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
Magic of the Nutcracker
We experienced the magic of the Nutcracker with a special interactive workshop led by English National Ballet Associate Artists.
Our residents were able to take a magical journey thorough Edwardian London and to learn more about the enchanted Nutcracker characters: Clara, the Mouse King, and her valiant Nutcracker doll. The session included a chair-based dance workshop, clips of the ballet on stage and a Christmas carol sing-along, truly enjoyed by all.
Elf Day
We swapped our uniforms for costumes on National Elf Day in an effort to raise funds to help people living with dementia.
Launched by the Alzheimer’s Society and delivered directly from the North Pole, Elf Day was created to sprinkle some festive cheer on fundraising towards finding a cure for dementia.
We were able to enjoy elf-themed games, quizzes and delicious sweet and savoury treats, prepared by our talented chef.
Chocolate truffles
We had a lovely time joining Paul Hawkins and Steve Wilkes from Unilever for an exciting immersive Christmas experience.
Our residents were welcomed with chocolate treats as Paul and Steve took them on an exciting chocolate truffle making and biscuit decorating journey.
To finish off the Christmas special event, our residents enjoyed a themed quiz and a singalong.
We all had a wonderful time.
Jumper joy at the Dales
Residents and staff at The Dales Care Home in Draughton are helping to make the world a better place by wearing a festival jumper on Friday 10th December in aid of Save the Children’s annual fundraising event, Christmas Jumper Day.
All residents and staff at The Dales have been encouraged to buy, borrow or decorate their own special Christmas jumpers and donate to Save the Children. Some of the residents have been very creative and decorated their own glitzy knitwear with tinsel, stars, baubles and snowflakes.
Roisin Doyle General Manager, said: “Today has been a whole lot of fun with some of the most outlandish Christmas jumpers I have ever seen! This event has really showcased the creativity and fun-loving spirit of all our residents and staff. We are proud to take part in Christmas Jumper Day and show our support for Save the Children.”
Christmas lights
We experienced the Christmas extravaganza of Blenheim Palace with Social Historian - Antonia Keaney, who took us on a recorded tour around the Christmas sights at the palace this year.
Our residents were able to discover the story of The Nutcracker re-imagined within the palace rooms, each one exquisitely transformed and filled with hidden surprises – from the toymaker’s workshop on a frosty Christmas Eve; through the glistening Land of Snow and onto the candy-cane Kingdom of Sweets adorned with the sweetest of treats and larger-than-life gingerbread men.
Then the residents explored the after-dark illuminated trail in the palace’s picture-perfect gardens. A feast for the senses, as we witnessed glittering tunnels of light, dancing lakeside reflections, trees drenched in jewel-like colour and mesmerising flickering flames in the fire garden.
It was a truly magical experience, enjoyed by all.
Baubles
We all had a wonderful time joining Jennifer Owen - founder of Goldfinch Floral Studio for a creative floral bauble workshop.
Jennifer transported our residents to the out of the ordinary world of flowers and crafts and demonstrated how to create stunning hand-made baubles filled with dried flowers and grasses.
Our residents enjoyed filling and decorating their own glass baubles and their unique creations will be displayed at the home for everyone to enjoy.
