Who We Are
Brendoncare has nearly 40 years experience in providing excellent care for older people through its age-friendly spaces and services.
Our History
In the 1950s, philanthropist Phoebe Bacon gathered ageing friends to live with her at her home, “Brendon House”. Inspired by her vision, Sir Ronald Gibson, a Winchester GP, founded The Brendoncare Foundation in 1984.
Convinced people were often let down by the institutions looking after them, he believed that people should never have to move should their health fail or mobility deteriorate. He pioneered the idea of tailoring a full range of care to fit the changing needs of people, always offering care with discretion, respect and dignity.
These principles continue to guide our work today.
Who we are now
Building on the pioneering work of our founders, we continue to care and support people in different stages of later life. Our community services help those living in their own homes to always feel welcomed and connected at one of our in person or online clubs, or offer a friendly voice over the phone. Extra Care Housing, also known as assisted living, offers independent living for older people in their own property but with the reassurance of help being close by if needed. For those needing more support, we offer residential, nursing, dementia, and end of life care at our care homes.
Our Patron
Brendoncare is thrilled to have HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh as its Patron. The Duchess became Patron of Brendoncare in 2003 after the death of HM The Queen Mother, who was our first Royal Patron.
Our values:
Every Brendoncare service is supported by colleagues and volunteers who work together to create an organisation of which we are all proud. Our values unite us:
We are kind
We are respectful and warm-hearted
We take the time to understand what matters to others
We seek to do the kind thing, to genuinely make a difference through actions
We are empowering
We help people feel supported to make the best choice for them
We support, train and develop our people to feel confident in their decisions
We motivate ourselves and others to achieve their goals
We are dedicated
We are dedicated to making a difference every day
We go the extra mile for others
We strive to be the best we can be, supporting others to live the best they can
We are forward thinking
We continue our founders’ pioneering approach to care
We challenge ourselves to keep seeking better ways of doing things
We are a force for good, building conversations that change perceptions of later life
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the loving care your team and volunteers give to my Mum and people like her.
You are an exceptional organisation.Daughter of Brendoncare Community Services Member
Senior Leadership Team
Marianne Wanstall - Chief Executive
“I love being part of the Brendoncare family. Every colleague and volunteer contributes brilliantly to our happy, vibrant communities that support people every step of the way. Growing in age should never limit your opportunities or how you spend your time: we aim to empower people to live life to the fullest potential, where and how they choose.”
Michael Crutchley - Director of Care and Wellbeing
“I am driven by high quality care services that are innovative and meet the changing needs of those we care and support. My aim is to ensure that every Brendoncare interaction is empathetic, kind and compassionate, making demonstrable changes to people’s lives.”
Aileen Ohlson - Director of People and Culture
“I am passionate about people and I recognise our colleagues are at the heart of what makes Brendoncare a success. I want everyone who works or volunteers for Brendoncare to feel valued, be able to be their true self and have the opportunity to develop their career and learn new skills, in doing so feel empowered to make a difference to everyone who comes into the Brendoncare family.”
Samantha Agnew - Director of Charitable Impact and Community Services
“Brendoncare staff and volunteers are dedicated to providing fantastic opportunities for people to remain active, make new friendships and be involved in their community. My aim is to support the development of those opportunities, be clear about our charitable impact and ensure we attract support for the future of our services.”
Emma Digance - Director of Brand and Customer Experience
“I am passionate about people in later life receiving the best possible care and support, at exactly the right time for them and their family. We are always thrilled to welcome new people to the Brendoncare family!“
