Celebrating life at Barchester

Our Music and Movement sessions are always such a joy to be part of. It's wonderful to see our residents smiling, laughing and enjoying themselves while keeping active. Music has such a special way of bringing people together, and even the simplest movements can make a real difference to someone's wellbeing. We believe that keeping fit should always be fun! Promoting an active and fulfilling lifestyle is an important part of everyday life. 

The dedicated activities team provides a varied programme of meaningful and enjoyable activities that support residents' physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Those activities are another wonderful reminder that staying active doesn't have to feel like exercise. Sometimes all it takes is a favourite tune, a little movement and good company to create a truly enjoyable experience.   

There was a wonderful sense of warmth, gratitude and community spirit at Fordmill Care Home as residents, families and staff came together to celebrate our annual Harvest Festival. We were delighted to welcome Minister Brian, who led a lovely Harvest celebration, bringing everyone together for a meaningful time of reflection, Thanksgiving and appreciation for the many blessings in our lives. The Harvest Festival is a special tradition that reminds us of the importance of kindness, generosity and helping those less fortunate. 

As part of our celebrations, we organised a food collection in support of our local food bank, encouraging residents, relatives, staff and friends to donate essential food items to help individuals and families in need. We were truly touched by the kindness and generosity shown by everyone who contributed. The celebrations continued with a delightful Harvest Afternoon Tea, featuring delicious sweet treats lovingly prepared by our talented chef, Lisa, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.  

There are some moments at Fordmill Care Home that truly melt our hearts, and the beautiful friendship between our lovely resident Barbara and little Hayley from Ferryden Playgroup is certainly one of them. 

During our regular visits from Ferryden Playgroup, we have had the pleasure of watching a very special bond blossom between these two, proving that friendship knows no age. One of the most heart-warming sights is seeing little Hayley come through the door and head straight towards Barbara, her little arms ready to give her a big, loving hug. 

Hayley then happily climbs onto Barbara's lap, where the two enjoy some precious time together. It is such a natural and affectionate connection, and an absolute joy to witness. These beautiful moments remind us just how powerful intergenerational friendships can be. The warmth, affection and companionship shared between our residents and the children bring something truly special to our home. Sometimes, the simplest gestures – a cuddle, a smile or a little hand reaching out, can mean more than a thousand words. For Barbara and Hayley, age is simply a number. What matters is the genuine affection and wonderful connection they share. Watching their friendship grow is something we will always treasure.   

What a wonderful turnout for our Macmillan Coffee Morning. Huge thanks to all our residents and visitors who came along, shared a slice of cake, and supported such an incredible cause. If you or someone you love is currently affected by cancer, please consider supporting Macmillan Cancer Support. Together, we can make sure no one has to face it alone. We were also honoured to donate a hamper to The Isabel Baker Foundation.       

This wonderful charity supports brave children undergoing cancer treatment and their families. 

Our residents absolutely adore when pet visitors come to see us, but we decided to mix things up with a unique twist. 
We were thrilled to host Sarah Tarrant Glenn Miller at Snake Shack for an incredible, hands-on learning experience. Not only did they educate us on these fascinating reptiles, but they also advocated for their care and protection.     

Our residents had a wonderful time touching, exploring, and discovering just how amazing these gentle creatures really are.

This October we enjoyed a wonderful trip to Redcar to soak up the fresh sea air and take a leisurely stroll along the beautiful seafront.

After working up an appetite, we headed to a lovely local pub for a delicious lunch and some warming brews. The perfect way to round off a wonderful day by the coast!

A HUGE thank you to our wonderful 'chauffeur', Jen, who very kindly came in on her day off to make this adventure possible.

Here’s to more adventures, plenty of laughter, and making the most of every moment together!        

We enjoyed a very special coach trip to the beautiful city of York, courtesy of Bedale Benefice of Churches!

Our day began with a meaningful pilgrimage to York Minster, where we were fortunate enough to explore this magnificent building and come together to celebrate Holy Communion.

Following our time at the Minster, we had the opportunity to explore the wonderful sights and atmosphere of historic York.

From taking in the beautiful architecture, fudge tasting, and bustling streets, to some rather unexpected encounters along the way, including fire juggling and a photo shoot with Paddington Bear!

It was a day filled with faith, friendship, history, laughter and meaningful moments, and we are incredibly grateful to Michelle Dearlove and all who made this trip possible.

What a wonderful day to remember!    

What a heart-warming time we had as Stacey and the wonderful little ones from Little Bear Nursery visited us!

The residents and the children loved spending time-sharing stories, song, creativity, play, and, of course, enjoying plenty of little bear hugs together!

A huge thank you to Stacey and the little ones from Little Bear Nursery for bringing so much joy, laughter, and happiness to the home; we can’t wait to welcome you back again soon!   

: The residents at Kingswood Court were up and ready for a fantastic canal adventure with the wonderful team at Willow Trust, Soul Junction. We joined another group from Kingswood and set off along the canal towards Purton, enjoying the beautiful views, fresh air and, of course, plenty of conversation and laughter along the way.    

Our amazing Hospitality Team had prepared a delicious spread of sandwiches, biscuits, crisps, fresh fruit and drinks. The picnic was definitely a highlight; good food, good company and beautiful surroundings. What more could you ask for? Residents had the chance to actually steer the boat themselves and the excitement was brilliant to see! The Willow Trust boat is incredibly well-designed, with a lift and a platform that can be raised to bring wheelchair users right up to the steering position. It meant our residents could get involved rather than simply watching from the side.

Jon’s experience summed it up perfectly: “When I arrived at the top to the steering wheel, I thought it would be useless for me to come all the way up as I wouldn’t be seeing anything. But then they raised the platform and wow! I was amazed to see the river right in front of me and was able to steer the wheel as well. It was very, very, very good.”

It was lovely to hear residents talking about the experience afterwards, what they had seen, who had steered, the picnic, the views and how much they had enjoyed being out on the water. After our picnic and plenty of time on the water, we headed back towards our destination, bringing the day to a very happy end.

A massive thank you to Willow Trust for such a fantastic experience, to our brilliant Hospitality Team for the delicious picnic, and to our staff and families for making the day so memorable!!!