Havant lottery winner makes handmade Christmas cards for care home residents

Paula Morling, from Havant, who won £1m on a scratchcard in November 2018, put the recent lockdown to good effect by hand-making individual festive cards.

She has donated her creations along with stamps and a Christmas pen to the residents of Malmesbury Lawns Care Home so they can send their own season’s greetings to friends and family.

The home in Havant has a special place in Paula’s heart because her father, Albert Stutchbury, who she lost earlier this year, often visited in his role as a community driver.

She explained: ‘I think my dad would approve of my little Christmas crafting project and that the cards are going to Malmesbury Lawn.

‘Dad was a community volunteer driver for almost 13 years and in that time he took many of the residents out for shopping trips and sometimes further afield for short breaks on the south coast, in fact he was so well known by the residents, he became known as Bert the Driver!’

Between her role as a breakfast and lunchtime supervisor at a primary school, and caring for her family, Paula found time to quietly beaver away making the Christmas cards in various shapes and sizes.

She added: ‘I’ve always enjoyed crafting but I will admit that since our National Lottery win I’ve been a little more addicted as I can spend a more time on my hobby!

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‘Usually I send the cards and gift to family and friends but this has been a very strange and difficult year for so many people so it felt right to gift them to those people who could make really good use of them this festive season.

‘My Christmas cards aren’t going to be able to magically change things but they might just provide a moment of light and happiness on a winter’s day for the residents of Malmesbury Lawn and I like to think it’s my way of spreading a little seasonal joy.’

Bill Dyet, manager of the care home, said: ‘It’s important our residents truly feel at home here, so they live their lives as fully as possible. We have various stimulation and reminiscence areas within the home, from a sweet shop to a diner, and we actively encourage our residents to engage in the usual activities they would previously have enjoyed in their own homes.

‘At this time of year, alongside Christmas carols and putting up the Christmas tree, we encourage residents to write Christmas cards. Thanks to Paula’s efforts the cards the residents’ will be writing, with support from our dedicated carers, will be especially full of Christmas cheer.

‘Paula’s decision to give up so much of her spare time to make these beautiful Christmas cards for our residents is such a nice thing to do, and I know the residents, their families and our team of carers have all been touched by Paula’s kindness’

In addition to the cards for the residents, Paula gifted a hamper of Christmas goodies to the carers to thank them for their commitment through a very challenging year.