Activities at Ashlar House Care Home

Our fabulous Den from The Music Den is currently on the road to recovery at Ashlar House and we’re all wishing him strength and a smooth rehabilitation.

Even while recovering, Den kept the music alive, inviting staff onto his guest list and continuing to champion his passion: opening the door to the blues and keeping the fire burning.

The band Blues on Fire brought that passion to life delivering a powerful sound that kept the spirit high and the music flowing.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Hemnall Social Club for the warm welcome and incredible support. The spirit of Epping was truly alive full of energy, community, and great music.

Rock, Roots, Folk & Blues live and alive.       

What a beautiful sunny day to enjoy our sensory garden, which is open and ready for everyone to relax and unwind. Hats and shades are available, so you can stay cool while making the most of the sunshine.

We’re delighted to be joined by Tim Arthur, who’s creating a lovely atmosphere with his fabulous guitar playing fresh air, great music, and good company!    

Thank you for your VIP visit to Ashlar House. We don’t often get such distinguished (and woolly) guests. It turns out everyone needs a bit of pet therapy now and then… including the manager, who I’m fairly sure was two seconds away from asking you for life advice.

It was genuinely fascinating listening to the residents chatting away to you. Some were sharing stories, some were asking questions, and at least one seemed convinced you understood every word (to be fair, you did have a very wise expression).

It really made me wonder… were you silently judging us all, or just planning your next snack?

Either way, you brought smiles, laughter, and a lot of “aww” moments, which is exactly what we needed.

Please visit again soon. Ashlar House won’t be the same without its fluffiest therapist.    

Easter weekend here has been less “peaceful reflection” and more “who ate all the chocolate eggs already?!” 

Filled with joy, laughter, and just a little bit of chaos (the good kind!), it’s been a brilliant time spent with Tracy Lea and all the families.

From egg hunts turning competitive to enough sweets to keep us buzzing till next Easter… safe to say, memories were made and diets were forgotten!

Hope everyone’s having an egg-stra special Easter weekend too!    

We had a wonderful afternoon celebrating a little early with fantastic Irish dancers bringing energy and smiles to everyone. Alex opened our themed event with lively Irish music on his piano accordion, setting the perfect atmosphere for the celebrations.

There was plenty of toe-tapping, laughter, and, of course, a glass of Guinness to help wash down the thirst after all the afternoon excitement.   

The Ashlar House team, alongside our wonderful families and local business networking community, came together with one shared purpose to make a difference. What started as a simple idea grew into something truly special, as we united to raise an incredible £500.

This journey was sparked by Sharon, who first promoted her Managing Director, Angela Bradford, and the Barchester charity cook-off during a networking event, a moment of inspiration that brought people together and set everything in motion. The attendees were inspired by the amazing charities Barchester Healthcare supports, and they also joined in with the fundraising.
At the heart of it all, Rita took on the unique challenge of a sponsored silence, a quiet act that spoke volumes. Through her effort, and the support of so many, we stood proudly beside Angela and a cause that touches lives in the most meaningful ways.

A heartfelt thank you to Mitchell from Cadets for generously printing our cheque, a small gesture that helped bring this moment to life.

Barchester’s Charitable Foundation is dedicated to helping older people and adults living with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, or mental health challenges across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Their work focusses on reconnecting people with their communities, easing loneliness, and creating opportunities for joy, movement, and togetherness.

Through grants that support mobility, group activities, and wellbeing, they help individuals rediscover connection and live fuller, more enriched lives.

International Tea Day, observed each year on May 21st and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, offers a moment to pause and appreciate the rich cultural heritage and simple pleasures that tea brings to our lives. Ashlar House marked the occasion in truly elegant fashion. Guests were treated to freshly homemade cake, delicately paired with cream and served alongside fine tea in classic bone China, each detail evoking a sense of timeless refinement. 

The atmosphere was further elevated by the gentle presence of smooth afternoon jazz, beautifully performed by Alex Southgate, whose music provided the perfect backdrop to an afternoon of warmth, conversation, and quiet indulgence. It was a celebration not only of tea itself, but of togetherness, tradition, and the small rituals that make everyday moments feel extraordinary.   

Feet tapping without thinking, voices rising and falling in easy harmony, eyes closed as the music takes over. There’s a gentle sway in every body in the room — that quiet rhythm you don’t choose, it just finds you.

It’s the kind of afternoon where time softens, where every note feels like sunlight, and the only thing that matters is the groove.

Pure soul. Pure jazz.   

We did something a little different this time, merging our session with a 91st birthday celebration.
 

Volunteers gave a fascinating demonstration of spinning, including how a niddy noddy is used to turn wool into skeins. We also explored natural dyeing, with beautiful yarns created using madder roots for reds, onion skins for warm golden tones, and coreopsis for bright colour.

We were also treated to some stunning crocheted lap blankets, kindly shared by one of our talented volunteers.

A lovely afternoon of learning, sharing, and celebrating together, finished off with birthday cake and a cup of tea!     

VR Time Travel Session is a wonderful intellectual and reminiscence experience for residents and their families. Through virtual reality, participants were able to revisit familiar places and past destinations, sparking meaningful conversations and joyful memories.

Families joined their loved ones in exploring these virtual journeys, helping to keep the spark of reminiscence alive and strengthening emotional connections. The session encouraged shared storytelling, laughter, and moments of reflection that brought residents and their relatives closer together.

It was heart-warming to see how technology can support memory, wellbeing, and family bonds while creating new moments of joy together.

Thank you, Jill & Ravinder from the Epping Knit & Natter Community Group

Our residents had a wonderful time creating colourful pompoms from start to finish. It was a lovely session filled with shared knitting experiences, skills, and creative ideas.

Even our gentle resident took a stab at it, joining in and enjoying the moment.

Today’s session brought smiles, conversation, and plenty of inspiration. We’re already looking forward to the next one!     

A wonderful creative session with Paul Webster as we explored jewellery making together. 

It was fantastic to support both our team and residents in expressing their creativity, from beautifully personalised necklaces to unique handmade bracelets.

Hearing the laughter and the joy of their own success made the session even more special.

Moments like these are a great reminder of how creativity brings people together and boosts confidence and wellbeing.

A truly enjoyable and inspiring activity for everyone involved.         

Our residents were in for a very special surprise this Easter… and it’s safe to say it wasn’t your average egg delivery!

First came the bunny full of energy and handing out the biggest hugs (some residents are still recovering from the enthusiasm!). Then, trotting right behind… a miniature pony!

Yes, a real-life tiny pony, strolling down the corridors like it owned the place, delivering smiles along with Easter eggs.

There were laughs, cuddles, and a lot of “Is this really happening?” moments, but most importantly, so many happy faces.

Moments like these remind us how powerful a little joy (and a lot of fluff!) can be.

Our lovely ladies at Ashlar House enjoyed a wonderful afternoon together! 

We started with a catch-up with the Metro newspapers, keeping up with all the latest news, followed by our weekly exercise session with Glenn.

After all that hard work, everyone relaxed and enjoyed some well-earned refreshments. A perfect mix of staying informed, keeping active, and sharing great company. Well done, ladies!    

It’s here! Our personalised T-shirt design by Adrian #Speedstitch has arrived just in time for Red Nose Day!

Our wonderful residents, families, team, and incredible community have all come together to make the day truly special!

Images will be uploaded throughout the day. Stay tuned.