Activities at Newlands Care Home

With brilliant entertainment from Sasha the Entertainer, plenty of laughter, lots of dancing, and a drop (or two!) of Guinness, our residents had a fantastic time celebrating in style. There was toe tapping, singing, and some dance moves that definitely deserve their own spot on the activity calendar… although we’re not sure all of them were strictly health and safety approved! 

A wonderful afternoon full of smiles, music, and mischief — just how we like it! A wonderful day was had by all. By the end of the day, everyone’s feet needed a rest.       

Love and friendship were at the heart of a very special afternoon here at Newlands. The residents and families enjoyed a lovely hearty 3-course meal made by Chef James. Moments like these remind us that Valentine’s Day is not just about romance — it’s about kindness, connection, and sharing smiles with those around us. 

Because love is best celebrated together.       

Our residents enjoyed a heartfelt dinner of Haggis, neeps and tatties. Thereafter they took to the dance floor to enjoy some Scottish music by the charismatic Bailey and Kream Entertainment.    

Our residents had a great time visiting Lakes Garden Centre in Cockermouth for some lovely Christmas dinner and shopping. The food was great and everyone enjoyed it. The atmosphere was great with great company. Our gents enjoyed the Christmas shopping experience as they moved around the centre looking for some presents for their loved ones. 

They managed to get a few goodies for their loved ones and could not wait wrap them up and send them through in time for Christmas.   

Our residents get involved in a variety of creative activities. For the National Arts In Care Homes, our residents worked on artworks for their exhibition. This year’s theme was using recycled materials. 

For our artwork, we made fairy lights using recycled egg cartons, recycled cotton yarn for the artworks, plastic, tissue paper, clay and many more.  

Our residents, families, and staff were delighted to welcome the Skiddaw Ukulele Group for a very special afternoon of music and togetherness. Their wonderful performance brought smiles to so many faces, with residents singing along to familiar songs and enjoying the warm, joyful atmosphere. Meaningful moments like these are so important in supporting wellbeing, connection, and happiness within our home, and it was lovely to see everyone sharing such a memorable experience together. 

A sincere thank you to the Skiddaw Ukulele Group for bringing such kindness, fun, and community spirit to our day.

We heard that our Margaret used to do a lot of baking and teaching, so we then spent the afternoon getting a few baking tips from her. In our life enrichment programs, we aim to recreate those exciting moments or hobbies that our residents love and enjoy. 

And we can tell from the smiles that she enjoyed the outcome.     

We were delighted to get a visit from St Johns Church in Workington. Our residents and staff were blessed with some sweet Christmas Carol melodies. It is the season to be jolly.   

Our Christmas party was a vibe. Everyone had a jolly good time. Christmas came early at Newlands with great entertainment from Sasha the entertainer, everyone was on their feet. Our residents love music and dance so this was a good time to show their skills. 

We would like to thank the Mayor of Workington for his visit and spending time with the residents. Our residents, families and staff had a great time indeed. From all us at Newlands we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy New year.   

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our Macmillan Coffee Morning! With your support, we raised an amazing £95.75 from our cake sale for Macmillan Cancer Support. 

Our cakes were proudly made by our chefs, Earl and Stella, and Walter (our cheesecake man). Thank you very much for your time and support. 

We’re excited to introduce the life-size Happi Table to our home – an innovative, interactive table designed to support engagement, wellbeing, and meaningful moments for our residents. The Happi Table offers a wide range of activities including games, music, quizzes, and sensory experiences that can be enjoyed individually or together. 

It’s designed to be accessible and easy to use, helping residents of all abilities take part. Benefits of the Happi Table include: encouraging social interaction and shared activities, •supporting cognitive stimulation through games and quizzes, promoting gentle movement and coordination, providing sensory engagement and relaxation, • Creating fun, laughter, and meaningful connections.

Every month we thrive to introduce food delicacies from all over the world. Our dining rooms were transformed into Chinese restaurants, our residents and staff enjoyed Chinese food made by our creative chef. For some, it was the first time I had Chinese food, and it was received very well. We look forward to our next destination. 

Where do you think we are heading to next?     

Our gents enjoy going for a visit to the barber. 

They always look forward to having a chat with the barber man. The transformation is always incredible. 

We are thrilled to announce that our cake won the residents cake for our division. This much-loved annual event invites residents, patients, colleagues and chefs to put their baking skills to the test, competing for the title of the most delicious and creative Christmas-themed cake in their division. 

Judged by Barchester’s Hospitality Team, the competition highlights the amazing talent across our care services. The winning cakes captured the spirit of Christmas and were absolutely delicious.       

Our Desmond had the pleasure of visiting Whitehaven to watch his son’s performance.

His son was very thrilled to see him there. Desmond joined in the singing and showed off his vocals. He is an Elvis fan and so when his son came out looking like Elvis and singing Elvis songs, Des was over the moon. It was truly amazing to watch.