Activities at The Dales 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.
Kay Thompson
Hi, my name is Kay and I am the activities coordinator here at the Dales. I joined the team in June 2021 and I love spending time with the residents each day, delivering meaningful activities that keep our residents active and social stimulated, more importantly we have fun! Our life enrichment programme is varied and we have lots to do!
Before I joined the home I was a lecturer teaching young individuals with high needs, it is very different being an activities coordinator but it does help with understand how to ensure everyone is happy each and every day in everything that we do.
I look forward to meeting you when you visit our home.
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 The Dales Care Home
Resident’s Dream Come True
Ken Smith, a resident at The Dales care home in Skipton absolutely loves animals and always wants to be where animals are, so staff at the home set about making his wish a reality. The team agreed that Blackpool Zoo was the place to be for Ken so he could spend time with all kinds of different exotic creatures.
Ken has lived at The Dales since February and is already beloved by staff and residents alike. Staff at the home were delighted to be a part of making his dream come true, as they knew how much it meant to him, and they all wanted to be there to see the smile on Ken’ s face when his dream was realised.
What made the zoo trip even more special was that Ken was also accompanied by his family, including his son who was over from America and able to witness this fantastic occasion. Ken visited pretty much every animal in the Zoo but he spent the most time with the Gorilla’s and other Monkeys who have always been his favourites, he absolutely loved watching them all and really didn’t want to leave them behind at the end of the day!
In response to this wonderful surprise, Ken said: “I was on the verge of tears. It is such an amazing feeling to know that such a loving group of people care so much about me that they helped me to live out a dream – and I didn’t even ask! I have had the best time, I am so grateful to everyone at The Dales for arranging this trip for me.”
80th Anniversary of the D Day Landings
What an amazing day here at The Dales. It wasn’t that warm but the sun was shining and everyone gathered together to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day.
Amazing having Haworth Home Guard with us and bringing along some amazing vehicles for everyone to see.
Wonderful having Kitty La Mare with her amazing voice singing the songs that brought back wonderful memories of many residents!
Amazing buffet and barbecue enjoyed by everyone!
Thank you so much to our amazing staff for all working together and ensuring everyone enjoyed the perfect day!
More with Dementia Action Week
A lovely morning with our chef Kevin!
A morning on Memory Lane of melting some tasty Cadbury chocolate and mixing in with cornflakes! Quick, easy and totally enjoyed by all.
The magic of baking and making, with our chef Kevin, works perfectly and will be on our activities more often.
Talking to our residents they are looking for to making a some cupcakes next!
Celebrating 200 years of Cadbury
Staff and residents at Barchester’s The Dales care home in Draughton were treated to an afternoon of nostalgia and delicious memories when they were joined by Cadbury archivist Sarah Foden and Brand Manager Connor Gould for a talk from the nation’s favourite chocolate brand.
Since the opening of its first shop in Birmingham in 1824, Cadbury has delighted the nation with its confectionary and drinking chocolate. It has been with us throughout every day and seasonal moments, even popping out of our 99 ice cream cones on the beach. It’s the brand behind our favourite selection boxes, as well as the Cadbury Dairy Milk we unwind with on the sofa. Tastes we’ve known for generations – these have long been a part of Britain’s rich cultural history and the lives of Brits across generations.
Sarah and Connor walked the Barchester residents through the story of the brand’s great success from the very first shop to how Cadbury is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2024. They shared photos from down the years, examples of old packaging and ad campaigns from the Cadbury archive in Bournville. The carefully selected archive material tells the story of an iconic British brand, this year celebrating its 200th anniversary, that has been part of people’s lives through generations, in moments big and small. The brand’s rich history evoked all kinds of nostalgic memories for the residents who all have their own Cadbury memories.
Richard and Honey
A wonderful morning yesterday with Richard and Honey!
We all love gathering together to enjoy a good sing along! Richard asks for any particular songs and with the shout outs, we are then all straight in to join in, singing along and loved every second of it! Listening and engaging with music helps everyone!
Honey also added to the wonderful enjoyment of the day with her showing off her magical tricks! Loved by everyone!
Mini Bus Excursion – Hesketh Farm Park
Knowing our residents and being able to take them to places that brings back wonderful memories of what they loved doing is amazing!
A couple of our residents grew up in a farm or was a Shepherd and they both loved it. The amazing day out brought back their memories and it was a wonderful day out!
The bonus was the sun was shining and perfect having a picnic with the beautiful views!
