Celebrating life at Barchester

We celebrate life through everything we do, from our thoughtful experiences and activities to our delicious food. We offer the latest technology as well as sensory engagement to nurture the wellbeing of our residents. With a wide variety of tailored activities and events we make sure our residents have the best physical, mental, spiritual and social stimulation, all bespoke to them. Take a look at what we’ve been up to…

Elgar Court Care Home

A trip up to the Beacon on Malvern Hills!

We were absolutely thrilled and delighted to be invited by the Rotary Club of Malvern on their annual trip up to the Beacon on Malvern Hills.

Every year with support from the Malvern Hills Access Partnership and the Land Rover Experience team, The Rotary Club of Malvern enable people who can no longer walk the Malvern Hills to reach the Beacon once again!

Our residents were truly excited and appreciative of the generosity of these amazing teams and helping them experience the Malvern Hills again or even for the first time!

Peter (pictured on the bench) had suffered from ill health when he first came to live with us, and with our support he is now mobile but not able to quite walk up the hill. With the support of the Rotary Club of Malvern, he has now reached the top of the Malvern Hills Beacon for the very first time and ticked this off his 'bucket list!'

Julie MacLusky, President of the Rotary Club of Malvern said, "We try and do this every year for the community and so pleased everyone has enjoyed themselves!" A huge THANK YOU from all of our residents!!

Residents enjoy a Wonderful Day Out at Wilton House Garden Centre

Our residents had a fantastic day trip to Wilton House Garden Centre, enjoying a relaxing outing filled with beautiful surroundings, delicious refreshments, and great company.

They spent time exploring the colourful displays of flowers, plants, and garden accessories, taking in the sights and sharing gardening tips and memories along the way. There was plenty of laughter as everyone browsed the centre before sitting down together to enjoy a tasty lunch and refreshments.

The outing provided a wonderful opportunity to socialise, enjoy the fresh air, and make new memories outside the home. Smiles were plentiful throughout the day, and everyone returned feeling refreshed after such an enjoyable visit.

Days like these are a great way to promote wellbeing, encourage conversation, and bring joy through shared experiences. We look forward to many more adventures together!

Milford House Care Home

Happy 103rd Birthday, Gwen!

A very special celebration took place as our wonderful resident, Gwen, marked her incredible 103rd birthday with a beautiful garden party surrounded by family, friends, fellow residents, and staff.

The garden was filled with laughter, music, delicious refreshments, and plenty of birthday cheer as everyone came together to celebrate this remarkable milestone. Gwen was delighted to spend the afternoon in the sunshine, enjoying the company of her loved ones and the many birthday wishes she received.

Reaching 103 years of age is an extraordinary achievement, and it was a privilege to honour Gwen with such a memorable celebration. Her warmth, kindness, and wonderful stories continue to inspire everyone around her.

From all of us, we wish Gwen a very happy 103rd birthday and many more happy moments ahead. Congratulations, Gwen!

Marriott House and Lodge Care Home

Summer Fete brings the local community together

Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together at Marriott House & Lodge to enjoy a Summer Fete that was held in the home’s grounds on Saturday 11^th July.

Marriott House & Lodge hosted a variety of activities throughout the day, including, tombola stall, live enternainment, hook the duck, human fruit machine, games, Zumba class, lucky deep, etc., which were enjoyed by everyone who came to the event.

Staff at Marriott House & Lodge made everyone feel welcome and were delighted to see different generations having fun together. Visitors enjoyed plenty of refreshments, prepared by the catering team, who were hard at work making sure that a great time was had by all – it really was a team effort!

Resident, Mary , said, “I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was surrounded by lots of great people, and the refreshments kept flowing. The weather was hot but lovley in the shade until we finished. Staff did a great job, not just on the day, but organising the event and getting everyone together.”

Skye Williams, Operations Manager at the home, said: “Staff at Marriott House & Lodge are dedicated to making sure that the home is a hub of the local community, and this event, along with all their hard work, has definitely paid off. It was a resounding success!”

Marriott House and Lodge Care Home

Residents Bloom with Creativity in the Garden

Our residents recently enjoyed a delightful flower arranging session in the garden, making the most of the beautiful weather and the vibrant blooms around them.

Surrounded by nature, everyone had the opportunity to create their own unique floral arrangements while sharing stories, laughter, and conversation. The activity encouraged creativity, relaxation, and social connection, with each arrangement reflecting the individual style and personality of its creator.

Spending time outdoors in the fresh air added to the enjoyment of the day, promoting wellbeing and a sense of calm. It was wonderful to see so many smiles as residents proudly displayed their beautiful floral creations.

A lovely afternoon filled with friendship, creativity, and the simple joy of flowers in bloom.

Kingsland House Care Home

Anchors Away!

With the magnificent replica of Christopher Columbus’s flagship, Nao Santa María visiting Shoreham for just 12 days, we were determined that as many residents as possible had the opportunity to see this incredible ship.

That’s why we’ve enjoyed not one, not two, but three trips to Shoreham Harbour over the past week!

Each outing has been filled with special moments, whether relaxing at Port Kitchen with a cuppa, cooling down with a delicious ice cream, or strolling down to the lock gates to watch the yachts and fishing boats pass through. And, of course, every visit included plenty of time admiring the spectacular Nao Santa María in the dry dock.

For one resident with a lifelong passion for boats and ships, it was the perfect afternoon, while others shared memories of family and friends who have sailed and enjoyed reminiscing together as we watched the harbour come to life.

Kingsland House Care Home

Bees And How They Produce Honey

Residents enjoyed a fascinating talk and demonstration all about bees, honey, the excellent work their team does in Adur and Worthing, and the vital role pollinators play in our environment. Residents loved seeing real honeycomb up close and learning how bees build their incredible hives — plus tasting delicious local honey!

A huge thank you to Lisa and François for such an engaging and inspiring visit, residents were captivated from start to finish

Kingsland House Care Home

Special Trip To The Aviation Museum

Residents enjoyed the first of several outings planned to offer something a little special for some of our gentlemen, with a visit to the Wings Aviation Museum in Balcombe.

What an incredible museum, full of recovered aircraft, real human stories, and genuine artefacts and equipment from WW2 and beyond.

For one gentleman in particular, who had an amazing career as an aeronautical engineer, this was an especially meaningful treat. He made the afternoon even more special for all of us, sharing his knowledge and pointing out the fascinating details and stories behind some of the incredible flying machines.

It was a wonderful afternoon for everyone, with plenty of chatter and laughter on the minibus both on the way there and on the journey home. A lovely day filled with memories, sharing stories, and lots of smiles.

Kingsland House Care Home

Gardening Club

Residents got creative in the garden to make the most of the glorious weather. Some helped with planting and watering, while others simply relaxed and enjoyed the fresh air, sunshine and the colourful flowers we’ve been nurturing together.