Activities at White Lodge Care Home

At White Lodge we believe that every wish matters, no matter how big or small. One of our lovely resident couples, who have been part of the Cricklade Open Door community for many years, shared how much they would love to visit their old group again. We were delighted to make their wish come true by arranging a special visit with the wonderful Open Door team.

It was a truly heart-warming afternoon filled with smiles, laughter and friendly competition as everyone enjoyed a game of Higher and Lower together. Most importantly, our residents had a chance to reconnect with old friends, reminisce about treasured memories and make new friendships along the way.

Our resident couple mentioned, "A very enjoyable afternoon, very happy to see familiar faces again and are already looking forward to many more visits with old friends and new friends from White Lodge."

A huge thank you to the Cricklade Open Door team for the warm welcome, delicious cake and for helping make the day special and so memorable.

A wonderful day out at Town gardens!!!

Residents from White Lodge enjoyed a lovely mini-bus trip to the beautiful Town Garden. Spending time outdoors taking in the colourful flowers, peaceful surroundings and lively atmosphere.

Our residents enjoyed the fresh air, observing nature and chatting with families and members of the local community enjoying the park. To make the day even more special, residents enjoyed delicious ice creams and a relaxing coffee chat together.

The experience encouraged reminiscence, social interaction and a sense of connection with community.
SG one of the residents its a wish come true moment. SG mentioned I felt very happy to see all vibrant colours of flowers. SG mentioned a thank you for organising the trip and made her wish come true.

BH recently celebrated the incredible milestone of her 100th birthday, surrounded by fellow residents, family, friends, and staff at White Lodge.

Reaching a century of life is a remarkable achievement, and BH's special day was filled with joy, laughter, and cherished memories. Since joining White Lodge, she has become a valued member of the community, embracing this new chapter of her life by participating in activities and building lasting friendships. Everyone at White Lodge was delighted to celebrate this wonderful occasion and ensure that BH's 100th birthday was truly unforgettable.

BH said: “I would like to thank everyone at White Lodge for making my 100th birthday so special. I am very grateful to the hospitality team for the wonderful food and refreshments, and to all the staff who helped make the day so memorable. It meant so much to have my family and friends around me to celebrate, especially my niece. I have had a lovely day and made some wonderful memories that I will cherish.”

BH was joined by staff, relatives, friends, and fellow residents as she received a congratulatory message from His Majesty The King in recognition of her landmark birthday. A garden party was held at the home, accompanied by live music and celebrations throughout the day. Guests enjoyed a specially created birthday cake made by the home’s Head Chef, Joel, adding a sweet touch to the festivities.

The celebration was a fitting tribute to BH’s remarkable life and a memorable occasion for everyone who attended.

At White Lodge Care Home we are proud to offer our residents regular opportunities to get out and about with weekly minibus trips to a variety of local destinations and community groups.

Recently residents enjoyed a peaceful visit to TWIGS Community Gardens, a wonderful local charity where nature and gardening create a calming, therapeutic environment. Another outing took us to Old Town, Swindon, where residents admired the beautiful cherry blossoms in full bloom at the Town Gardens, making the most of the fresh air and stunning surroundings.

We also visited the Over 60s Friendship Club at Coleview Community Centre, where residents enjoyed a relaxed and sociable session painting birdhouses, chatting with new friends and sharing tea and biscuits.

These trips are an important part of life at White Lodge, supporting wellbeing, encouraging social connections and creating meaningful moments. With our dedicated minibus and active lifestyle programme, residents can look forward to new experiences, familiar places, and plenty of enjoyable days out every week.

Residents at White Lodge recently enjoyed a wonderful spring flower arranging session, kindly supported by the Royal Wootton Bassett Flower Club. The activity brought colour, creativity, and a real sense of achievement to the afternoon, as residents carefully arranged fresh blooms into beautiful displays for the home.

The finished arrangements were placed throughout the communal areas, allowing everyone to enjoy the uplifting sight and scent of spring flowers while relaxing with a cup of tea. One resident shared how surprised they were at what they could achieve, saying the support and preparation made it easy to create their own bouquet.

The session was a lovely opportunity to reminisce, socialise, and celebrate the joy of simple, meaningful activities together.

We were delighted to welcome Phoenix Stewart, Community Engagement Manager, from Swindon & Wiltshire Pride for an inspiring and thought-provoking Pride Talk.

Residents, families, and staff came together for an interactive session, learning more about the importance of equality, diversity, inclusion, and celebrating everyone for who they are. The discussion encouraged questions, shared experiences, and meaningful conversations in a warm and respectful atmosphere.
At White Lodge, we are proud to promote a community where everyone is valued, respected, and welcomed.  Our colourful decorations and the message "Everyone is Welcome Here" reflected our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all.

A heartfelt thank you to Phoenix for delivering such an engaging and informative talk and for helping us celebrate the values of kindness, acceptance, and belonging. Thank you to all the residents, families, and staff who joined us and made this such a positive and memorable evening.     

