Activities at Chester Court 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 Coordinator is 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.
Our aim is to make sure that our residents feel they had something to look forward to each day. We have a varied life enrichment programme, both in the home and in the community, and we always ask if there is anything different that residents would like to do. Residents and families approach our Activities Coordinator and comment on how much they enjoy what we do, so that we can continue to develop our programme to the benefit of our residents.
Lauren Corbett
Hi, my name is Lauren and I am the Activities Coordinator here at Chester Court. I joined the team in December 2020 and bring a wealth of enthusiasm to the role. I have just graduated from university in July 2020 and have previously completed work experience at another Barchester home. During this work experience I discovered how meaningful and important activities are for residents and how they can help enhance resident’s lives. Therefore, I decided to become an activities coordinator myself as I feel this is such a rewarding role.
I love working with our Residents here at the home and getting to know them and their families so that I can deliver and support in meaningful activities, keeping them socially stimulated and active as part of our extensive life enrichment calendar. The lifestyle and continued community links are also important.
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 Chester Court Care Home
Love is in the air!
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, staff and residents at Barchester’s Chester Court were treated to an interactive virtual cookery demo courtesy of chef, Alex Connell, from Vegetarian for Life.
Chef Alex created some Valentine’s Day-inspired vegetarian desserts in a live, interactive cookery demo. Much to residents’ delight, head chef Paul Drinkel had prepared the same recipes so that residents could try all the delicious desserts. First, residents sampled a wonderful sticky toffee pudding which was absolutely heavenly. Then they tried Alex’s hazelnut truffles which were a huge hit and finally they were treated to Alex’s Chocolate Orange Cake which everyone adored. All in all the afternoon was an absolute triumph!
Alex says “It was an absolute pleasure to be able to prepare these desserts for the Barchester residents for Valentine’s Day and even more so because they got to taste them, despite my not being able to be there in person. Thanks to all the chefs in Barchester homes across the country who supported me to deliver this really lovely activity.”
Delicious treats
We had a lovely time joining Chef Alex Connell from Vegetarian for Life for a Valentine’s-inspired virtual cookery demonstration. Chef Alex created some delicious Valentine’s Day-inspired vegetarian desserts, which our residents had the opportunity to try too.
First, our residents sampled a wonderful sticky toffee pudding, which was absolutely heavenly. Then they tried hazelnut truffles which were a huge hit and finally they were treated to a chocolate orange cake which everyone adored.
Burns supper and bagpipes!
Chester Court care home in Bedlington prepared a traditional Burns Night Supper to the tune of bagpipes and the fun continued well into the wee small hours.
Staff and residents at the home were involved in a number of activities including, a Scottish quiz, reminiscing about past trips to Scotland, a virtual trip to Cawdor Castle and the Isle of Skye to mark the Scottish institution, as well as giving the time-honoured address to the ‘Great chieftain O’ the pudding’ race’ – the haggis.
Sarah Kelly, General Manager at Chester Court, thought it was a perfect occasion to celebrate an evening steeped in age-old tradition as well as getting in a spot of Scotch whisky tasting and reading a selection of Burns’ poems.
Scrap books
We have been making a scrapbook for the home full of photographs taken of all the activities we have done at Chester Court. Whilst looking through the scrapbook residents have been reminiscing, it has been great to look back at all the amazing activities we have done and we look forward to many more!
International Flower Day
Residents celebrated International Flower Day by taking part in flower-based activities throughout the day including, flower arranging, a flower quiz and reminiscing about their gardens/flowers. International Flower Day promotes the psychological boost that flowers can give to people!
Home celebrate New Years Eve in style
Staff and residents at Barchester’s Chester Court care home in Bedlington celebrated New Year’s Eve in style with a variety of activities, the favourite being a cocktail tasting masterclass!
Residents started off the day with an arts and crafts session creating glitter fireworks followed by watching a firework show on YouTube. To top off the day residents participated in a cocktail tasting masterclass which included cocktails such as, passion fruit martinis, strawberry daiquiris, pina coladas, woo woos and mojitos.
Activities Co-ordinator, Lauren, said: “We all had a great day, it is the first time we have held a cocktail tasting masterclass in the home and it went down really well, we will definitely be doing it again!
Upcoming events
November
Hello November, as the leaves begin to fall we are looking forward to a fun filled month ahead. All welcome.
Countdown to Christmas
Counting down the days to Christmas with a fun filled month ahead and we extend a warm invitation for you to join us - all welcome.
Merry Christmas!
Emergency Services - Take a break on us!
Calling all emergency services personnel, come and take a break with us! There maybe a cake or two available....
Volunteers - Could you make a difference?
Do you have any spare time? Could you make a difference? If you'd like more information on how you could volunteer we'd love to hear from you!
