Activities at Glenroyd Care Home

The wonderful Santa and his elf delivered presents to our residents, kindly donated by the amazing team at The Perch Group in Blackpool.

The Perch Group provided thoughtful, person-centred gifts for each resident, based on the wish lists put together by our staff. They truly went above and beyond for the second year running, and we are incredibly grateful for the support and kindness they have shown us this festive season.

Santa and his elf visited residents in their bedrooms, and our whole team joined in to spread joy, laughter and plenty of Christmas cheer throughout the home.

A massive thank you to the staff at the Perch Group and our brilliant team for bringing the festivities right to our residents’ doors, making sure everyone felt included and celebrated. 

The residents hopped on the minibus for a festive trip to the beautiful Barton Grange Garden Centre.

With Christmas classics playing along the way, we set off to visit one of Lancashire’s most popular destinations at this time of year. Barton Grange has been named Garden Centre of the Year, and it’s become a much-loved Glenroyd tradition to visit during the festive season.

Our residents enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the centre, admiring the stunning displays and soaking up the Christmas atmosphere. Afterwards, it was time for some well-deserved refreshments. Everyone indulged in tea or coffee, accompanied by freshly baked scones or delicious cheesecake. Every sip and bite were thoroughly enjoyed.

We then headed outside to take in the outdoor displays, sharing songs, smiles and stories as we made even more special memories together.

We celebrated the start of the festive season with our wonderful Christmas Fair. It was a truly special day where our residents, families, friends and the wider community all came together to share in the festivities.

We began the day with delicious hot chocolates while everyone browsed the fantastic selection of items on offer from the local stalls. Our residents thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the tombola and raffle, eagerly buying tickets and hoping to take home a prize. Everyone then tucked into a festive lunch, lovingly prepared by our amazing catering team, who always go above and beyond to delight our taste buds.

In the afternoon, we were treated to live music entertainment from Marianne, who did a brilliant job of keeping spirits high. The excitement grew as it came time for the raffle draw, with a queue forming at reception as everyone waited with their tickets in hand to find out if they were a winner. Congratulations to all those who won a prize.

We were delighted to welcome so many families and friends who support our community so kindly. It was a pleasure to see familiar faces returning to Glenroyd especially for this occasion, and their presence helped make the day such a success. Together, we raised an incredible total of £526, which will go directly into our residents’ fund to support future life enrichment activities and events in our home.

The festive season has well and truly begun at Glenroyd. 

The residents travelled through Platform 9¾ straight into Hogwarts to celebrate Halloween in true Harry Potter style.

We began the morning by visiting our residents in their rooms, proudly showcasing our costumes and delivering sweets to start the day with a smile. The excitement carried through to lunchtime, where Harry and Ron hosted a themed feast and everyone indulged in our hospitality team’s specials.

As the afternoon unfolded, several members of our team even popped in on their day off to join the fun. We captured plenty of happy moments in our photobooth and spent time reminiscing about Halloweens gone by and the treasured memories they hold.

Later on, the talented Marianne provided live music entertainment that had us all putting on our dancing shoes. With tasty refreshments flowing- and a glass of wine or two- there were jive moves and laughter all around. Harry and Ron kept the energy high, and our staff were right there on the dance floor with our residents.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part and donned such fantastic outfits for the occasion. Our residents loved every second of the Hogwarts celebration.

Happy Halloween form everyone at Glenroyd!

We had a truly special day as we celebrated Oktoberfest with a German‑themed day at Glenroyd.

Originating in Munich in 1810 to mark a royal wedding, Oktoberfest is now enjoyed each year from late September to early October, with lively brass bands, Bavarian folk costumes, bustling beer tents and classic treats like pretzels. We brought a taste of that festive spirit to Glenroyd, and the smiles said it all.

Our residents explored German culture through armchair travel videos, taking in some of the most popular sites across Germany, and delved into the country’s rich history and heritage with Oomph! activity books.

There were plenty of hearty “Prost!” as we raised a glass during a German beer tasting and tucked into freshly baked pretzels. Peter, one of our residents, summed it up perfectly: “It was wonderful to ‘visit’ places that are so close to my heart, even if only virtually. It’s been a truly lovely day.”

It’s been wonderful discovering another country on our ‘Around the World’ map, and we’re already looking forward to many more cultural adventures together.

