Activities at Newlands Care Home
Activities within our home are tailored around the requests of residents. Our Activities Coordinator holds regular activity meetings to seek new thoughts and ideas. The home is committed to offering a varied range of activities for all residents, from hand and nail care to gardening for those who have green fingers. We carry out reminiscence activities, including planned entertainment days, bringing the seaside into the home or dance hall meetings.
We hold strong links with the community, especially schools and local children's sports teams, who visit the home to provide entertainment and engagement with residents. We also maintain relationships with the church to ensure that residents’ spiritual beliefs are met. Externally, we have our own minibus, and outings are planned and carried out, again tailored to residents’ preferences, whether it be shopping, visits to the local pub, tea and coffee afternoons, or a scenic day out in the lakes and lovely countryside that surrounds us. However, the fun does not stop at the residents we care for, but we also hold events to involve family and the wider community.
Hlabekile Nyoni (Nayoni)
Hlabekile Nyoni known by everyone as "Nayoni" is the Activities Co-Ordinator at Newlands Care Centre as of December 2023. Hlabekile joined the Barchester team in August 2023 on a part time basis then later became fulltime at the end of December 2023.
"Nayoni" says, ‘ I love sharing my ideas and knowledge to make residents life at Newlands enjoyable and memorable for them and their families. Each day is a different day and each resident is different therefore I always put that into consideration when coming up with activities that can suit each individual. I am so glad to work with a great team throughout the home, from housekeeping, clinical, care, kitchen, maintenance, admin and managers all play a pivotal role in my work. With my strong artistic background I find it easier to come up with creative ideas. I love my job here at Newlands.
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 Newlands Care Home
Home partners with school for pen-pal initiative
Newlands Care Home in Workington have teamed up with Sundridge & Brasted Primary School in Kent for a newly launched pen pal scheme- my dear new friend, connecting residents within their homes with creative writing pupils.
Residents of Newlands care home, which is run by Barchester Healthcare, have been delighted to receive letters from pupils who are writing letters to improve their literacy skills, and making new friends in the inter-generational scheme.
Letter writing, which is part of the school’s creative writing curriculum, has covered topics such as holidays and places to visit, as well as cautionary tales from both the students and the residents of Newlands care home. Residents will also share their interesting tales of the past,
Blenheim Palace WW2 virtual talk
Ahead of Armed Forces Day, we were transported back in time for a World War II themed talk and tour of Blenheim Palace, hosted by Antonia Keaney, the Palace’s social historian and author.
Entitled ‘Evacuees and Espionage,’ Antonia’s wartime themed talk focused on how the Marlborough family, estate staff and the Palace itself played a full and energetic part in the war effort.
The talk and tour told the story of how the Palace prepared for the worst, survived the onslaught of 400 boys being evacuated to Blenheim and kept the secrets of MI5.
It was a lovely experience, enjoyed by all.
Home celebrate the Queens birthday
Today we had a wonderful day as we marked the Queen’s official 95th birthday with a royal tea party.
Our head chef whipped up a tasty selection of freshly-baked biscuits, pastries and cakes for the special occasion, all washed down with pots of tea.
We enjoyed a variety of royal–themed events including, watching the parade and the fly-past, watching virtual tours of royal palaces, writing letters to the Queen, watching old clips of royal tours and occasions.
It was a lovely day, enjoyed by all.
Hereford Cathedral virtual event
Staff and residents at Barchester’s Newlands were invited to a virtual tour and talk about the wonders of Hereford Cathedral led by a team of staff and volunteers who look after the magnificent cathedral building.
Hereford is home to one of the oldest cathedrals in England. The site of the cathedral has been a place of worship since the 8th Century, the date the cathedral was founded is thought to be 696 and religious services have taken place since medieval times.
National Carers Week
Residents at Newlands care home in Workington run by Barchester Healthcare, are celebrating National Carers’ Week, which takes place from June 7-13. Residents wanted to thank all the wonderful staff at the home, whose hard work and dedication make a real difference to the lives of those living in their care.
Carers Week is an annual event to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges carers face, and recognising the contribution they make to our residents, families and communities throughout the UK. The theme for Carers Week this year is ‘Making caring visible and valued’ - to shine a light on all those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to care for vulnerable people in our communities.
.Residents also gave thanks by giving thank you cards to carers with a small gift of thanks for all that they do.
Home enjoy virtual safari trip
Staff and residents at Newlands were treated to an exciting live streaming tour of Knowsley Safari, hosted by Engagement Assistant, Verity Dann.
Knowsley Safari has been welcoming visitors for 50 years since it opened in July 1971. Situated in the Knowsley area of Merseyside, the safari park is home to 750 animals on a 550 acre site, it boasts the longest safari drive in the UK.
Verity’s workshop took a peek behind the scenes at Knowsley to find out what it is really like to work in such a demanding yet rewarding world. Residents discovered what a day in the life of a keeper entails from feeding time with the giraffes and meerkats through to training sessions and everything in between. Verity explained some of the conservation projects that Knowsley Safari is involved with and how this is positively affecting some of the world’s most endangered species.
Upcoming events
Countdown to Christmas
Take a look at all of the wonderful festive events and activities throughout December. Please feel free to join our celebrations. Contacts us for more information.
