Steel forges new charity partnership

July 16, 2024

With a focus on community wellbeing, the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel has formed a charity partnership with the Hawthorndale Care Village.

An innovative model for dementia care, the revolutionary village is set to open in Invercargill in June 2025. Inspired by the world-leading Dutch dementia village De Hogeweyk, it will follow a social rather than a traditional model of care, allowing residents to live as normal life as possible, exercising choice over their daily lives.

Hawthorndale Care Village Charitable Trust board chair Frank O'Boyle said the organisation was thrilled to align with the Steel.

“We are deeply grateful for the invaluable partnership between the Southern Steel and Hawthorndale Care Village,” he said.

“Partnering with such a prominent Southland brand enables us to raise awareness of the village and share initiatives, particularly those focused on dementia awareness and the new care model.

“Steel’s commitment to the local community ensures that this partnership will significantly benefit the village. We thank them for their dedication, generosity, and belief in the power of collaboration to create lasting change.” 

The project was on target and about two-thirds of the way through the programme. With all buildings roofed and closed in, landscaping and roading had begun around the site and the first 10 independent retirement villas were available for sign-up.

Steel chief executive Sonya Fleming said the franchise was eager to lend its support.

“The village will have such a positive impact in the lives of those living with dementia and their families and we are incredibly proud to support them as our chosen charity,” she said.

“A group of our players had a site tour recently and were in awe of what is being achieved. It is going to be absolutely amazing for Southland and it’s fantastic to see we are leading the way yet again to make assets like this a reality in our city.”

The Hawthorndale Care Village was the official game-day partner for Steel’s home game on 22 June which provided an opportunity for promotion of the project and collection of donations.

“We’re excited about the potential of this partnership and are acutely aware of the responsibility we have as high performance athletes to use our profile and sporting platform to positively support our community in a variety of ways,” Fleming said.