Activities at Drummond Grange 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.
Katie Nicolson
Katie Nicolson is our Head of activities here at Drummond since August 2023 beforehand she worked as an activity assistant in the home for two years. Before coming to Drummond Katie has worked in many care roles over the years and studied Psychology and Sociology at Queen Margaret’s University and was awarded a Degree of Bachelor of science in Psychology and Sociology at the start of 2022. Katie loves being part of the Activity department here at Drummond Grange and bringing new and exciting opportunities and experiences to the residents. When she’s not at work Katie is a local Girl Guide leader and youth leader for her churches youth group.
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 Drummond Grange Care Home
Homes join 100th virtual event
Barchester care homes and hospitals nationwide linked together for a fantastic quiz in celebration of Barchester’s 100th live virtual event.
Residents engaged in a variety of questions ranging from historical trivia to visual puzzles and brainteasers.
For those joining everyone had a fantastic time and enjoyed some friendly competition.
Lifetime Achievement Award - NE Division 2024
Mary MacDonald at Drummond Grange Care home in Lasswade has been awarded a lifetime achievement award for the North NE Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2024 and is through to the national round of judging.
Over 5,000 nominations were received from homes and hospitals across the UK. All entries were a very high standard and Mary is over the moon to have been named the winner for the North beating hundreds of other nominees.
Mary said: ‘I’m just over the moon to be even nominated for this award. I've worked at Drummond Grange since it was built in 1994 and this is a fantastic way to make 30 years with the company. It has been a very busy 30 year filled with fun, laughter and friendship and iv loved every second of it.’
Team of the Year
The staff at Drummond Grange have been awarded ‘Team of the Year’ award for the North NE Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2024 and is through to the national round of judging.
The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 13,000 residents living in Barchester’s 261 care homes and private hospitals across the country. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Activities Coordinator of the Year’.
Over 5,000 nominations were received from homes and hospitals across the UK. All entries were a very high standard and Mary is over the moon to have been named the winner for the North beating hundreds of other nominees.
Charity Cook Off
Staff and residents are celebrating because their wonderful Managing Director, Fiona Fagan, from Barchester’s North East and Scotland Division, has stepped completely out of her comfort zone to compete in the Barchester Charitable Foundation Cook Off 2024.
Fiona went head-to-head with the Managing Directors from Barchester’s four other divisions and cooked up a storm to raise a phenomenal £24,595 for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation which helps connect vulnerable people and those living with a disability to community groups in their local area by providing grants to improve mobility and quality of life. Each year the Foundation distributes thousands of pounds to individuals, small community groups and charities across England, Scotland and Wales.
Exploring the Eden Project
Residents across our homes had a fantastic time exploring the Eden Project virtually - an educational charity and visitor attraction based in Cornwall, featuring sprawling outdoor gardens and breathtaking biomes that house the largest indoor rainforest in the world.
During the session, residents who joined were reconnected with nature through their senses, memories and stories. A big thank you to the community team at the Eden Project for the wonderful event.
Chicks big adventures outside!
Our four wee chicks are not so wee any more! Wee Ali, Poppy, Bucky and Jessie Broon are getting big and growing quick. They have outgrown their indoor coop and on the 11th of May made the big move to the bottom of the garden! Head of Activities and her partner (who just happens to be a joiner) got busy building the bigger and better permanent coop at the bottom of the garden. The chickens seemed eager to move in and have been happy chirping away in their new home.
Upcoming events
Countdown to Christmas
Counting down to Christmas with a fun filled month ahead and we extend a warm invitation for you to join us - all welcome!