At White Lodge, we proudly celebrated Carers Week with our residents and team. As part of the "Care and Life Enrichment Framework" this month's focus was "Good Nutrition and Positive Dining Experience".

Residents and our team worked together some activity and present a food tasting session for carers, helping everyone gain a better understanding of the importance of choice, different diet levels and person-centred care. Residents thoroughly enjoyed sharing their knowledge, with many commenting on how interesting it was to learn something meaningful while supporting others.      

A wonderful example of learning together and promoting knowledge about good nutrition positive dining experiences for all.

To show our appreciation for the dedication and compassion of our carers, we treated with KFC, presenting some chocolates and a special key chain.

The residents at White Lodge spent a delightful afternoon with their loved ones enjoying a relaxing and creative painting session led by Deepti Arora.

A professional artist, Deepti guided everyone through simple yet highly effective techniques to help them create a beautiful landscape masterpiece. Her step-by-step approach made the session accessible, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable for all skill levels.

We found the experience both stimulating and rewarding as they followed Deepti’s instructions and watched their paintings come to life. One resident, who paints as a hobby, shared that he learnt some very effective techniques that he is excited to incorporate into his future artwork.

It was truly a wonderful afternoon filled with creativity, connection, and joy, and we look forward to many more inspiring painting sessions ahead!

Residents of White Lodge and their families and visiting friends had an incredible visit from a Birds of Prey company, and what a memorable experience it was! 
Our residents were delighted to get up close to these magnificent birds, learning about their unique personalities and even having the chance to hold them. The weather didn't disappoint and we sat outside in our beautiful gardens, where we could watch the birds fly. 
Everyone had an opportunity to hold various birds and ask questions. Moments like these create lasting memories and bring so much joy to everyone involved. 

Smiles, sunshine, and sweet treats made for a wonderful National Ice Cream Day celebration at White Lodge. We were delighted to welcome the Mr Whippy Ice Cream Van, giving our residents the chance to choose their favourite ice cream, just like the good old days. From classic cones to colourful toppings, everyone enjoyed picking their own delicious treat.    

Residents, families, and staff gathered in the garden to enjoy the lovely weather, share stories, and spend quality time together, while those relaxing indoors were also able to enjoy their favourite ice cream in comfort.

For many residents, the visit brought back cherished childhood memories. One of the residents, AF, smiled and said, "This reminds me of waiting for the ice cream van with my friends when I was little." Another shared SS, "It took me straight back to happy summer days with my family." 

It was a simple activity that created so much joy, laughter, and meaningful conversation, proving that sometimes the sweetest memories come in a cone.

What a wonderful Summer Fete we had at White Lodge. 

Despite the rainy weather, which meant moving the celebrations indoors, our residents, families, visitors, and staff came together to create a truly fantastic atmosphere filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit.

A particular highlight of the day was the beautiful display of classic cars, which brought back many happy memories and had a wonderful impact on our residents. We were also delighted to enjoy a fantastic community disco by White Horse Rock n Roll and a live singing performance by Tony M which added an additional flavour to the event. Also everyone enjoyed delicious refreshments, and we were delighted to hold a raffle in support of the Alzheimer's Society, helping to raise funds for this important cause.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making the day such a success. Together, we created some very special memories.       

What a fantastic day we had celebrating VE Day at White Lodge! The atmosphere was full of joy as residents were joined by their friends and families for a truly special occasion.

We were treated to a brilliant performance by the fabulous D-Day Dollies show, bringing music, memories, and plenty of smiles with a mini concert that had everyone tapping their feet and singing along.

A real highlight of the day was the visit from the Swindon Veterans. After the show, they spent time chatting with our residents, sharing stories and memories. One particularly special moment was when our resident, Jeff, discovered he had served in the same regiment as veteran Paul! The two had so much to talk about, and Paul has promised to return with his memorabilia to share even more stories next time! Of course, no celebration is complete without great food! Our amazing hospitality team put on a delicious spread of cupcakes, sausage rolls, and refreshing Pimms, which went down as an absolute treat!

A huge thank you to everyone who made the day so memorable! 

Easter celebrations were in full swing at our home as residents, families, and members of the local community came together for a joyful Easter Egg Hunt filled with laughter, connection, and seasonal cheer.

The event welcomed children and families from the surrounding area, creating a vibrant, multi-generational atmosphere where everyone could take part in the fun. Armed with baskets and big smiles, young participants eagerly searched high and low across the grounds, uncovering over 100 hidden eggs. The highlight of the day was the exciting challenge to find the coveted golden and silver eggs, with special prizes awaiting the lucky winners.

True to the home’s warm and inclusive spirit, no one left empty-handed. Every participant received a sweet treat, ensuring smiles all around. Guests also enjoyed a selection of homemade delights prepared by the talented kitchen team, including beautifully decorated cupcakes and freshly baked hot cross buns, all served in the spring sunshine.

The event was not only about fun but also about strengthening community connections and creating meaningful shared experiences between residents and local families.