Activities at The Cedars Bourne Care Home

There is nothing like a picnic by the lake. Ferry Meadows is such a beautiful area, and our residents love visiting the wide variety of wildlife here- we had fun spotting magpies, swans, rabbits, crows and squirrels on our walk. Then we settled by the lake for a picnic, freshly prepared by our home chef of sandwiches, sausage rolls and delicious home baked cakes. Dianne Newman, close friend of our resident said that it was a “Lovely picnic at Ferry meadows. Thanks to the special ladies for making caring fun.”

Sarah Longstaff has been crowned Care Practitioner of the Year for the North East - North Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2024 and is through to the national round of judging.

The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 13,000 residents living in Barchester’s 261 care homes and private hospitals across the country. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Activities Coordinator of the Year’.

The Cedars were thrilled to receive another visit from therapy horse Darwin and his owner Brenda from Comfort Horse Therapy on Thursday. The miniature horse, just 34 inches tall, is a 7 year old falabella, who visited a very excited group of residents and visitors in the lounge before travelling the home to visit residents in their rooms. He even went up in the lift!

Residents were able to talk to, stroke and groom the horse, who was on his best behaviour throughout the 90 minute visit. He even wore beautiful shoes to keep the floor clean.

Residents and guests enjoyed an afternoon of grins with a live orchestral concert performance that took place at the home. Two local groups; Treble Clef and the Grace Notes and 2nd Time Around; came together for their second ever concert to perform a selection of summertime sounds including theme tunes from the movies, old favourites and folk songs in the home’s conservatory.

Residents hummed along with tunes that they knew and clapped along as the band performed their finale song from a 1970s movie: Charlie’s Girl.  Afterwards tea and cake were enjoyed by both performers and residents as musical tastes were compared and discussed.

Staff and residents are celebrating because their wonderful Managing Director, Fiona Fagan, from Barchester’s North East and Scotland Division, has stepped completely out of her comfort zone to compete in the Barchester Charitable Foundation Cook Off 2024.

Fiona went head-to-head with the Managing Directors from Barchester’s four other divisions and cooked up a storm to raise a phenomenal £24,595 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.  

Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together to enjoy a Summer Fete that was held in the home’s grounds on 29th June. The Cedars hosted a variety of artisan craft stalls, tombola and raffle for everyone to enjoy, including homemade fudge, craft makes and original artworks.

 The main event, the rubber duck races on the river, continued throughout the day; and with 14 races expertly ran, there was plenty to cheer for! Mayor of Bourne, Helen Crawford, visited to try her luck at the races, and residents were thrilled to meet her.

The event culminated in a live performance by local entertainer Nick Glover, who sang a variety of popular songs that staff, visitors and residents sang and danced along to.