Residents of Cotmaton House, a sheltered housing scheme for older people in Sidmouth managed by the Abbeyfield Sidmouth Society, have contributed more than £400 and countless other items to a collection for Ukrainian refugees.

Louise Clinch is the House Manager.  She explains, “A local gentleman saw the coverage of Russian invasion of Ukraine and decided to do something to help. He organised Sidbury Village Hall to be open for the community to donate essential items which will be taken to the Polish and Romanian borders for the Ukrainian refugees.

“I found out later that day by 1pm they had stopped taking donations as they had been inundated with so many items. Fortunately, our residents’ donations got in quickly! The residents are really pleased to help in this awful situation.”

The residents and staff arranged a collection amounting to £437.35, from which they were able to amass a huge assortment of clothes, toiletries and other essentials for the refugees.

Cotmaton House accommodates 18 residents in a combination of en-suite rooms and flats in the main house, plus an additional two-bedroomed bungalow, courtyard apartment and five further modern apartments in the grounds. It also boasts a packed activities and events schedule, two homemade meals a day, a landscaped garden, a large entertainment room and some stunning sea views.