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…

Pet Therapy

Animal therapy is one of the cornerstones of our life enrichment program and features regularly on our resident-led weekly activity planner at Collingtree Park.

Ferdy is a five-year-old Giant Schnauzer who brings so much comfort, happiness and smiles to our residents. Her gentle nature and cuddles make every visit extra special.

Residents at Collingtree Park love the animal therapy sessions that our dedicated Activities Team organise. It is one of the foundations of our Life Enrichment program, we know that animal therapy can help reduce blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health.

Bringing a Little Autumn Indoors at Bushey House Beaumont

What a lovely afternoon we had with our residents enjoying some autumn flower arranging.

Using mini pumpkins, flowers and greenery freshly picked from our beautiful gardens, everyone got busy creating their own little autumn masterpieces.

It was lovely to see everyone choosing their favourite flowers, chatting away and taking such care over their arrangements. No two displays were quite the same, and our residents were so pleased with what they had made.

The finished arrangements now have pride of place in residents' rooms, with a few extras brightening up our dining room too!

Sometimes it's the simplest activities that bring the most pleasure, and this was certainly one of those afternoons. A little creativity, lovely company and something beautiful to enjoy afterwards.

A Remarkable Remembrance Visit

As part of our ongoing Remembrance activities, residents enjoyed a trip to Southsea Castle to view the stunning display of 27,000 handmade red poppies. The installation created a sea of red, providing a powerful and moving tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Residents spent time admiring the display, reflecting on the importance of remembrance, and sharing memories together. The craftsmanship led by Seeded a local craft shop and the scale of the installation was truly incredible, making it a memorable experience for everyone who attended. A heartfelt thank you to all those involved in creating this remarkable tribute. It is well worth a visit if you haven't seen it yet.

Retail Therapy

Supporting residents to enjoy outings, shopping, meals out and other trips is a key aspect of the weekly activities calendar.

Our Residents enjoyed a trip to Northampton Garden Centre and enjoyed some early Christmas displays. They got some ideas for which decorations they dress Collingtree Park in this year.

Regular outings are just one aspect of our life enrichment program and all the trips we take are at the request of the residents. Our monthly activities calendar boasts a range of outings and entertainment.

Pumpkin Fun

Arts and crafts activities are a regular feature of the activities programme at Collingtree Park and offer significant social, cognitive, and emotional benefits for our residents, helping to improve their overall quality of life.

Our Residents had some Halloween fun decorating some happy Halloween pumpkins. They really enjoyed the activity and by the smiles on the pumpkins faces so did they.

Group sessions provide a shared space for conversation, laughter, and teamwork, helping residents build friendships and feel a stronger sense of belonging within the community.

A Taste of Spain Delights Residents

Residents and their families recently came together for a wonderful and informative talk exploring the world of sherry! Everyone enjoyed learning about the rich history of sherry, how it is made, and the fascinating differences between varieties from different regions. The highlight of the event was, of course, the opportunity to sample a sherry while discovering what makes each one unique. It was a fantastic occasion filled with learning, conversation, and shared experiences, and we would like to thank everyone who joined us for making it such an enjoyable event.

A Taste of Greece at Bushey House Beaumont!

Yesterday, our residents enjoyed a little taste of Greece without even having to pack a suitcase!

Our Head Chef Roman and his wonderful catering team prepared a delicious Greek-themed lunch, with traditional starters, main courses and desserts for everyone to enjoy.

After lunch, we settled down to watch a fascinating film about Ancient Greece, followed by some lovely Greek music and a virtual tour of the beautiful Greek Islands. It brought back some happy holiday memories and sparked lots of conversation.

The best part of our themed days is that our residents get to choose where we travel to next! Everyone votes for a country they'd like to explore, and our catering and activities teams work together to bring it to life through food, music and activities.

We had such a lovely day together and can't wait to see where our residents decide to take us next!

Yeehaw!!!! What a Wild West Day!

Our residents stepped into the Wild West in style, wearing their colourful cowboy hats and getting into the country spirit! There was plenty of singing, dancing and laughter, followed by a delicious buffet to enjoy together. From the music to the hats and the wonderful company, we had a rootin’ tootin’ good time!

A little bit of country, a lot of fun and memories made together.

Remembering Together with Poems

Our weekly Poems & Coffee is always a hi-light of the week, but this week it made even more special as we marked Remembrance Day by reading touching wartime poems, shared personal stories & memories, and took a moment to remember those who served and sacrificed so much.