I couldn’t say if the first call was a man or woman I spoke to, but they helped me get through the night. It helped me go to bed and try again the next day.”

“It’s all very subtle and Samaritans don’t really tell you anything, but they listen and enable you to offload – they’re a safety net. Sometimes, I think that’s all people need. At that point I felt like I had nowhere else to go. It’s very hard to say to your wife, we’ve got this wonderful life, but I’m utterly depressed, because it feels like an insult.”

“If I hadn’t called that night, I might’ve just wandered around feeling slightly distracted by my interaction with the taxi driver, but I would’ve been back in that same place a few days later, about to do something drastic. It seems a bit dramatic to say I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that conversation, but that is the reality.”

Thank you so much to Paul for sharing his story for World Su***de Prevention Day and showing that su***de isn’t inevitable and that suicidal thoughts can be interrupted.

08/09/2026

This event will be a great opportunity to understand dementia better, hear different experiences and learn more about how we can make a positive difference for people living with dementia in our community.

If you’re local, why not pop along and join the conversation?

Next week we're opening our doors for an informal evening to learn a little more about dementia, share experiences and talk about how we can support people living with dementia in our local community.

Whether you have personal experience of dementia, support someone living with it, or simply want to understand more, you’re very welcome to join us.

Our Head of Operations, John, will be hosting the evening, bringing more than 26 years of experience in health and social care, including specialist experience in dementia care.

There’ll be plenty of opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and have a chat over a cup of tea and some cake.

We’d love to see you there.

04/09/2026

Today, we had the pleasure of delivering donations to our local food bank.

We’re incredibly proud of the generous haul we were able to put together, thanks to the kindness of our team, our local community and everyone who contributed.

It was great to spend some time at the food bank and see first hand the difference their work makes. The kindness, care and community spirit behind what they do was a lovely reminder of what we can achieve when we come together to support one another.

We’re proud to continue building our relationship with them and supporting the vital work they do.

28/08/2026

Today is Makaton International Awareness Day, with this year’s theme of “Together”.

The day celebrates the connections that can be created through signing, symbols and speech, helping to build greater inclusion, understanding and opportunities for communication.

Communication is about much more than spoken words. Makaton uses signs, symbols and speech together, providing another way for people to express their needs, choices, feelings and preferences, and to understand and be understood.

Around 100,000 children and adults in the UK use Makaton signs and symbols to communicate, including people with learning disabilities, autism and other communication difficulties.

Using different approaches to communication can help reduce frustration, support independence and give people greater choice and control in everyday life.

Together, we can help create environments where everyone has the opportunity to be heard, understood and included.

Well done to some of our office team for giving Makaton a try today.

25/08/2026

Thank you Splitz Gymnastics Club Open Page for helping us spread the word and collect donations for our Food Bank Collection.

We’re so grateful for the support and for everyone who has already donated. It’s wonderful to see our local community coming together to support such an important cause.

We’re still accepting donations at our office ahead of our food bank drop off next week, so there’s still time to get involved.

Non perishable food, toiletries and everyday essentials are all greatly appreciated.

24/08/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who has already donated to our Food Bank Collection.

We’re incredibly grateful for your kindness and generosity, and it’s lovely to see our team and community coming together to support such an important cause.

There’s still time to get involved, as we will be taking donations at the office until Friday (28th August). Non-perishable food, toiletries and everyday essentials are all greatly appreciated.

Every contribution will make a real difference to those in our community.

18/08/2026

Summer doesn’t have to be expensive to be meaningful.

Some of the best summer memories don’t cost very much at all.
🌳 A trip to the park
📚 A library activity
🧺 A picnic somewhere new
🏛️ A free museum or gallery
🎪 A local community event
🚶 An afternoon exploring somewhere nearby

There are lots of free and low cost activities available for families during the summer, including Holiday Activities and Food programmes and other local opportunities.

The UK Government’s Summer Savings campaign brings together useful information about free and low cost activities, days out, food and other ways families can make the most of the summer.

What free or low cost summer activities have you discovered in your local community?

New measures this summer to reduce the cost of days out, travel and getting around for families with children.