Martello Manor Hosts a Stroke Awareness Seminar
Martello Manor by Boutique Care Homes, situated in Hythe, Kent, is opening its doors to the wider community on Friday 9th October 2026 at 10:30am, when the Stroke Association arrives to lead a free awareness seminar for stroke survivors, families and carers. It’s one of the first community-facing events at Martello Manor since the home welcomed its founding residents in June this year, and it brings practical, expert guidance to a part of Hythe that hasn’t had a dedicated stroke support session before.
It’s a milestone worth marking. A home built on the promise of life, not just care, needs to prove that promise beyond its own front door, and this seminar is a key step into doing exactly that for its Hythe neighbours. It also marks the start of something ongoing: the seminar is where Martello Manor’s new Stroke Friendship Café begins.
What to expect on the day
The morning opens with a 30 to 40 minute presentation from the Stroke Association, giving attendees clear, practical information, guidance and support for stroke survivors, families and carers. Once the presentation wraps up, the format loosens into something more informal: time to meet other people who understand the journey, share experiences over tea, and start building the kind of connections that carry on long after the first meeting ends.
“Stroke recovery can be one of the loneliest journeys a family goes through, and Hythe hasn’t had a dedicated space for it before now,” says Marlene Abreu, Home Manager at Martello Manor. “Bringing the Stroke Association in to lead that first session, and opening our doors to do it, felt like the right way to mark this moment for Martello Manor: our first invitation out to the community we’re part of, not just care delivered behind our own front door.”
For families still weighing up their options, the café also says something about how the home operates day to day. “When a family is trying to work out whether a care home is the right fit, they’re really asking whether the people behind it can be trusted,” says Jude Coveney, Admissions Manager at Martello Manor. “Opening our doors for something like this, with no admissions conversation attached, is one of the clearest ways we know how to show that trust has to be earned first.”
Understanding stroke
A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, damaging brain cells and potentially affecting how the body moves, how someone thinks, and how they feel. Around 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke each year, and roughly 1.4 million stroke survivors are living across the country today. Every day, approximately 240 people survive a stroke, and no two recoveries look the same.
Recognising the signs quickly makes a real difference to outcomes. The Stroke Association highlights the FAST warning signs:
- Face: has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
- Arms: can they raise both arms and keep them there?
- Speech: is their speech slurred or garbled?
- Time: if you see any of these signs, call 999 immediately.
About the Stroke Association
The Stroke Association exists to support people rebuilding their lives after stroke. The charity provides expert information, a dedicated helpline (0303 3033 100), and community groups across the UK, connecting stroke survivors and their families with the resources they need at every stage of recovery. As the charity puts it, surviving a stroke is just the start of a long and difficult recovery journey, and no one should have to walk it alone.
A regular place to belong
And afterwards, this seminar becomes the seed of an ongoing café. From the 9th, it settles into a regular monthly rhythm: the last Friday of every month, from 10:30am to 12:00pm, at Martello Manor. It’s open to stroke survivors, relatives and carers from across Hythe and the surrounding area, whether or not they have any connection to the home.
Event details:
- What: Stroke Awareness Seminar with the Stroke Association (the first session of what becomes a monthly Stroke Friendship Café)
- When: Friday 9th October 2026, 10:30am (then the last Friday of every month, 10:30am to 12:00pm)
- Where: Martello Manor, 18 Farmer Road, Hythe, Kent, CT21 6FY
- Contact: 01303 768 286
