Supporting Independent Living

A thanksgiving service has been held to celebrate 35 years of a Dorset Christian charity which helps older people, vulnerable adults and people with acquired brain injury to live independently in their own home. 

The service for Pramacare included hymns, prayers, and talks, was held in Wimborne Minster on last Friday, conducted by the Rector, the Revd Canon Vanessa Herrick, and with an address given by the Rt Revd Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne. 

Pramacare was launched by the late Dr Chris Moran, initially with a handful of local church volunteers helping recently discharged hospital patients. Since then, the organisation has grown to involve over 100 volunteers and employ nearly 300 staff in locations across Mid and East Dorset. 

Bishop Karen said, “Prama’s development over the years has always been as a response to the needs around. It is now offering a vital service in Dorset always meeting the needs of the lonely, the aged, and the vulnerable through befriending, offering respite and day care, creating meeting spaces and a wide range of activities.  

“The recent celebratory service brought together employees, volunteers and clients all proud to be part of an organisation which clearly has Christ’s love and care at its heart. 

“The needs of the elderly and isolated in particular are only set to increase in our area in the future. Hence our prayers too that Pramacare should continue to go from strength to strength.” 

The Diocese’s Social Justice Programme Manager, Colin Brady, said, “In a market dominated by private sector companies Prama stands out as a not-for-profit provider of care. In communities across Dorset Prama provides support that enables people to remain independent for longer, and when they do need care it feels as if Prama really does care. 

“I met one woman who spoke enthusiastically about the way her carer had helped organise a family party, and then let slip the fact she had the same careworker from Prama for over sixteen years.” 

Prama is built on a strong and solid foundation of Christian values, thought it is not an exclusively religious organisation - clients and staff come from a range of faiths, or no faith.