An Upminster care home won gold – and celebrated by saying thanks to two Havering charities.

Derham House, based in Harwood Hall Lane, took home one of three prizes in the Barchester Group’s “Going for Gold” competition, which rewards good standards of care and presentation in its care homes.

And Derham House chose to donate its �500 prize money to St Francis Hospice, based in Havering-atte-Bower, and Age Concern Havering, based in Hornchurch, received an equal share.

General manager Sheila Howie said: “St Francis Hospice and the Age Concern Dementia Advisory Service really support and help us, so we decided to give them �250 each.”

Derham House presented cheques to the two charities on Friday, October 19.

Lynda Head, community fundraising manager at St Francis Hospice, and Karen Speller, the outreach coordinator for the Age Concern Dementia Advisory Service, represented the two charities at the ceremony, which took place at Derham House.