Activities at Chacombe Park Care Home
We understand that the people we support have passions and interests that could be difficult to pursue after moving into a care home – but that doesn’t mean we don’t encourage them to try! Some hobbies can define a person, so our Activities Coordinators are dedicated to ensuring that everyone we support is able to do what makes them happy to the best of their abilities. Social events are organised with individual tastes in mind and with the idea that residents have the opportunity to try new and exciting things.
Heather Gooch
My name is Heather and I am the Head of Activities here at Chacombe Park. My role is to ensure that all residents are supported in enjoying hobbies and events that enrich their life.
I have a Bachelors degree in Theatre Performance, as well as a PGCE in Secondary Drama. I have previously worked for another Barchester home back in 2012 before working as a secondary school teacher, teaching Drama at both GCSE and A Level. I have a passion for person centred care, which has come from my love of pastoral work during my time as a teacher. I want each resident to feel appreciated and supported to enjoy the skills/hobbies that they have treasured before their time at Chacombe.
In my spare time I enjoy singing, cross stitch and learning new skills. I endeavour to bring these hobbies and passions into my role here at Chacombe, as well as learn some new skills from the vast range of knowledge that our residents can bring!
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 Chacombe Park Care Home
Harvest Display
Residents worked hard to make our harvest display, getting creative with bread, making the traditional wheatsheaf loaf and fashioning a basket of vegetables from sourdough, which to most was a completely new experience working with salt dough. The residents had great fun designing and creating the various fruits and vegetables for the display, as well as creating our own pick your own pumpkin wall and sunflower field in art sessions.
Afternoon in the Garden
On a glorious late summers afternoon, residents enjoyed strolling through the garden amongst the changing trees and flowers, taking in the wildlife and nature around them, before stopping at the pond to enjoy a delicious picnic in the garden in the beautiful sunshine.
We are National Winners!
Congratulations to Chelsea Faulkner, who was crowned as the national winner in the Customer Service Champion category at the 2020 Barchester Care Awards, held virtually on 8th October.
Chacombe Park as also been named national winner in the Garden of the Year category—thank you to everyone who has made this possible!
The awards celebrate staff and volunteers who go the extra mile for the benefit of residents and patients living in Barchester care homes and independent hospitals.
More than 2,800 nominations were received from homes, residents, staff and relatives across the UK this year, which is nearly 1000 more than was received last year. Nominations were sent in by Barchester staff, but many more were also from residents and their families who have praised the fantastic care provided to their loved ones.
All entries have been of a very high standard, and our team are thrilled to have been declared as national winners!
Magic Table
The magic table is a great interactive device we have here at Chacombe, which is a regular on the activities schedule. The magic table is brilliant for sensory activities stimulating the senses and engagement of residents through the use of the various games.
Garden Bar
We have recently made our own portable bar for the garden to make the most out of the wonderful grounds, we have been enjoying many afternoon in the garden with Chacombe tea room, pimms bar, teacake shack and most recently smoothie bar, this enhancing residents wellbeing as well it being a fun way to support nutrition and hydration.
Residents Enjoy KFC
We have been missing getting out for lunch on a regular basis so instead, we brought lunch to the home. Residents were asked what they would like to enjoy and KFC was chosen. Resident Val, said ‘This really cheered me up bringing a taste of the outside in’,
