Newington CourtBarchester Healthcare

Activities at Newington Court Care Home

Name: Newington Court Care Home
Address: Keycol Hill, Newington, Sittingbourne, ME9 7LG, GB
Telephone: 01795 334 487

Our Activities Coordinator here at Newington Court constantly strives to mentally and physically stimulate those we support in our home. We have our own minibus enabling residents to go shopping, to the local garden centre, out for fish and chips, and for boat trips in the summer. We also have regular visits from the PAT dog, musicians and entertainers. We hold cheese and wine evenings for residents and their families and our residents attend services at the local school for Remembrance Day and Christmas. The junior school also come in and sing for our residents at Christmas. The residents also attended a Christmas Party held at a local Grammar School hosted by the students.

Read our brochure ‘Life-enriching activities’ for more information about life in our care homes.

Read our brochure

Tracey Brunger

Activity Coordinator

I have been working at Newington Court since September 2023. I have a background in marketing, and have been an active member on the PTFA, organising events and fundraising at my children's school for the last 11 years.

I am an enthusiastic and dedicated member of the activities team who is passionate about creating engaging, imaginative and memorable activities for all our residents to enjoy, both in a group environment and on a one-to-one basis. The wellbeing of our residents is my priority, and I believe it is essential to offer a wide selection of activities which benefit the residents physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. I really enjoy helping our residents to live their lives to the full!

Celebrating life at Newington Court Care Home

Eye Health Event at Newington Court

We had a wonderful afternoon on Friday at Newington Court Care Home, as we welcomed Alana from Specsavers for our Eye Care Conversation and Community event.

It was a lovely opportunity for our residents, families and community members to come together, enjoy some refreshments and learn more about the importance of eye health and regular eye care.

The Specsavers team shared helpful information and advice about looking after our eyes, the care involved, and how we can support loved ones with their eye health. There was also plenty of time for friendly conversations and questions.

A big thank you to Alana from Specsavers for spending the afternoon with us and helping to promote better eye health within our community.

At Newington Court, we believe that supporting our residents’ health, wellbeing and quality of life is at the heart of everything we do.

A Delicious Day Out at Macknades

Our residents enjoyed a wonderful minibus trip to Macknades in Faversham, a beautiful farm shop and café that brings people together through a shared love of great food and drink.

We started our visit with delicious lattes and tempting cakes in the cafe, enjoying plenty of conversation, laughter and time together.

Afterwards, residents had great fun browsing the food hall and exploring the famous delicatessen, grocery and greengrocers departments. Some even picked up a few favourite treats and goodies to take home!

Trips like this are about so much more than a change of scenery. They provide opportunities for independence, choice, social connection, reminiscence and meaningful community engagement, while enjoying a lovely day out together.

A big thank you to everyone who helped make it such an enjoyable and memorable trip!

Tommy Tea Party in aid of RBVE

At Newington Court we love nothing more than an a tea party and what between reason that an RBVE (Royal British Veteran's Enterprise) Tommy Tea Party.

Barchester Healthcare are one of the proud sponsors of RBVE Tommy Tea Party for 2025.

We were joined by Kerry Locke from RBVE who spoke to our residents and visiting community members about the importance of the work that RBVE complete in the community with veterans.

Minibus Trip to Gardeners World

Our residents enjoyed a delightful trip to our local garden centre this morning, where we enjoyed the beautifully scented and brightly coloured blooms around us??, before enjoying some delicious hot drinks and Bakewell slices in their Daisy Chain Café! We managed to avoid the unpredictable ?? weather, and a wonderful time was had by all.

First Boat Trip of 2026

We had a fantastic afternoon cruising along the River Medway with the Kingfisher Medway Trust at Wateringbury near Maidstone.

With ice creams, afternoon tea and cake, scenic views and great company, a wonderful afternoon was enjoyed by all.

Some of our family who came with us even had a steer of the boat and were awarded certificates at the end of our river cruise!

We are looking forward to taking many more of our residents out on boat trips this Summer.

A Wonderful Day of Fishing at Holme Farm!

One of our residents Paul, enjoyed another fantastic day out at Holme Farm on the Isle of Sheppey, thanks to Cast a Thought who are hosting their Chat and Fish sessions again this month

With the peaceful surroundings, fresh air and plenty of time by the water, it was the perfect opportunity to enjoy a much-loved hobby and create some special memories.

