Henpower project to win TSB community partner award at pride of the north-east

TSB AWARD RECOGNISES THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK OF DOUGLAS HUNTER AND ALAN RICHARDS WHO HAVE TURNED 700 PENSIONERS INTO ‘HENSIONERS’

 

An initiative aimed at helping the elderly combat loneliness and depression across Tyne and Wear with the use of chickens is to be recognised by TSB at the inaugural Pride of the North-East awards event on 18 May at Newcastle Civic Centre.

 

The HenPower project, which sets up hen coops in care homes for residents to look after the birds, was started in 2013 by Douglas Hunter in an effort to bring older people together, reduce depression and improve their wellbeing.

 

 Currently there are 700 pensioners looking after hens in 20 North East care homes. Members of the scheme, dubbed ‘hensioners’, have even designed their own bespoke coops, have chosen rare breeds to buy and bid for birds at auction.

 

Staff in care homes have reported a reduction in the use of antipsychotic medication when the hens are present in the pensioners’ lives.

 

Commenting on the TSB Community Partner Award, Andy Armitage, Regional Branch Distribution Director, said: “At TSB we’re all about supporting local causes that matter to the communities they serve. What better way to celebrate such causes than at events such as Pride of Britain, Pride of Birmingham and now Pride of the North-East – where ordinary people are recognised for the extraordinary things they do to help their communities thrive.

 

 “Our TSB Community Partner Award recognises the amazing work our Charity Partners are doing to help communities in the North East and we feel HenPower is a very deserving winner – such a simple, lovely idea, executed brilliantly and genuinely helping bring a little bit of joy back in to the lives of the elderly suffering from loneliness and depression.

 

“This is our first regional event in the North-East and I know, just like Pride of Birmingham last month, it will be a very special evening.”

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