The residents and staff enjoyed some festive fun by dressing in their Christmas pyjamas for our annual Pyjama Day.

We started the day with a wonderful visit from the children of St John Vianney’s Choir, who brought real Christmas cheer through their music. We sang along together and then spent time reminiscing about favourite Christmas traditions while enjoying refreshments prepared by our talented catering team.

In the afternoon, residents settled in for cosy Christmas films, followed by mince pies and hot chocolates to keep everyone warm and smiling.

It was also a special day for one of our residents, Neil, who celebrated his birthday with his favourite Victoria sponge cake, surrounded by the wonderful team. Happy birthday, Neil, from everyone at Glenroyd!

The residents embarked on a wonderful adventure as we brought Lapland, the home of Santa Claus, to Glenroyd as the grand finale of our ‘Around the World’ project.

We began the day with a Finland-inspired winter lunch, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed, followed by mince pies and a glass of wine while listening to traditional Finnish music. The cosy, festive atmosphere really set the scene for our journey to the snowy north.

Then it was time for a very special guest. Santa Claus himself arrived to welcome our residents and personally check their Lapland tickets, giving everyone a true VIP experience. Santa hosted an engaging and informative talk about the history of Lapland and its most popular landmarks, while residents enjoyed watching the magical Northern Lights projected onto the ceiling.

Our team, together with Santa, then led a cheerful singalong of Christmas songs, filling the room with festive spirit and plenty of smiles.

To complete the experience, we watched virtual videos of sleigh rides, the Northern Lights and the most iconic sights in Santa’s village, allowing everyone to feel as though they had travelled to Lapland for the day.

It was a day enjoyed by all involved and a perfect way to end this year’s ‘Around the World’ adventure.

Our residents and staff joined in with the Children in Need initiative and spent a wonderful day in the company of Pudsey.

They enjoyed an engaging and informative talk from Pudsey himself, learning more about the incredible work the charity does to support children across the UK. Throughout the day, our residents created their own colourful masterpieces and tucked into delicious homemade refreshments, all while singing along to some of the greatest Children in Need tunes.

We also organised a bake sale to help raise funds in support of children in need within our local community. Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, we raised £41.20, which will go towards festive gifts that our team will be delivering soon to children in our area. 

What a fantastic day we had celebrating a Day in the Philippines as part of our Around the World project. The team spirit was incredible, and our wonderful Philippines’ community came together to give our residents a truly memorable experience.

We began with a themed lunch prepared by the brilliant brothers, John and Jerome, and overseen by our chef to ensure all dietary requirements and food policies were met in line with Barchester standards. Our residents enjoyed a delicious menu featuring a starter of Tinola soup and Lumpia (spring rolls), followed by mains of Chicken Adobo and Beef Caldereta, served with either boiled or fried rice. To finish, we indulged in Champorado, a comforting chocolate rice pudding. The food was a big hit, with many compliments from residents, including one of our Singaporean ladies who told us Asian cuisine is her absolute favourite.

We then explored Philippines’ culture through an engaging and informative talk by our much-loved nurse, Angie- well known for her fabulous sense of style- who went above and beyond by bringing in traditional outfits for staff to wear and present to residents. In the spirit of inclusivity, our team also visited residents in their rooms, bringing the colour and beauty of Philippines’ fashion right to their doors. Angie later led a captivating session that took us on a personal journey through the culture and sharing stories through music that truly brought the Philippines to life.

In the afternoon, our residents enjoyed armchair travel videos, discovering the breath-taking landscapes and most famous places across the Philippines, from stunning beaches to vibrant cityscapes.

It was a day filled with joy, smiles, and a wonderful sense of Philippines’ warmth that our residents felt throughout. 

What a wonderful time we’ve had at Glenroyd, soaking up the magic of the World Fireworks Championship in Blackpool!

Our gentlemen headed out for the India display, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect along the Promenade. Our gentlemen enjoyed their favourite beers and tasty refreshments prepared by our amazing hospitality team. There was laughter, smiles, and plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” as each firework lit up the night sky.

The following night it was the ladies’ turn with a “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” theme. We had the tunes on, sang our hearts out to the best female anthems, and waited in our Illuminations-ready minibus- headbands on, a glass of wine in hand, and spirits high. With the door open and voices loud, our ladies soon had people around us singing along and cheering. When Ukraine’s much-anticipated display began, it absolutely delivered. What a show! The vibes were pure joy and our ladies had the best night out.

