A CARE home charity has celebrated the ninth year of its partnership with AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust.

The trust will be supporting Care South for another three seasons, the charity has announced.

The partnership allows residents, home care clients, and staff to get involved in a range of activities, including meeting players, coffee mornings, walking football, and visits to the Vitality Stadium.

Last season, family and friend football days took place at the residential homes, along with a Christmas coffee morning at the stadium.

Residents attended a players dinner and the AFC Bournemouth club captain Neto paid a visit to Castle Dene care home.

Simon Bird, chief executive at Care South, said: “The key to our successful partnership is that we have a shared objective; to provide a real benefit to the residents and care at home clients in our care.

“When you see it in action, you realise why it works. Everyone involved enjoys it – which is why the initiatives within the partnership are so successful”.

Amy Marks, global partnerships manager at AFC Bournemouth, added: “Care South are a really valued partner and we’ve done some great work over the last nine years.

“It’s always a highlight when we go out to the homes and see so many happy faces there to greet us.

“We’re thoroughly looking forward to continuing our relationship with them and see it go from strength to strength.”