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
Planning Care
Woodland View representatives, Jacquey Thurlow and Kevin Riley, visited The Gilberd School in Colchester to deliver a lesson in support of the school's Health & Social Care course.
Senior Staff Nurse, Jacquey, and Activities Coordinator, Kevin, prepared and delivered an interactive lesson, which is due to be repeated for another class of pupils at a later date, to support how they would approach the complexities of planning care for ageing adults.
Overall, pupils were provided with clear examples and a message that the care sector is an extremely positive and rewarding industry to work in. The lesson concluded with encouragement that the valuable contribution everyone can make to ensure the quality of life for all adults can be maintained as their journey continues, should never be underestimated.
Tovertafel makes an impact...
Memory Lane residents at Woodland View had the chance to try out an amazing piece of equipment – and the impact and response from residents was simply incredible!
The Tovertafel Magic Table projects moving images onto a surface, allowing interaction, which changes 'what happens next'. As audio visual stimulation goes, the table clearly demonstrated its effectiveness, as residents who previously rarely demonstrated any capability for interaction, suddenly followed the projected images with their hands and eyes, attempting to grasp the shapes.
Woodland View is looking to invite sponsors or local companies who want to partner with us to raise funds to acquire this amazing piece of equipment.
If you would be interested in discussing sponsorship or partnering with Woodland View to support the sourcing of this equipment, please contact Kevin Riley at Woodland View on 01206 855390.
Let them eat cake!
Woodland View residents were very pleased with the arrival of International Cupcake Week... We wonder why?!
The catering department provided a wide range of tasty, decorated cupcakes. Residents were then spoiled rotten as each received a special personal delivery to their room.
Every single resident received the VIP treatment to mark the occasion and enthusiastically consumed the little fancy delights. I think it's fair to say that Jelly Babies are as popular now as they have ever been, especially when atop a buttercream iced sponge!
Although this is a date on the international culinary calendar, Woodland View residents get these little treats possibly more often than is generally considered good for the waistline... but nobody's telling!
Care Home SOS
Woodland View resident, John, was beaming with joy after a local mobility company answered an SOS call and helped him attend his son's wedding.
Staff at Woodland View contacted Easy Mobility Services with a desperate plea for the loan of a specialist chair so John could attend his son's wedding at Colchester Town Hall. John's condition means he is unable to leave the comfort of the care home using his current specialist chair, so another specific type of chair was needed for John to attend the big day. John is only able to leave the care home for hospital appointments on a stretcher; the chair loaned to John was a huge contribution towards a very special day in his life.
Woodland View have received various quotes in the region of £2,000 for the chair as part of their quest for a more permanent solution.
If you would potentially be interested in helping raise funds for a new chair, please contact Kevin Riley at Woodland View on 01206 855390.
End of Summer Fête
Despite dreadful weather, especially heavy rain and water spouts being in the news all over the world, mother nature was smiling on Woodland View for its second 'End of Summer Fête' – the sun was out!
Residents, relatives, friends and staff spent time in the gardens with the usual staff members, all helping to raise money for two very good causes. There was also an appearance from Twilight the Barn Owl, a regular visitor to Woodland View, as well as a performance by singer, Tania Honey, to round things off in the afternoon.
The Barchester Charitable Foundation and Nurse, Soma Page, combined their efforts to raise money for the St. Helena Hospice. Soma is trying very hard, with the support of everyone at Woodland View, to reach her fundraising target. If you'd like to help her, please take a look at her Just Giving page here.
The 'Drench the Drip' stall was a hit with visitors this year, literally. People had the chance to select a member of staff as a target and they were then cast into the stocks for a jolly good drenching via cold, water-soaked sponges. The main targets were good sports – John McNally and Kevin Riley.
Waterside Memories
Residents from Woodland View recalled memories of waterside trips as they enjoyed a cup of tea at the Abberton Reservoir Wildlife Centre.
Conversation covered the local wildlife, the reservoir itself and its history, with personal recollections of previous trips both to that reservoir and other waterside attractions.
