Time to rhyme: Team member at local care home wins national poetry award

Home news

Oct 14, 2020

A team member at a Copthorne care home is celebrating after taking one of the top spots in the ‘Poems in a Pandemic’ competition.

Daniel John Lim, lifestyle co-ordinator at Care UK’s Francis Court, on Borers Arms Road, wrote a poem entitled ‘The Window’ which took first place in the ‘Uplifting’ category of the national competition.

‘Poems in a Pandemic’ is a competition run amongst frontline team members. The finalists and winners in each category will have their poems published in an anthology, called ‘100 Poems from the Frontline Staff’, with all proceeds going towards supporting the mental health of care workers through art projects.

Daniel’s poem focused on life at Francis  Court throughout the pandemic, how the team at the care home have gone the extra mile to support  residents to continue living fulfilling lives and the community pulling together to help each other. Having written some poetry in his spare time, Daniel was excited to enter the competition when it was advertised at the care home.

Commenting on his win, Daniel said: “I’m so pleased that my poem took first place. I moved into the care sector earlier this year and was in awe of the team who work so hard every day to put a smile on resident’s faces from the moment I joined. This year has certainly had its challenges, but I wanted my poem to  capture our team’s  spirit and passion for caring for everyone at Francis Court.”

Anna Allen, home manager at Francis Court, added: “Everyone at Francis Court is thrilled that Daniel took the top spot in the ‘Uplifting’ category in the ‘Poems in a Pandemic’ competition. He has been organising activities with the residents based on his poetry, which has been incredibly enjoyable and even inspired a few other budding poets at the home to have a go themselves.

“We can’t wait to see his poem published in the anthology – congratulations Daniel!”

Francis Court is a purpose-built care home which has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care for up to 87 older people in Copthorne, and incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities, including its own cinema, hairdressing salon and café.

For more information please call customer relations manager, Beverly Jordan, on 0330 057 5205, or email beverly.jordan@careuk.com 

For more general information on Harrier Lodge, please visit careuk.com/francis-court