Activities at Leeming Bar Grange Care Home

After almost 12 years of continuous service much-loved Maintenance Manager, Ken Nicholson has decided to retire.  Staff and residents at the home sent Ken off in style with bubbles and presents a-plenty to thank him for many years of dedication. Everyone at the home has very fond memories of Ken and he will be sadly missed.

During his time at Leeming Bar Grange Ken has been an absolute cornerstone of the homes care home family. From sharing morning brews and heartfelt chats, to taking residents on fun-filled mini bus adventures, and even becoming our enthusiastic bingo caller. Ken has added warmth, laughter, and countless special moments to everyone’s days at Leeming Bar Grange.
 

What a glorious day we had to raise the rainbow flag in support of Pride month & in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community!

With an explosion of colour, we celebrated with enthusiastic karaoke renditions, games, delicious ice cream from Gallone Ices Bedale and scrumptious cakes made with love by residents.

With love and acceptance, the world is a far more colourful place!

We recently had the absolute joy of supporting our resident, Colin, in revisiting one of his lifelong passions: swimming!

Colin made a splash at the local pool, rekindling memories of his days as an amateur swimmer. After his swim, Colin proudly shared his cherished medals from the Amateur Swimming Association, reminiscing about the races, the training, and the thrill of the win!

Moments like these remind us how important it is to keep doing what we love, no matter our age.

A huge thank you to the team at Bedale Leisure Centre for their fantastic customer service! We can't wait to visit again soon!

This June residents and the team had the chance to explore the world like never before; thanks to virtual reality technology!

'Leeming Mini', Carson very kindly brought in his virtual reality headset to take residents on thrilling adventures!

From skydiving thousands of feet, mountain climbing, and deep diving into the ocean, to fun interactive games; all without leaving the comfort of their armchairs! For many, it was their first time trying VR, and the reactions were priceless.

Moments like these remind us that it’s never too late for a little adventure. A big thank you to Carson for making the day so special. Here’s to more experiences that uplift, excite, and connect us!

We cannot wait to explore again soon!

As part of Dementia Action Week we celebrated Dementia Forward's Hat Day with our 'Spirit Lifters' Community Choir.

Joyous enthusiasm erupted in the home as Liz from Liz Latta's Music Matters tickled the ivories, playing upbeat ditties such as 'Enjoy Yourself' and 'Dancing Queen', to 'Daisy, Daisy and 'You Are My Sunshine' each melody well-known across the generations; bringing everyone together!

Not only is singing incredibly enjoyable it provides a meaningful opportunity to connect deeply with one another. The fondly known melodies evoke spirited memories; promoting reminiscence, movement, and some of the biggest smiles you could ever witness!

As we continue to support those living with dementia, we recognise the importance of creating environments where music and community thrive. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of individuals and families affected by dementia.

Our monthly community choir is open to all ages and abilities, please do let us know if you would like more information on joining.

This May we celebrated both International Tea Day and World Cultural Diversity Day, bringing together our residents and team for a delightful exploration of teas from around the world.

Residents and the team savoured each cup, shared stories, and learnt about the cultural significance of these teas. The event highlighted how tea, a simple beverage, can bridge cultural divides and foster connections.

As we sipped our tea, we celebrated the rich tapestry of cultures that make our world beautifully diverse. Here's to the shared moments and stories that unite us all.

A Tea-riffic day! 

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Our mini-bus adventures saw us take a jaunt out to Brymor Ice Cream Parlour to sample their delicious ice cream, enjoy a picnic in the grounds, and meet the dairy cows & other friendly animals!

We would like to say a huge thank you to the Dinsdale family for the very kind donation towards our mini-bus adventures, in memory of our beautiful late resident Anne. We remember Anne often, and during these trips filled with fun, friendship, and meaningful moments, we remember Anne all the more.

A wonderfully sweet day, with even sweeter company! 

This April we were absolutely delighted to welcome some of the kind folk from RAF Leeming into the home! Residents and serving personnel came together in the glorious sunshine to share tea, cake, and wonderful conversation.

It was truly heart-warming to see friendships forming as stories were exchanged across generations. The visit brought such joy and energy to our residents; smiles, laughter, and a real sense of connection filled the garden! These moments of companionship mean so much and have a lasting impact on residents' wellbeing.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the team from RAF Leeming for taking time to visit. 

Staff and residents at Leeming Bar Grange care home in Leeming Bar and sister home, Mount Vale in Northallerton are celebrating because their wonderful Regional Directors, Wendy McGowan & Dannie Tsoneva, from Barchester’s North East & Scotland Division, have stepped completely out of their comfort zones to compete in the Barchester Charitable Foundation Cook Off 2025.

Dannie & Wendy went head-to-head with the Regional Directors from Barchester’s four other divisions and cooked up a storm to raise a phenomenal £31,000 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.  In 2024 the Foundation achieved a donation milestone of £335,000 which enabled the charity to provide vital help to 239 small groups and charities, plus 104 individuals in one year alone.