Latest news with #BrianStandring
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wellington man, 86, taking on skydive for Alzheimer's Society
An 86-year-old man is set to complete his fourth skydive to raise money for the Alzheimer's Standring, who lives in Wellington, Somerset, has supported the charity since his "dear, longstanding friend" Alan was diagnosed with the condition in 2012. Mr Standring is hoping to raise £2,000 by completing Saturday's skydive at Dunkeswell Airfield to mark Dementia Action Week."It's breathtaking," he said, adding that it was "quite outstanding to see the world from up there". "You're in the door and then suddenly you're flying," he told the BBC. "You don't feel anything, just this intense noise and the wind and then everything opens up and it all slows down."It's just an amazing, amazing view." But it is not just the thrill of the skydive that appeals to Mr Standring - it is also an opportunity to raise money for a deeply personal cause. Having helped care for his friend, Mr Standring became involved with the Alzheimer's Society and has spent much of the past decade supporting people with the condition, as well as raising awareness of it. "I've been passionate about trying to do something, whatever it might be, to help people with dementia," he Standring has earned awards for his work with the organisation, sat on its volunteer advisory panel and helped organise fundraising efforts at his home. Describing his feelings ahead of his latest skydive, he said: "I'm looking forward to it. I know what I'm going to feel like - I'm going to have more of those great feelings and the view again."But the end game is I'm hoping to raise a bit more money for Alan, and for dementia, and for those people that look after those living [with the disease] - the carers and the families. All their lives change."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wellington man, 86, to skydive from 15,000 feet for Alzheimer's Society
An 86-year-old man is set to skydive from 15,000 feet to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society. Wellington resident Brian Standring, who lives at Ivy House, the Abbeyfield-run independent living scheme on Corams Lane, will take part in his fourth skydive on Saturday, May 24, during Dementia Action Week. Mr Standring, who is also an avid Nordic walker and participant in Taunton's weekly parkrun, describes the experience of jumping out of a plane as "magic." He said: "It's breathtaking, quite outstanding to see the world from up there. "It's great fun." However, skydiving is not just about the thrill for him; it is an opportunity to raise money for a cause close to his heart. Having cared for a friend and lost other friends to dementia, Mr Standring understands the impact the disease has on sufferers and their families. His friend's diagnosis led him to become a Dementia Friend in 2014, a programme run by the Alzheimer's Society. He said: "Ever since, I've been passionate about trying to do something, whatever it might be, to help people with dementia." In addition to his efforts with the Alzheimer's Society, Mr Standring also helps out at his local church and organises fundraisers at Ivy House. Through his upcoming skydive, he aims to raise £2,000 for the Alzheimer's Society. If you would like to donate to his cause, visit his fundraising page at Alternatively, you can search for his name on the Just Giving homepage and click on the 'Why I am jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft at 15,000 ft?' heading. On the funds raised, Mr Standring said: "It doesn't really matter to me what it's spent on in specific terms. "As long as it ultimately helps someone with dementia, or their carer, or their family, that's why I do it."
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Residents cautiously hopeful homes will stay open
Residents of two sheltered housing homes have said they feel more positive after the owning company's CEO said they will now keep them open. The Abbeyfield Society, which owns the Ivy House and Old Vicarage in Wellington, Somerset, had said the homes may have to close in 2023 and repeated the warning in 2024 after a prospective new owner pulled out. But it has now announced that the homes will likely stay open after the company's finances improved and external funding became more available - leaving residents cautiously optimistic. "We feel a lot more comfortable but there's still an uneasy undercurrent about what's going to happen" said Brian Standring, an Ivy House resident since 2017. The message was given to residents by Abbeyfield's CEO Paul Tennant - who has promised to visit again in four weeks time with a further update. "I apologised to the residents because nobody wants to close houses - but we needed to explain that at the time this was something the organisation needed to do," he said. "We've explained the situation and will be in further communication with them and we'll keep them involved in the process as we move forward." "I think the residents appreciate the openness, transparency and honesty." The homes were two of 43 earmarked for closure by Abbeyfield after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and rising energy costs. Since the announcement residents have said that urgent repairs needed in the buildings - such as to the lifts and plumbing - have not been completed. "There have been a number of emotions around the situation – one of them being annoyance that they don't seem to care and there has been no planned maintenance," said Mr Standring. "Communication was inconsistent and it's been an unsettling time for us. "We can't quite believe the change is genuine and that they will deliver what they said this morning." "We're in the mood for a celebration party but a slight niggle still exists – we're not going to hop from one emotional journey to another overnight." The homes are sheltered housing facilities - meaning that residents look after themselves while living on site. Abbeyfield could not legally evict the residents as they all have contracts that give them the right to stay put until they choose to leave or pass away and many of the residents have enjoyed putting roots down there. "I've loved every minute of living here until last few months," said Olga, a resident of Ivy House for 18 years and its oldest resident at 98. "It's affected me and stopped me sleeping at night, but I feel more positive today." Abbeyfield say it hopes to work with both the town and county council to support the refurbishment of the homes. Potential new owner could save sheltered housing Two sheltered housing sites to close Abbeyfield
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Somerset care home residents now hopeful they will stay open
Residents of two sheltered housing homes have said they feel more positive after the owning company's CEO said they will now keep them Abbeyfield Society, which owns the Ivy House and Old Vicarage in Wellington, Somerset, had said the homes may have to close in 2023 and repeated the warning in 2024 after a prospective new owner pulled it has now announced that the homes will likely stay open after the company's finances improved and external funding became more available - leaving residents cautiously optimistic."We feel a lot more comfortable but there's still an uneasy undercurrent about what's going to happen" said Brian Standring, an Ivy House resident since 2017. The message was given to residents by Abbeyfield's CEO Paul Tennant - who has promised to visit again in four weeks time with a further update."I apologised to the residents because nobody wants to close houses - but we needed to explain that at the time this was something the organisation needed to do," he said."We've explained the situation and will be in further communication with them and we'll keep them involved in the process as we move forward.""I think the residents appreciate the openness, transparency and honesty."The homes were two of 43 earmarked for closure by Abbeyfield after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and rising energy the announcement residents have said that urgent repairs needed in the buildings - such as to the lifts and plumbing - have not been completed. "There have been a number of emotions around the situation – one of them being annoyance that they don't seem to care and there has been no planned maintenance," said Mr Standring."Communication was inconsistent and it's been an unsettling time for us."We can't quite believe the change is genuine and that they will deliver what they said this morning.""We're in the mood for a celebration party but a slight niggle still exists – we're not going to hop from one emotional journey to another overnight."The homes are sheltered housing facilities - meaning that residents look after themselves while living on could not legally evict the residents as they all have contracts that give them the right to stay put until they choose to leave or pass away and many of the residents have enjoyed putting roots down there."I've loved every minute of living here until last few months," said Olga, a resident of Ivy House for 18 years and its oldest resident at 98."It's affected me and stopped me sleeping at night, but I feel more positive today."Abbeyfield say it hopes to work with both the town and county council to support the refurbishment of the homes.
