20th December 2023
Sanctuary Supported Living
Toni and Sarah from Chiltern Railways, delivering joy to residents
Residents at Rachel House and Dashwood House, two supported housing services in Banbury, are on track for a very merry Christmas, thanks to a kind donation of Christmas presents from staff at Chiltern Railways.
Rachel House provides accommodation for young parents aged 16 to 25 and their children, while Dashwood House supports adults with learning disabilities and autism. Both services are run by Sanctuary Supported Living, with onsite staff providing personalised support to help residents gain the life skills and confidence they need to live as independently as possible.
"It really means a lot to have such amazing community support"
The gifts were delivered by Toni Mee, who organised the initiative, and her colleague Sarah Loak. Toni had previously chosen to donate Christmas gifts to Rachel House and Dashwood House when working for a different company, and she then decided to continue spreading festive joy after joining the Chiltern Railways team. Together, staff at Chiltern Railways have generously donated gift-wrapped presents for all the residents at both supported housing services, including toys, games and treats for all the children.
Hannah Swainson, a Project Worker at Rachel House and Dashwood House, said: "We’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to Toni and her colleagues for this wonderful donation, it’s really appreciated. It’s such a lovely gesture and it really means a lot to have such amazing community support, especially at this time of year.
“Many of our residents can’t afford Christmas treats or presents for themselves or their little ones, especially since the cost-of-living crisis hit, so these gifts will definitely put smiles on lots of faces this Christmas."
To find out more about life with Sanctuary Supported Living, read about the support we offer for young people and people with disabilities, see our latest news, or find a service near you.
Download a printable PDF (276KB) version of this story.
