A CARE home provider teamed up with the charity Parkinson’s Poole to stage a Parisian café-style community tea dance, raising more than £1,000 to help people with the condition.
Around 150 people enjoyed the Gallic-themed fun at St George’s Church Hall in Poole which was organised and staffed by Colten Care.
The afternoon featured traditional French songs performed live on accordion, guitar and double bass by costumed New Milton group Café Mondial.
Between dances, partygoers sampled cakes and other patisserie delights specially made for the occasion by expert Colten Care chefs.
As well as many guests with personal connections to Parkinson’s Poole, attendees included dozens of residents from seven Colten Care homes.
These were Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, Fernhill in Longham, Amberwood House in Ferndown, Brook View in West Moors and three Poole homes: Canford Chase, Bourne View and The Aldbury.
It was the second community dance that Colten Care have organised in partnership with Parkinson’s groups.
Last year, residents and staff from five homes in the New Forest came together in Boldre near Lymington for a similar French-style event that raised more than £700 for the charity’s New Forest branch.
The latest dance was planned through close work over several months between Poole and District Parkinson’s Group chair Bob Oliver and Martin Corrigan, home manager of The Aldbury in Poole.