Persona Care and Support

01/01/2026

Happy New Year!

Here are just a few of our highlights from the past ten years!

We've been celebrating our diamond year - 2025 was our tenth anniversary of enabling support that has a positive outcome for people across all of Bury's towns.

Thank you to everyone who's been a part of our story so far and if we haven't met you yet, perhaps 2026 will be the year that we do.

Special thanks to everyone who helped us choose these highlights, it wasn't easy!

29/12/2025

If you're feeling low and you need to talk to someone or you're worried about someone else, please contact one of these organisations - you aren't alone.

Samaritans - 116 123
SHOUT text - text SHOUT to 85258
Mind - 0300 102 1234
Calm for men - 0800 58 58 58
Papyrus - 0800 068 4141
Cruse - 0808 808 1677
CAP - 0800 328 0006

Share this post with your friends and family or visit our shareable webpage for more help online from:
- Greater Manchester Victims' Services
- AtaLoss
- Money Advice Helpline
- Dosh
and what to do in an emergency or mental health crisis.

https://tinyurl.com/WinterSupportP

27/12/2025

Congratulations to:

David Mitchell
Lesley Taylor
this month's winners of our Living the Values Recognition award!

Well done to everyone else who has had a High Five this month.

Our winners have been chosen by a panel of people we support and managers, from everyone who was given a High Five over the past month. They will each get a gift they can choose.

Seen something amazing at Persona this month? Anyone can give a High Five here https://tinyurl.com/TellUsP

alt text: Gold balloon spells Congratulations with the text 'to everyone who got a high five this month!' Animated clapping hands and confettis at the bottom of the image.

25/12/2025

A very Merry Christmas to everyone who's celebrating today!

Thank you to all of you who are working hard to support people today and across this festive period.

Click here for a Christmas message from Kat Sowden, our managing director https://tinyurl.com/KSXmasMsg

alt text: Against a black background is golden text saying 'merry Christmas' with a prancing gold reindeer next to it. The light is glinting across the letters. At the top left corner is a fancy golden border design with the Persona logo at the bottom of the image.

22/12/2025

Congratulations to Jill, winner of the Grundy Hub Christmas card competition, pictured with her winning design!

Jill's design has been printed and will be sent out to people we support at Grundy Hub Get Social and she won a tub of chocolates too.

If you or someone you care for is over 50 and would like to try new things and meet new people, Grundy Hub is a welcoming, flexible place to come. You can refer yourself or someone else and we can arrange a free taster session for you too.

Click here for details https://www.personasupport.org/our-services/grundy-hub/

21/12/2025

Debbie has shared this thoughtful compliment for our Supported Living team and their support for her brother, Ben:

Ben moved in around 3 months ago. I was concerned due to Ben having to move twice within a short period.
We first met some of the amazing staff on Ben's transition days. I have never met such lovely dedicated and caring staff members.
All the staff have gone above and beyond to make Ben feel comfortable and happy. They have dealt with any issues in a professional and timely manner.
Ben had a difficult time prior to his move. But he is now his happy, chatty self, enjoying life again.
Ben is talking more, learning new words and this is due to the interaction and care from the staff.
Seeing Ben happy and cared for is all I have wanted. The move has been very good for Ben. Thank you to your amazing team.

Thank you, Debbie

19/12/2025

If you're getting a bit too much sparkly Christmas in your feed, we're here for you!
Here's a throwback to creepy Halloween, when Elton and Sunnybank spent the day together while Sunnybank was being refurbished. Everyone made a brilliant effort for the fancy dress party and had music and games with Carrs pasties, peas and gravy and cake for lunch.

alt text: three photos of groups of people in creepy costume, smiling to camera. They are standing against a handpainted background with a spooky house, ghosts and bats. People are dressed as pumpkins, witches, wizards, clowns, skeletons and even a nun.

17/12/2025

Thank you to Healthwatch Bury for visiting Grundy Hub to produce our enter and view report, we're proud of our Grundy team for all they've achieved.

The Healthwatch team spoke to our colleagues, people we support and their friends and families and have also made some recommendations for how we can make the hub work even better for older people and people living with dementia in Bury through Grundy Hub Get Social.

Want to know more about Grundy Hub or how Get Social can support you or someone you know over 50?

Find out more or refer someone here https://www.personasupport.org/our-services/grundy-hub/.

We are delighted to share our latest Enter and View report following visits to Grundy Day Care Centre. This marks a significant milestone — the first report since the relaunch of our Enter and View programme.

We would like to extend a special thank you to our Enter and View Lead and Board Member, Alison Slater, whose dedication and expertise were central to producing this report.

You can read the full report and learn more about our findings here: https://healthwatchbury.co.uk/news/2025-12-15/healthwatch-bury-publishes-enter-and-view-report-grundy-day-care-centre

Persona Care and Support

16/12/2025

Enjoying a festive afternoon in the winter wonderland of Newbank Garden Centre's Christmas shop was the perfect trip out - followed by a stop in the café and smiles all round.

alt text: photos of older people enjoying Christmas decorations including wreaths, ceiling decorations, reindeer and trees, browsing in a shop and enjoying a hot drink in the cafe. Elmhurst Short Stay and Persona logos are at the bottom.

13/12/2025

Our Christmas Fair replaced the Persona AGM (annual general meeting) this year, after some feedback from people we support and our colleagues.

People said they wanted an event they felt more a part of, with less listening to presentations and more of the singing and Christmas celebrations that we always have, so that's what we did!

Thank you to everyone who came, we loved hosting so many of you and hope you enjoyed the cake decorating, snowman building, cushion stuffing, tree decoration design and all the other fun that we had on offer.
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen and kept us fed and watered all day!
See you next year?

To see more about the fair, including our annual report and more video and pictures, click here https://personasupport.org/news

alt text: video of clips of the Christmas fair showing people taking part in the activities mentioned above.

12/12/2025

We asked people we support and our colleagues to show us their Christmas jumpers and they've done us proud!

Thank you to everyone who's shared their knitwear - we couldn't choose a favourite!

alt text: video of images of a dog and people dressed in Christmas jumpers against a green background with gold snowflakes. Persona logo is at the bottom and at the top it says 'our Christmas jumpers' in red and green letters. Jumpers include traditional designs in pink and blue, 'peas on earth', a reindeer face with gold antlers and a lady wearing a green, red and white striped elf sweater and inflatable reindeer as trousers so it looks like she is riding it.