For Paul, fishing is so much more than simply catching a fish – it brings a sense of purpose, independence and connection, while providing the chance to enjoy the outdoors and continue doing something that he has loved to do throughout his life.

A huge thank you to Cast a Thought for making this special experience possible and for supporting our residents to continue enjoying the things that matter to them.

Paul has been fishing at this spot for the last 3 years and caught his first Barble and Chub during his first two sessions this month! Hopefully there will be plenty more fish including Carp to be caught during the next two weeks of his fishing adventures!

Intergenerational Paint & Sip

What a wonderfully creative afternoon we enjoyed as residents and family members came together for our Intergenerational Paint & Sip session!

With watercolours, brushes and plenty of imagination, everyone had the opportunity to create their very own beautiful artwork.

Some of our artists chose an elephant theme to celebrate World Elephant Day, while others let their imaginations run free and created some truly amazing and unique paintings.

It was lovely to see different generations sitting side by side, sharing ideas, encouraging one another and enjoying the simple pleasure of being creative together.

These meaningful moments help to strengthen family connections, encourage self-expression and create wonderful memories to treasure.

A huge well done to all our talented artists – we think you’ll agree there are some very creative masterpieces on display!

Sunflower Competition Hots Up!

The residents and staff at Newington Court are currently in competition with each other.

In the Spring the resident were encouraged to plant Sunflower seeds and care for them to see who can grow them the highest.

The final is in September.....who is going to win??

Good Nutrition & a Positive Dining Experience!

At Newington Court Care Home, we know mealtimes are about so much more than food. This week, residents enjoyed a menu planning session, sharing their favourite dishes, new ideas, and feedback directly with our Head Chef.

By involving residents in menu planning, we can create nutritious, balanced meals that reflect their tastes and preferences, making every dining experience enjoyable and meaningful.
With the warm weather upon us, we're also helping residents, staff and visitors stay cool and hydrated with freshly cut fruits, iced lollies, and a variety of refreshing drinks throughout the day.

Rock Painting Creativeness

Residents were joined by family, friends and members of the local community for some creative and colourful Rock Painting at our Community Craft Club.

This regular Community Craft Club takes place each month and we welcome new faces to join in the creative fun.

A Man's Best Friend!

We are delighted to welcome Rosie with her owner Patricia to Newington Court!

Rosie is a fully trained Therapy Dog with Pets as Therapy and will be visiting us regularly at our home, to the delight of our residents!

Some of our residents were overjoyed to meet Rosie when we showed her around our home.

We look forward to welcoming Rosie back at the end of the month for her first official visit

Celebrating 65 Wonderful Years of Marriage

What a truly special day at Newington Court as one of our lovely residents and his wife celebrated an incredible 65th Wedding Anniversary together.

The happy couple enjoyed a delicious celebratory lunch, followed by a beautiful homemade heart-shaped cake and a glass of bubbly to toast this remarkable milestone. They spent precious time together opening cards, exchanging flowers and thoughtful gifts before sharing the first slice of their anniversary cake.

To round off the celebration, our resident surprised everyone with a heartfelt thank you speech, expressing his gratitude to his wife, and our team for making the day so memorable. It was a touching moment that brought smiles to everyone's faces.

Congratulations on 65 years of love, laughter and cherished memories. We wish you both many more happy moments together. Happy Anniversary!

Keeping Cool in the Garden

Our residents are keeping cool during the hot weather at Newington Court.

Enjoying lots of fruity ice lollies and refreshing drinks to keep us all hydrated!

Double Win at the HealthInvestor Awards 2026

We’re excited to share that Barchester Healthcare has been named Residential Elderly Care Provider of the Year in the Large Group category and our CEO, Dr Pete Calveley, won the Outstanding Contribution Award for his exemplary leadership at this year’s HealthInvestor Awards.

The HealthInvestor Awards recognise achievement and celebrate the very best in health and social care. The Outstanding Contribution award is judged by an independent panel of industry experts who look across the entire health and social care sector for an individual who has excelled in their field.

Minibus Trip to Dobbie Garden Centre

Minibus trip to Dobbies

Residents enjoyed a morning trip to our local Dobbies Garden Centre in Gillingham for morning drinks and delicious cake!

Our minibus trips enable our residents to enjoy our local community and support their independence and wellbeing.