Meadowcroft, a care home run by The Orders of St John Care Trust in Thame, is proud to have a champion in its midst. Alice Hopkins, an elite long jumper, has been balancing her passion for athletics with her commitment to a career in care since joining the team in December 2021.

Alice, who secured a gold medal at the British Indoor Athletics Championships in late February, has always had a strong work ethic—something she sees reflected in both her sporting and care career. “Athletics and care work are very similar in some aspects—both are very hard and challenging, but at the same time, incredibly rewarding. That’s why I found and love both,” says Alice.

Alice's journey in athletics began back in primary school, where her natural speed and agility led to encouragement from her headteacher to pursue competitive athletics. Initially excelling in sprinting and hurdles, Alice later discovered her talent for the long jump, which became her primary focus. Having just competed in the British Indoor Athletics Championship in Birmingham, today and tomorrow (7 and 8 March) she is competing in the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. Her ultimate goal is The World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan in September 2025.

Alice has always had a caring nature and she applied for the role of bank carer at Meadowcroft, wanting flexible work that could fit around her training. Her personal connection to Meadowcroft—her grandfather lived there in 2016—made the role an even more meaningful choice.

Alice’s hard work and dedication haven’t gone unnoticed by residents at Meadowcroft either. Bernie Turner, who has lived at the care home since 2012, took great delight in trying on Alice’s gold medal and shared his pride upon hearing of her sporting achievements by giving her a big thumbs up.

Alice acknowledges that being a carer is both physically and emotionally demanding, much like her training regime, but she remains deeply committed to both. “It’s a hard but rewarding job being a carer, and the team at Meadowcroft are amazing.”

As Alice prepares to take on Europe’s best, her Meadowcroft family will be cheering her on every step of the way. Home Manager Rachel Greenough said: “We are watching the Championships together on TV and wish Alice the best of luck. We look forward to celebrating her continued success, both on and off the track.”