Activities at Appletree Grange Care Home
Our Activities Coordinator is constantly arranging new activities to stimulate and catch the imagination of our residents. From visiting entertainers to a regular craft table to outings on the minibus, there is always something for our residents to keep them entertained. Our Activities Coordinator also takes the time to sit with each resident and go through a life history so they get to know what the likes and dislikes of each individual are and can tailor the activities to suit them. A monthly residents meeting is held to get the views of the residents and to get suggestions from them and their families about what they would like to do and everything that can be done to accommodate their requests is done.
Christina Curtis
Hi, my name is Christina and I am the activities coordinator here at Appletree Grange. I joined both Barchester and the home in July 2024. We all know that keeping active is important. We have created a wonderful culture within the home and we will work together to give residents the best possible experience.
We are here to ensure that residents enjoy an environment that is both stimulating and socially active. We ensure the team knows each residents' preferences, so that we can deliver a person-centered program of events and activities. Essential to our homely feel is the strong relationships of trust we build with residents and their families and friends
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Appletree Grange Care Home
Blenheim Palace Virtual Experience
We experienced the Christmas extravaganza of Blenheim Palace with Social Historian - Antonia Keaney, who took us on a recorded tour around the Christmas sights at the palace this year.
Our residents were able to discover the story of The Nutcracker re-imagined within the palace rooms, each one exquisitely transformed and filled with hidden surprises – from the toymaker’s workshop on a frosty Christmas Eve; through the glistening Land of Snow and onto the candy-cane Kingdom of Sweets adorned with the sweetest of treats and larger-than-life gingerbread men.
Then the residents explored the after-dark illuminated trail in the palace’s picture-perfect gardens. A feast for the senses, as we witnessed glittering tunnels of light, dancing lakeside reflections, trees drenched in jewel-like colour and mesmerising flickering flames in the fire garden.
It was a truly magical experience, enjoyed by all.
Winston Churchill's love affair with Blenheim Palace
Our residents were thrilled to join Antonia Keaney - Blenheim Palace’s Historian for an intriguing virtual talk on Winston Churchill.
The private resources of Blenheim Palace were drawn upon to afford very new and refreshing insights into this remarkable man. During the talk Antonia shared fascinating information about the breadth of talent, achievement and personality of the "Greatest Briton": soldier, politician, statesman, painter, writer, orator, family man - and bricklayer!
We all had a wonderful time and enjoyed learning more about UK’s former Prime Minister.
Blooming Haus
We were delighted to join Blooming Haus’s Christmas Wreath Making Masterclass, where Master Florist, Michal and his business partner - Michael showed us the best method to create beautiful festive wreaths.
Following the tips and ideas learnt during the amazing virtual experience, we were happy to put our skills to a test and to enter the #BarchesterChristmasWreaths competition.
We all had a wonderful time creating our festive wreath/s.
Thank you @bloominghaus for helping our residents flow into the true spirit of Noel.
English National Ballet
We celebrated Remembrance Day with English National Ballet Associate Dance Artist, Richard Bermange, who led a creative dance workshop for our residents followed by a special extract of Akram Khan’s work Dust, premiered in 2014 as part of ENB’s Lest We Forget programme, commemorating the First World War.
ENB company dancers, Erina Takahashi and James Streeter performed the extract and provided some insight into this moving work.
Our residents had a wonderful time as they listened, danced and were able to singalong to famous war time music performed by ENB Associate Musician, Matt Hartley-Stevens.
Halloween Cooking Demo
Residents had a lovely time joining Chef Alex Connell from Vegetarian for Life for a Halloween-inspired virtual cooking demo.
Alex demonstrated how to prepare a few themed dishes, such as root vegetable tagine, roasted butternut squash mac-n-cheese, chocolate pots with piped biscuits and flapjacks.
Our residents were delighted to be a part of this lovely virtual culinary session by tasting the vegetarian dishes from the comfort of our home.
Virtual talk with journalist and novelist, Mike Gayle
We had a great time joining journalist and novelist, Mike Gayle, for an intriguing virtual interview, during which he shared top tips for creative writing with our residents and read passages from his latest book, All the Lonely People.
We were thrilled to find out about Mike’s background, to understand what led him to become a writer and his creative process.
It was a lovely talk, enjoyed by all, especially by our keen writers at the home.
Upcoming events
November
As the leaves begin to fall we are looking forward to a fun filled month ahead. All welcome.
Blue Light Breakfast - throughout November
If you are a member of the Emergency Services personnel or a Community District Nurse, pop in each Monday throughout November and enjoy breakfast on us! 08.30 - 10.30 am.
Could you be a Volunteer?
Do you have any spare time? Could your time make a difference? For more information on Volunteering, please pop in or give us a call.
Calling all Emergency Services!
Calling all members of the emergency personnel, come and take a break with us! there will be a warm welcome and maybe a cake or two.....
