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
Virtual Dog Show
We have been missing our four legged friends visiting the home, so Chacombe held its own Virtual Dog Show. We reached out to our local community to get involved and we were inundated with pictures of four legged friends to be a part of our dog show. Residents then took to judging over a glass of sherry, and with much deliberation, found their six winners. Each will be awarded with a small prize. Residents thoroughly enjoyed receiving all the photographs to look at and judge.
Gardening Club
Residents have enjoyed being outdoors with the good weather. We have such wonderful grounds around us, and the residents like to be a part of making them look beautiful, getting stuck in potting plants to bloom.
The environment brings such joy, with the colourful flowers, the wildlife and smells of garden life, which really helps boost their well-being.
Embracing Technology
Supporting residents with their interests is pivotal to their well-being. Resident, David, was supported to browse the internet and purchase himself some new shoes. David was delighted with his new purchase and really grateful of the support to allow him to do so.
Our Divisional Winners
A big congratulations to everyone at Chacombe, because we have been named as a Divisional Winner in the 2020 Barchester Care Awards in the Team of the Year category, in addtion to being named as a winner in the Garden of the Year category. We will be attending a virtual awards ceremony on 8th October to find out whether we will be declared overall winner.
Also, well done to Chelsey Faulker, who was named as a Divisional Winner in the Customer Service Champion category.
OOMPH!
Keeping active is very important for residents' well-being, aiding in sleep, appetite and engagement levels. That’s why we incorporate regular OOMPH! sessions to keep residents active, and in the good weather we have been able to find a cool shady spot to combine fresh air and exercise.
What a Treat!
With a little help from our neighbour’s, we called upon the local village ice cream van to make a stop at Chacombe Park! During this glorious weather an ice cream from an ice cream van was a great treat, we enjoyed our ‘99’ with a flake sat out in the garden enjoying the sunshine.
This brought back fond memories, hearing the tune being played and of the old ice cream carts that used to go around, ‘Stop me and buy one’.
