Celebrating life at Barchester

Resident Betty Roy and her son Ivor were completely astounded to discover that a Christmas Gift sourced by Key Worker Clarissa is actually a family heirloom!

Clarissa was looking for a unique and meaningful gift for Betty’s Christmas and whilst browsing online happened across ‘Aye Ready, The History of Edinburgh Fire Brigade, The Oldest Municipal Brigade in Britain’ (by Alexander Reid). Initially she wondered about gifting a ‘second hand’ item but decided it would be perfectly appropriate for Betty as she often spoke of her Father, Robert Thomas Wyllie, whose photo she proudly displays in her room.  Robert was Assistant Fire Officer at Edinburgh’s Laurieston Fire Station during the 1930’s. 

We were delighted to welcome a talented local art company who brought festive magic to our home with a wonderful Christmas panto performance for our residents. The show was filled with colour, laughter, music, and plenty of audience interaction, creating a truly joyful atmosphere throughout the afternoon.

Our residents thoroughly enjoyed the familiar songs, humour, and playful storytelling, with many joining in and sharing smiles and applause. Experiences like this are so special, helping to spark happy memories and bring everyone together.

It was a fantastic celebration of the festive season and we are very grateful for the smiles and cheer the performers shared with us.

We have had an amazing time on our adventures visiting the Cheltenham RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) at Cheltenham Racecourse.
The ladies enjoyed a slice of cake and cup of tea and then had the opportunity to have a sensory experience with a pony.
The RDA was launched in 1965, Tea with a Pony is an RDA activity focusing on sensory experiences with RDA horses and ponies. It was launched as part of RDAs nationwide dementia project in response to the growing number of people living with Dementia and Similar conditions, for some of our residents this was a chance to revisit old memories 
Resident Maureen was very excited by the RDA visit she said: “I used to be work for RDA many years ago so today was very special. Today was very enjoyable and it was wonderful that the ponies were able to join us whilst we had tea and cake.” Maureen was also able to see some of her previous work colleagues still working there.

Our Dementia Café brought people together for a warm and welcoming morning filled with conversation, cake, and shared understanding. Residents, families, and members of the local community gathered to support one another, exchange experiences, and learn more about living well with dementia.

We were delighted to welcome guest speaker Jackie Chelin, who shared valuable insights and practical information, helping to spark thoughtful discussion and reassurance. Moments like these remind us of the power of connection, compassion, and community spirit.

We look forward to continuing these meaningful gatherings and creating spaces where everyone feels supported, heard, and valued.

Resident Ambassador Mike at Chater Lodge care home, in Ketton recently enjoyed visiting the local Cubs to impart his career knowledge.

On the 14th of January, the Cub House in Ketton was buzzing with excitement as our very Resident Ambassador Mike paid a visit. The aim was to give the Cubs a fascinating insight into his career in the British Army and Mike delivered in style. Drawing on an incredible 40-year military career, Mike shared his journey from joining as a Private to rising through the ranks to become a Major, leading and mentoring over 200 soldiers.

Residents and colleagues enjoyed an interactive workshop with Red Kite, a Bridlington base theatre, dance and drama group.

Residents, visitors and staff at Mallard Court were given the opportunity to get curious and creative, with a thoughtfully curated selection of drama games. This put imaginations and improvisation skills to the test, along with a few memory games, that got the group reminiscing on times gone by.

We had a truly wonderful time at Glenroyd when the children from the Woodhouse Academy of Theatre Arts came to visit our residents for a festive Christmas Carol service.

They treated us to a fantastic selection of Christmas favourites and classic Carols, and it was lovely to hear our residents joining in with the well-known tunes. Music brings so much joy, and it also stirs up precious memories of carolling with family and friends at this special time of year.

Neil, one of our residents, said, “It was such a special day. The children made so many of us happy, including me. It brought back wonderful memories of my work with schools.”

A massive thank you to Daniele and all the children from the Woodhouse Academy of Theatre Arts for such a wonderful performance.

We’re looking forward to creating even more special moments like this throughout the festive season.

The residents hopped on the minibus for a festive trip to the beautiful Barton Grange Garden Centre.

With Christmas classics playing along the way, we set off to visit one of Lancashire’s most popular destinations at this time of year. Barton Grange has been named Garden Centre of the Year, and it’s become a much-loved Glenroyd tradition to visit during the festive season.

Our residents enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the centre, admiring the stunning displays and soaking up the Christmas atmosphere. Afterwards, it was time for some well-deserved refreshments. Everyone indulged in tea or coffee, accompanied by freshly baked scones or delicious cheesecake. Every sip and bite were thoroughly enjoyed.

We then headed outside to take in the outdoor displays, sharing songs, smiles and stories as we made even more special memories together.

The residents embarked on a wonderful adventure as we brought Lapland, the home of Santa Claus, to Glenroyd as the grand finale of our ‘Around the World’ project.

We began the day with a Finland-inspired winter lunch, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed, followed by mince pies and a glass of wine while listening to traditional Finnish music. The cosy, festive atmosphere really set the scene for our journey to the snowy north.

Then it was time for a very special guest. Santa Claus himself arrived to welcome our residents and personally check their Lapland tickets, giving everyone a true VIP experience. Santa hosted an engaging and informative talk about the history of Lapland and its most popular landmarks, while residents enjoyed watching the magical Northern Lights projected onto the ceiling.

Our team, together with Santa, then led a cheerful singalong of Christmas songs, filling the room with festive spirit and plenty of smiles.

To complete the experience, we watched virtual videos of sleigh rides, the Northern Lights and the most iconic sights in Santa’s village, allowing everyone to feel as though they had travelled to Lapland for the day.

It was a day enjoyed by all involved and a perfect way to end this year’s ‘Around the World’ adventure.