Activities at North Park Care Home

Sixteen young adults, all aged sixteen from schools throughout the Darlington area, spent five days at North Park. The volunteers chose spent their time transforming the dull garden to a stimulating area with new plants, ornaments, water feature with scents and colour to stimulate the senses.

The group met with residents and asked what they would like to see in the garden before going out shopping for plants and garden features. Residents joined the group getting their hands dirty by helping to pot plants, Bernard said “it is so good to feel the soil again it has been a long time, to long really”. Apart from working outdoors with some of the residents, the volunteers held a coffee morning, bingo and quiz sessions and played games, which they all enjoyed.

On their last afternoon of the scheme all volunteers were presented with a box of chocolate and rewarded with a karaoke party with mocktails, scrumptious cake, delicious summer fruits and a sweetie basket to show how much everyone at North Park appreciated their work.

Resident Jessie Wareham said “I can’t wait to spend time out here, isn’t it lovely, you have all done a fantastic job thank you so much”. Everyone involved had such a good time it was hard to say goodbye, several of the NCS volunteers who live close to North Park are to come in on a regular basis now as they have enjoyed their time here so much, and others who live further away are planning to reunite at North park every six weeks to keep the garden going and continue to add to it.

North Park held their summer fair on Saturday 20th July. There were delicious homemade cakes, pies and quiches to purchase and to take home and treat the family to along with giant hotdogs, chips, and mouth-watering strawberry, and cream scorns to enjoy.

The children enjoyed a magic show and were awarded balloon animals for participating. Residents and friends enjoyed a good old fashioned sing-a-long  and all were given balloon hats. Richard was delighted with his tombola prize and one of our carers Kerry was the lucky recipient of her sons prize of luxurious hand cream and Yankee candle.

As the theme of our Care Home Open Day this year was arts, North Park decided to do sugar crafting demonstration in the afternoon. Auriele, a member of the activities team wanted to show what could be done in this area using simple ingredients, she made a delicious sponge cake, filled with raspberry coulis and vanilla butter icing.

The cake was then decorated using fondant icing, topped off with a sculptured Barchy bear, Auriele had crafted out of fondant icing and enhanced the look with sugar paste roses.

Residents, staff and visitors all admired the craftsmanship and the outstanding taste, which everyone enjoyed with a cup of afternoon tea. 

Children from Reid Street Primary School in Darlington entered a colouring competition run by North Park Care Centre.

The standard of the pictures was so high, that it took two days for the judges to decide on winners. On 12th June, two of the resident judges— Jean and Bernard—went to Reid St School to hand out prizes and were treated to tea and cakes from the head boy and girl.

Residents were also presented with more art work to display around the home, and bookmarks made by the students of year 4 for all our residents.  

Alan and Christina, residents at North Park Care Centre, celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in June this year. The happy couple hosted a tea party and was surrounded by loving family members and friends. Everyone was smiling and having fun. 

Gloria looks forward to Lewis visiting every Wednesday morning at North Park. As Gloria, is blind she loves to feel Lewis’s soft fur and feeds him his favourite snack of apples.