Here’s to more adventures together and making happy memories for everyone at Glenroyd.

We had a truly wonderful time at Glenroyd when the children from the Woodhouse Academy of Theatre Arts came to visit our residents for a festive Christmas Carol service.

They treated us to a fantastic selection of Christmas favourites and classic Carols, and it was lovely to hear our residents joining in with the well-known tunes. Music brings so much joy, and it also stirs up precious memories of carolling with family and friends at this special time of year.

Neil, one of our residents, said, “It was such a special day. The children made so many of us happy, including me. It brought back wonderful memories of my work with schools.”

A massive thank you to Daniele and all the children from the Woodhouse Academy of Theatre Arts for such a wonderful performance.

We’re looking forward to creating even more special moments like this throughout the festive season.

Our residents popped on their elf hats and, together with the General Manager Yvonne, set off in the minibus to give back to the community and support children this festive season.

Over the festive season, we have been collecting sweets and essential toiletries to support Streetlife with their Christmas Wishlist for young people in need. On arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the wonderful team, Paris and Emily, who joined Yvonne and our residents in reminiscing about Christmas traditions and sharing more about the vital work they do for young people in the local area.

Our residents marked Remembrance Sunday with a meaningful trip to the wreath-laying service at the Blackpool Cenotaph. The weather wasn’t on our side, but spirits were high as we paid our respects to those who served.

It was an especially important day for James, one of our residents, who completed his National Service with the Black Watch in the 1950s. In Kenya, he was once chased by a rhinoceros and escaped up a tree- though he got into trouble for leaving his rifle behind.

James later served in Berlin, took part in the guard of honour at Balmoral, and even danced with Princess Margaret at a Ceilidh. He loved the camaraderie and the chance to see the world. He signed on beyond National Service and became a corporal, and might have made a career of it, but his mum wasn’t keen- something his family is grateful for, as James’s return led to a long and happy marriage to his wife.

After the ceremony, we headed back to warm up and enjoy a delicious lunch together in our cosy Conservatory while watching the national service on television. Our residents shared memories of Remembrance Sundays past, reflecting on the meaning behind their experiences and those they will never forget.

We’re absolutely over the moon to share that our very own Aga has been crowned National Activities Coordinator of the Year at the Barchester Care Awards 2025.

Aga has poured her heart into life at Glenroyd, creating meaningful experiences for our residents every single day, and we couldn’t be prouder to see her talent and dedication recognised on the biggest stage.

With more than 5,250 nominations received from across Barchester’s 268 care homes and private hospitals, the standard this year was exceptional. Aga’s national win, announced at the awards ceremony, is a testament to her creativity, compassion and commitment to making every moment count for our residents and their families.

Aga said: “I am absolutely thrilled. This recognition means a great deal to me personally and professionally, and to everyone at Glenroyd. It would not have been possible without true teamwork. I’m fortunate to work alongside Karen, our Activities Assistant, whose support completes our department, as well as the wider team and the strong relationships we share with our residents and their families. This award belongs to all of them, and I only wish I could share it with each person who has contributed.”

Our General Manager, Yvonne Hand, summed it up perfectly: “This is a remarkable achievement, and everyone at the home is incredibly proud of Aga. She consistently goes above and beyond for our residents, putting her heart and soul into everything she does. This recognition is thoroughly well deserved.”

We also want to give a special mention to Mark, our divisional winner for Chef of the Year, whose passion and skill shine through every day. Congratulations, Aga- you make Glenroyd proud, and we’re so lucky to have you.

We welcomed the lovely children from West Park Kindergarten for an intergenerational visit in our garden- and it was simply wonderful!

We began with some autumn-themed colouring, but it wasn’t long before the giggles took over with beanbag toss games and plenty of dancing to favourite nursery rhymes. We even brought out the colourful parachute, which was a big hit with both the children and our residents!

Beyond the fun, visits like these make a real difference. Time spent with children lifts spirits and eases loneliness, encourages gentle movement and coordination through play, and sparks conversation, music and memories that keep minds active. Our residents tell us they feel a renewed sense of purpose and belonging after these afternoons, while the children grow in confidence, empathy and respect for older generations.

It was an afternoon full of smiles, helping hands and meaningful connections.