Do Good Day 8th March 2026
The 8th of March is Saint John of God Day, a day to celebrate our founder and his legacy. We continue to do #GoodWork in his name, making a difference to the lives of the people we support.
“Do good for yourself by doing good for others” - Saint John of God
We continue to mark the day with events and activities to #DoGood in our local communities involving colleagues and the people we support.
Karen & Chantelle - Marketing
For the second year in a row, Karen and Chantelle collected warm coats, hats, gloves and scarves to donate to the Wall of Kindness in Middlesbrough.
The wall of kindness was installed in December 2022 by a local businessman who wanted to help people who are homeless, or struggling with the rising cost of living.
The wall reads ‘If you are cold then help yourself... If you have a spare, then be KIND and share..’
Chantelle said:
“When we got there it was raining heavily, but luckily the wall is under a bridge so everything stays dry.
As you can see from the photos, it was nearly empty - but we’d collected donations over the past month, so we had plenty and managed to fill it.
As we finished hanging up the last few bits, a man approached us. His socks and trainers were soaked and worn out. He chose a new pair of trainers and we helped him change into them, as he was unsteady on his feet and using a crutch. He was very grateful and kept thanking us.
While we were there, more people came to look through the clothes.
We’ve donated to the Wall of Kindness for a few years now, and every time we drop things off we can see how much they’re needed and appreciated.”
The Minims and Woodhall
The two services teamed up to support their community by litter picking in their local area.
Service Manager Miggy said:
“Before we began, one of the staff members drove around the community to identify areas where we could make the most impact and where there was a large amount of litter. This helped us focus our efforts where they were most needed.
All staff and service users thoroughly enjoyed taking part in tidying up our community. One service user said he felt good knowing that he could give something back to the community that supports and looks after him. Another service user shared that he felt proud of himself for working hard.
It was a lovely day, and everyone agreed that doing something good for others makes you feel good, a quote that proved to be 100% true!”
St John’s Terrace
Everyone at St John’s Terrace had a very busy Do Good Day with plenty of activities happening throughout the community! They invited a neighbour round for a cuppa, gifted her an Easter egg, and then helped tidy her back garden by clearing away the dead leaves - she was incredibly grateful.
The group also made signs to offer free car washes to the public and got stuck in washing cars! Their hard work was really appreciated.
Heather and Gillian spent time helping people around the village by offering to walk their dogs. They especially loved their walks with Fudge and Hope!
Everyone had a fantastic day.
North View
The team at North View decided to give back to a local day centre that many of the people they support attend.
Support Worker, Demi-Leigh said:
“It was a great opportunity to spend time together, show our support and make a positive impact. From lending a helping hand to sharing smiles and conversations, every small act of kindness helped brighten someone’s day.
Days like this remind us how important it is to care for the people around us and to stay connected as a community. We’re so grateful to everyone who works at the day centre and who make such a difference for the people who attend respite at north view. We made gift baskets for the staff and arts and crafts for the people who attend the day centre, they were so grateful for our support.
Together, we can continue to make our community a kinder and stronger place!”
Bede’s Close
Shamim from the Property Services team joined forces with Bede’s Close to donate supplies to a local food bank at Saint James’s Church in Thornton Village. Everyone spent the day baking cakes, flapjack slices, and chocolate cornflake cakes to add to their donation.
Shamim said:
“Once everything had cooled and been carefully packed, Tracy delivered the treats to Saint James’s Church. She was warmly welcomed by Reverend Harry, who shared more about the vital role the food bank plays in the local community. Each Saturday, the service supports up to 30 families, offering essential food items as well as a warm meal and a hot drink to anyone who needs it.
Knowing that our homemade bakes will be enjoyed by families visiting the food bank this week was incredibly rewarding. Do Good Day once again reminded us how small acts of kindness can create meaningful impact. We’re proud that the team at 1 Bede’s Close could contribute to the brilliant work happening at Saint James’s Church - and I’m grateful to have helped document the day as well as take part in it.”
Villa Maria
For Do Good Day, the staff came together to collect a variety of items to donate to the British Red Cross, helping support the vital work they do in communities across the UK.
The Sisters and Residents decorated some handmade tote bags specially crafted for the British Red Cross to sell in their shop.
Joyce Forster, Administrator at Villa Maria said:
“These unique bags were made with care and love, and will help raise funds for people in crisis.
A big thank you to everyone who contributed - your generosity and creativity truly made a difference.”
Rockliffe Court
The team at Rockliffe Court invited the community and local councillors for refreshments and snacks. It was a brilliant turnout, and everyone had a great time.
Ioana Brezeanu, Senior Policy and Research Officer
Even though Ioana was in Italy for Do Good Day, she still found a way to take part.
She donated food to a local food bank that supports around 3,000 families in the area.
The Old Vicarage
The team at The Old Vicarage chose to support Night Light CIC, a local charity that works to ensure that everyone has access to basic essentials.
They run a pay it forward scheme covering food, drink and essentials run on donations from the public and provided by local shops, cafes and businesses.
Martin Thornhill, Support Worker at The Old Vicarage said:
“Together, we donated clothes, easter eggs, sanitary products, crisp packets to make sleeping bags, toiletries, hampers and everyday essentials to help people in our community who need it most. The generosity from the team has been incredible - every single item will go directly to someone who’ll feel the benefit.
Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped us live out the SJOG value of doing good in such a practical, heartfelt way.
Let’s keep the momentum going and continue spreading kindness wherever we can.”
Carmona House
For Do Good Day, Carmona House decided to get outside for some fresh air and do something positive together.
Project Worker, Renata said:
“We went for a walk, stopped for some well-deserved ice lollies and finished the day planting primroses in the garden.
The real win? Everyone from the house joined in, which meant plenty of laughs, good chats and a bit of teamwork in the garden.
Safe to say the flowers weren't the only things growing that day... community spirit was too.
Sometimes doing good is simply spending time together and enjoying the little moments.
P.S. The feedback was amazing too!”
Feedback from one of the people supported in the safe house:
“Just want to say a big thank you for organising members of the safe house to go shopping and flower planting. Thank you for the ice cream, I’m most grateful. My first ice in the UK. You will never be forgotten.”
Fairfields
The team at Fairfields collected crisp packets to support Night Light CIC, a local charity supporting people experiencing homelessness. They collect crisp packets for a project that recycles them into sleeping bags for homeless people.
Support Worker, Ronke said:
“We have definitely enjoyed eating the crisps, and it feels even better knowing the wrappers can now be recycled and donated to support a great cause.
It’s amazing how something as simple as collecting crisp packets can contribute to something bigger and help make a difference in our community.
A great reminder that every small act of kindness counts.”
Ambrose House
For Do Good Day the team at Ambrose House volunteered their time at a local church. The staff noticed their garden had become overgrown which inspired them to reach out and offer their help to tidy it up.
Team Leader, Yarin said:
“It was good fun to break from the routine and muck in with something different, although the key lesson we learnt was that no amount of toil can match the job of a high-powered jet wash on an old pavement!”
St Paul’s Nursing Home
The team at St Paul’s donated food to a foodbank supporting local people in crisis.
