Celebrating life at Barchester

October was a month of creativity, connection, and new beginnings at Cadbury Hall, with a focus on enrichment, culture, and community engagement.

Team & Volunteers:

• New Activities Co-ordinator: Sally joined the team, bringing fresh ideas and energy.
• Team Development: Steph and Felicia focused on enhancing teamwork and planning engaging activities.
• Volunteers: Phil and Mary supported residents, contributing their time and enthusiasm.

Resident-Focused Activities:

We continued to cater to a wide spectrum of interests, hobbies, and life experiences, ensuring residents could share meaningful moments with each other and their visiting relatives. Activities were person-centred, reflecting individual preferences and promoting engagement.

Autumn Offerings & Community Events:

• Seasonal activities embracing autumn themes
• Participation in events within the local community
• Birthday celebrations to mark special milestones

Diversity & Inclusion:

Our focus this month took residents on a cultural journey to Italy and Hungary, exploring:

• Music, art, and artists from these countries
• Traditional cuisine and cultural experiences

Welcoming New Residents:

October also saw new residents join Cadbury Hall, each bringing a wide range of hobbies and interests, further enriching our community and activity offerings.

A Month of Enrichment:

The month highlighted our commitment to fulfilling lives, celebrating diversity, and encouraging social connection, in line with Barchester principles.

September was a month full of creativity, connection, and celebration at Cadbury Hall. Our residents enjoyed a wide variety of activities designed to enrich daily life and promote wellbeing:

Activities & Clubs:

• Arts & Crafts – Encouraging creativity and self-expression.
• Drama Sessions – Interactive performances and storytelling.
• Live Music – Musical entertainment to uplift spirits.
• New Clubs – Exciting clubs set up to meet residents’ interests.
• Scrabble & Board Games – Stimulating the mind and fostering social interaction.
• Poetry & Memory Lane – Sharing stories and reminiscing.
• History Hour – Exploring past events and local heritage.
• Garden Club – Hands-on activities in our outdoor spaces.
• Community Film Club – Watching and discussing films together.
• Sunday Family Board Games – Connecting with visiting family members.
• Trips Out – Providing opportunities to explore the local area.

Diversity & Inclusion Week:

We celebrated Diversity and Inclusion Week, welcoming colleagues and staff from Kerala, India. The week was full of:

• Fun, laughter, and enjoyment
• Physical activities to keep everyone engaged and active
• Opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate the richness of our diverse community

Celebrations & Enrichment:

September was also marked by special celebrations, reflecting our commitment to enrichment and fulfilling lives. In line with Barchester’s principles, every activity aimed to promote wellbeing, social engagement, and personal growth, ensuring residents had a truly rewarding and enjoyable month.

Residents Enjoy Morning Service at Yatton Methodist Church

Our residents recently enjoyed a morning outing to Yatton Methodist Church, accompanied by members of our activities team, Sally, Felicia, and Mike.

The service explored the story of Zacchaeus, illustrating the transformative power of faith and community. Residents appreciated the uplifting music, refreshments, and the chance to connect with the friendly church community.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10

This visit provided our residents with a meaningful experience that combined spiritual reflection, social interaction, and a sense of community. We extend our sincere thanks to Yatton Methodist Church for their warm welcome and continued support.

Please contact Sally our Activties Co Ordinator for more information.

Autumn has been full of creativity, laughter, and spooktacular fun at Cadbury Hall!

Our residents have been showing off their amazing pumpkin carving skills — each one as unique as they are. Congratulations to Trefor, whose pumpkin was voted the best of the bunch!  At Cadbury Hall, we may be a small boutique care home, but there’s nothing small about our talents, creativity, and love for life.

The Halloween celebrations continued all afternoon with games, a Film Club special, and a ghoulish playlist that had everyone dancing and singing along.  Residents also enjoyed some fang-tastic themed treats — including our famous Blood & Organs Punch! 

A huge thank you to our amazing kitchen team for the delicious food and creative Halloween touches — you really helped make the day extra special! 

At Cadbury Hall, we love creating moments that bring our residents joy, spark creativity, and build a sense of community. From pumpkin carving to Halloween fun, our days are always full of smiles and meaningful activities. 

We had a wonderful evening at our recent Cheese, Wine & Classical Music event, bringing together residents, families, and friends to enjoy fine flavours and beautiful melodies. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming as talented local pianist Malcolm captivated everyone with his delightful performance and charming commentary between pieces.

Our beautifully arranged lounge, softly lit and comfortably set for conversation and music, provided the perfect backdrop for the event. Guests described it as “the perfect way to spend the evening,” while another shared, “We both so enjoyed Friday evening… my husband was especially pleased to meet some of your residents, which will help when he stays with you next year.”

It was a night filled with music, laughter, and wonderful company - a perfect reminder of the pleasure that comes from sharing special moments together.

This Halloween has been a real treat at Bryn Ivor Lodge! Our residents and team truly embraced the spooky spirit with a week full of laughter, creativity, and delicious fun. The festivities began with a lively game of Halloween Audio Bingo, followed by plenty of entertainment and themed activities in our seasonal coffee club.

One of the highlights of the week was welcoming the Rantastic toddler group, who came to visit and went trick or treating with our residents — their costumes and smiles brightened everyone’s day! We ended the celebrations with a fabulous Halloween party, filled with music, decorations, and laughter.

Our talented head chef, Karen, delighted everyone with her amazing themed menu — from her mouth-watering pumpkin pie to playful treats like mummified sausages, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and gummy worms that made everyone giggle. The evening was rounded off with a toast of prosecco, shared stories, and happy memories.

What a fantastic way to celebrate Halloween and welcome the winter season together!