AFC Bournemouth warmly welcomed Care South residents alongside its senior season ticket holders to celebrate the festive season. Ex-AFC Bournemouth staff and players were also in attendance at the event along with Steve Cuss, head of Community Sports Trust at AFCB and members from the AFCB Community Sports Trust team.

Care South’s residents from Alexandra House, Dorset House, Castle Dene, Wickmeads, Fairlawn, Elizabeth House and St Ives House care homes as well as clients from Care South at Home were able to enjoy a morning of tea, coffee, cakes, mince pies and festive entertainment provided by carol singers with plenty of singing and dancing.

Cuss commented: “With the Covid period, we’ve not been able to host the Christmas coffee morning at the stadium for three years, so it was great for this event to return, and everyone had a really good time. Our partnership with Care South just continues to grow. We go into the Care South care homes two or three times a week to play football related games, enjoy lots of conversation with residents along with plenty of tea, coffee, and cake. We enjoy the time spent with residents and we know they look forward to our visits.”

Simon Bird, chief executive at Care South, added: “We had a fantastic time at the stadium. We had seven of our care homes come together with the senior citizen ticket holders of AFC Bournemouth and some of our Care South at Home clients who all joined in the morning of Christmas carols. Our relationship with AFC Bournemouth and the Community Sports Trust is so important on so many levels. Care South is all about food, fun and friendship and the partnership we have with AFC Bournemouth completely embodies all those attributes which we have seen through this event alongside the additional activities that come with the partnership.

“It was fantastic for residents in our care to safely attend this wonderful event, especially as they all enjoy the home visits from AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust and the stadium tour visits so much. It was a delightful way to mark the start of the festive holidays. Events with our partner AFC Bournemouth are an important part of our activities, helping to keep residents engaged and active, and part of the community.”

The coffee morning hosted by AFC Bournemouth was thanks to the ongoing partnership between AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust and Care South, which began in 2014. The partnership allows residents, home care clients and staff to get involved in a variety of activities, including meeting players, coffee mornings, walking football and visits to the Vitality Stadium. Find out more about the activities generated from the partnership here: https://www.care-south.co.uk/videos/