Walking a Mile a Day to Raise Funds for Wokingham Day Centre

Throughout March, our Reading and Wokingham office volunteered their services as the team walked a mile a day, every lunchtime, in aid of a local charity. The day centre, run by the Wokingham and District for the Elderly (WADE), offers support to anyone over the age of 60 in Wokingham and the surrounding areas.

Our team committed their own time - on their lunch break - to walk as a group, aiming to raise awareness and crucial funds for the charity. The initiative – spearheaded by Rebecca Lanigan, registered manager of Reading and Wokingham – recognises the importance of our brand making a difference in the local community.

‘I’m a big believer that a close-knit community can have a huge benefit on people’s lives. We wanted to go out and support a great cause in our local area, and we knew a lot of our clients go along to the WADE day centre. So, where better to lend a helping hand and raise vital funds?”

As well as providing a warm and friendly environment for their members to pop in and socialise with others, the day centre provides services like physiotherapy and hairdressing.

“The centre really is a hub for the elderly community in and around Wokingham. The charity needs subsidies to carry on with their fantastic work, which is why we’re committed to raising funds. The day centre is a real bonus to our clients and our community, and long may that continue,” says Rebecca.

This is not Rebecca’s first foray into championing causes that mean so much to her. The mum of eight was brought up in a military family and now resides on a base in the southeast. “I do a lot of work for veterans’ charities. Me and my husband run our own charity – Services Outreach Support – where we endeavour to go the extra mile for veterans’ families who need our help.”

Rebecca’s charitable work has been recognised by the Armed Forces Covenant as she was given the gold award in 2023. “It gives me a lot of energy and pride to be active in my local community. I think we’ve moved away from recognising how much a strong local environment can help people – it takes a village to raise a family.”

“We’ve also recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant - which is a promise that we, along with the other covenant signatories, acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives.” Rebecca prides herself on being a Veterans champion and will be incorporating the Veterans Champion training as standard in all staff induction training.

Rebecca joined our Reading and Wokingham brand in September of last year. “I loved that it was a family-run business. Silviu and Cristina have been great to work with and have been supportive of my work with local charities. All in all, we want to make a difference and we’ve got the opportunity to do just that.”

If there is anything you'd like to know about the opportunity of becoming a Sylvian partner, you can reach us at franchising@sylviancare.co.uk