A brand new care home has celebrated its opening in Basingstoke with a flurry of donations to local causes.

Care UK’s Dashwood Manor, on Bradley Way, will open today to new residents.

To mark the moment, it has donated £200 to Basingstoke NeighbourCare, £200 to Viables Memory Club and £200 to the Basingstoke and Deane Community Fund.

The cash will help support a befriending scheme, a weekly session to help those living with dementia and assist disadvantaged people, the charities said.

Councillor Dan Putty, founder of Basingstoke and Deane Community Fund, said: "We are really grateful to receive this donation. These funds are essential for us to continue to support local people in need, especially after the challenges of the past 18 months."

Dil Perera, home manager at Dashwood Manor, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to donate funds to Basingstoke NeighbourCare, Viables Memory Club and the Basingstoke and Deane Community Fund.

“We understand that these charities need support now more than ever before to ensure they can continue their fantastic work helping local people. All three groups provide much-needed initiatives and services for people in the local community."

“Here at Dashwood Manor, we encourage residents to remain as active and independent as possible, and helping those in the community to do the same further supports our ethos. We are thrilled to be marking the start of a great relationship between Dashwood Manor and these local charities with donations to support their continued work in the community.”

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, the new care home, which opened on Monday (September 16), will incorporate space for hobby and leisure activities.