Residents at Diagrama Foundation’s Edensor Care Centre in Clacton-on-Sea were treated to a special shopping experience this week, thanks to a visit from Tina’s Clothing, a mobile pop-up clothing shop that has been supporting care home residents across Essex, Hertfordshire, London, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Suffolk for over 25 years.
Set up in the heart of the home, Tina’s pop-up shop transformed one of Edensor’s communal spaces into a welcoming boutique, filled with stylish, comfortable clothing tailored to the needs of older adults. From nightwear to underwear, and day-to-day outfits with elasticated waists and minimal fastenings, the carefully curated selection allowed residents to browse and choose their own items in a relaxed and dignified setting.
The initiative is perfectly aligned with Edensor’s commitment to the Montessori approach to dementia care, which places strong emphasis on promoting independence, choice, and meaningful activity for each resident. Enabling residents to make their own clothing choices not only boosts confidence but also helps to maintain a sense of identity.
Ewa Ruskowiak, Care Coordinator, Edensor Care Centre said, “Our residents really look forward to Tina’s visits. These pop-up shops do more than just provide clothing they empower our residents to make choices, express their personalities, and enjoy a sense of independence that is so vital to their wellbeing. It’s a brilliant example of how small, thoughtful initiatives can have a big impact.”
Tina Pedersen, founder of Tina’s Clothing, shared her passion for the work, “Being able to bring stylish, easy-to-wear clothes directly to people who might not otherwise have the chance to go out shopping is so important. I choose every piece with care, elasticated waists, soft fabrics, no fiddly fastenings—because I want everyone to feel comfortable and confident. It’s not just about clothes—it’s about dignity, joy, and inclusion.”
Diagrama Foundation continues to embrace initiatives like Tina’s Clothing that align with their values of dignity, respect, and independence, enriching the lives of those they care for every day.
To support the not-for-profit care centre and contribute a gift to brighten the residents’ day, you can see their Wishlist online at https://linktr.ee/diagramaamazonwishlist or to read more about activities at Edensor visit www.facebook.com/Edensorcarecentre
ENDS
About Diagrama Foundation
Diagrama Foundation is a Kent based charity that supports vulnerable children, young people, and adults to live their best life.
Diagrama has a Supported Living Service across Bromley and Mid Sussex, three homes for adults with learning disabilities in Orpington, an eight-bed care home for adults with learning disabilities in West Sussex with a Community Services Programme a fifty-bed care home for the elderly with nursing and dementia needs in Essex, and a fostering and adoption service in the southeast. Plus, a 100 acre property offering farm and craft day Services cross West Sussex.
- The Supported Living Service, cares for 33 adults with learning disabilities, in seven schemes across Bromley and one scheme in Mid Sussex, helping them to develop skills and confidence to live in their own house either on their own or with others.
- At Cabrini House in Orpington the charity promotes the development of core skills for 23 adults with learning disabilities so that they can lead independent lives integrated within their community.
- Duckyls Farm, a 100 acre residential care home in West Sussex for residents with learning disabilities, allows the charity to explore the physical, mental and social skills and benefits that working with animals and in nature can offer to people with a learning disability.
- Diagrama Day Opportunities operates at Duckyls Farm and across Sussex. This is a day care provision Hub and Outreach Support for people with a learning disability, physical and sensory impairment, acquired brain injury and/or autism.
- The team at their nursing and dementia care home, Edensor Care Centre in Clacton on Sea, support vulnerable residents to live life to the full.
- Diagrama’s voluntary adoption agency and not-for-profit fostering service cares for children who wait the longest for homes in London, Kent, West and East Sussex and Surrey.
Many vulnerable children and adults don’t get the support they need to develop their true potential, but the Diagrama team know that when someone has time and belief invested in them, they come alive, because that investment has made them feel valued and worthy.
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