Activities at Woodland View Care Home
Activities at Woodland View
Woodland View is passionately committed to providing residents with a varied choice of entertainment, social, health and well being, craft and relaxation based activities.
Activities will all be meaningful and based on the likes of residents and will continue to evolve depending on our residents. The activities provided will also include involvement from other local community based organisations and are open to all residents, family and friends of residents. Our activities will be facilitated by staff from all departments as well as invited guests. Families are also enthusiastically encouraged to play a part in activities when possible.
There will always be at least one person at every activity who has been DBS checked to ensure the safeguarding of our residents. The dignity of our residents and our respect for them is at the centre of everything we do, each and every day.
We are always reviewing and changing our schedule of activities to be a centre of excellence and actively invite feedback and suggestions for new and meaningful activities and ideas.
Petra Hardman
Hi my name is Petra and I'm the Activities Coordinator here at Woodland View. I love seeing the difference that activities can make to each individual, and finding out what interests they have and ensure I incorporate that into our activities here.
I love music and drama coming from a musical background as a singer all over the country, music is important to me and I feel it makes such a difference to everyone, it evokes memories, and creates happiness. I also love to boost residents self esteem by creating pampering sessions and having one to one time to relax and reminisce.
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 Woodland View Care Home
Employee of the Month - November
Well done to Kevin Riley, who was named as November's Employee of the Month here at Woodland View.
Kevin is always smiling and helpful; he always goes that extra mile for both colleagues and residents alike. He is an absolute asset to Woodland View.
Kevin is a much-valued member of the team. When asked to help or do something, nothing is too much trouble. He has organised Christmas presents for all residents and has always delivered all of the events at Woodland View without a single moan or groan. Thank you for your continued commitment to Woodland View.
Christmas Carol Service
The annual Christmas carol service, hosted by Mother's Union, in Colchester was an afternoon that residents of Woodland View thoroughly enjoyed. Residents enjoyed a full service, delivered by the Reverend Ray Gibbs at St. Michael's Church. After the service, everyone moved on to the lovely Parish Hall to enjoy an afternoon tea and to reconnect with old friends.
Doodlebugs and Shelters
As part of Woodland View supporting pupils and the curriculum at Queen Boudica Primary School, pupils visited residents to learn of their experiences during World War 2, when they were the same age as the pupils.
Two groups of thirty pupils asked questions and learned all about Anderson and Morrison shelters, what children did to pass the time during the air raids and how they earned pocket money back in the day. Rationing, being evacuated, doodlebugs and the air raids were all recalled, much to the fascination of the pupils.
It wasn't all one-sided, however, as residents got to ask questions too and the pupils impressed with the knowledge they had already gained. They knew what both Armistice Day and Remembrance Day were and their importance. One pupil recited from memory the poem 'In Flanders Fields', winning a round of applause from everyone present.
In total, sixty pupils sat with residents over the two sessions and you'd think that might have been it for the day, but you'd be wrong! We then had our regular weekly team of fourteen pupils join residents for parlour games. That made a grand total of seventy-four pupils in one afternoon – and the residents loved every minute!
Secret Hamper
Local company, 'Secret Hamper', returned to Woodland View following their original visit in 2016.
Woodland View is one of the company's favourite care homes because of the initial relationship struck up when the company had just started. The company donated one of its hampers back then, which was raffled and won by resident, Anne. The win at the time really lifted Anne's spirits, as it was during a period when she was really struggling. Anne went on to share the contents of the hamper with fellow residents and staff. One Carer had never tasted a Jaffa Cake – imagine that! Well, that soon changed, thanks to Anne.
At the end of the visit, the company's CEO took a picture with residents, including Anne, and donated another hamper.
Secret Hamper is a wonderful reinvention of a great British tradition. The company have a range of products, such as pet hampers and even an Essex-themed box, containing Essex-sourced products, including the Wilkinson’s Tiptree Jam.
If you'd like to gift a special hamper to someone you know living alone or in a care home, more information can be found on the Secret Hamper, which you can visit by clicking here.
Snow White at Woodland View
The Colchester Mercury Theatre's production of 'Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs' was a show nobody wanted to miss, and for good reason.
Residents at Woodland View were driven to the Mercury Theatre on a Sunday afternoon in the home's minibus to see one of the performances. The music, songs, jokes, cast and production were outstanding and the residents thoroughly enjoyed every second.
The panto dame, Nurse Nelly, had everyone in stitches as she picked on members of the audience. After such a great afternoon's entertainment, some of our group are considering a return trip to see the show one more time before the panto's run ends mid-January.
Ukulele Joy
Stanway U3A Ukulele made a welcome return to Woodland View to entertain residents as only they can!
The troupe of nine local musicians delighted their audience with tune after tune. The audience showed their pleasure and appreciation by singing and clapping along.
Their encore was followed by another encore and there were no complaints, as everyone would have been happy for the music to continue into the evening.
Once again, we are all looking forward to their return.
