Westbourne police officer's fundraising success for hospital patients

Westbourne beat cop PC Joel Brooks was left with an almost indescribable feeling of emotion after dropping off a haul of presents for patients on Christmas Eve at two psychiatric NHS hospitals.

Not done there and with a large amount remaining from the £3,700 raised in 32 Tesco stores across the conurbation, PC Brooks went one step further in his support of Nightingale House and Pebble Lodge.

With help from his wife Karen, he purchased a pottery wheel for Nightingale House, an adult mental mental health rehabilitation unit, and dropped it off earlier this month.

Karen Brooks, Joel Brooks and Debi Browning with the new pottery wheel at Nightingale House

Meanwhile, money was donated to Pebble Lodge, an adolescent inpatient facility, which will be used for activities chosen by the young people.

PC Brooks, who organised and delivered the fundraiser in his time off-duty, said: "Bringing all this together in the run up to Christmas was more stressful than the run up to Christmas as a dad, however, driving home on Christmas Eve having delivered all the presents just left me with an incredible heart-warming feeling as it meant so much to the patients and staff.

"I have used my scope as a police officer for good in my own time for the community and it is a community I really care about."

PC Brooks delivered gifts to Pebble Lodge in time for Christmas

Martin Cross, manager of Tesco Express in Holdenhurst Road, Lansdowne, helped the police officer with the supermarket's fundraising efforts.

PC Brooks said a special thanks also needed to go to the team at TSB Boscombe who helped count the money, a lot of it in change.

"It was the public donating and it was really moving because no one has got a lot of money at the moment," he added. "To raise £3,700 was amazing."

The fundraising effort was backed by Tesco stores across the conurbation

The youngsters at Pebble Lodge have asked PC Brooks to join them on their chosen activities as a thank you for his work.

Mrs Brooks helped her husband deliver the pottery wheel to Nightingale House before giving the hospital's activities co-ordinator, Debi Browning, a lesson in how to throw a pot.

"Joel will just come on the unit and have a chat with the patients," said Ms Browning.

"He spends time with them. It is so important. He is absolutely amazing with them."

Karen Brooks teaching Debi Browning about using the pottery wheel

Ms Browning, who will show other staff how to use the pottery wheel before teaching the patients, added: "He is just so thoughtful and he goes over and above.

"We really appreciate the time he spends with us and the relationship he builds with the patients."