Celebrating life at Barchester

After a fabulous year welcoming our youngest visitors for the monthly Toddlers Group, we're delighted to share that the first session for 2026 is next Monday, 12th January.

Today unfolded in many small but meaningful ways. Some residents chose quiet, personal moments — revisiting memories, sharing stories, or exploring creative interests at their own pace. 

Others expressed themselves through pottery, allowing touch, texture, and colour to guide the experience.

As the day moved on, in the afternoon. The lounge came alive with music, followed by a beautiful intergenerational exchange as students from Warminster School joined residents for conversation and board games. Laughter, curiosity, and genuine connection filled the room.

A gentle reminder that wellbeing is not one-size-fits-all 'it lives in choice, presence, creativity, and shared moments'.

We had some music from Belle Street Entertainment on New Year’s Eve, which was brilliant. Our residents always enjoy listening to the performers come in, and it brings some fond memories back for them from their dancing days.
 
We then had a New Year’s Day Tea Party. With tea, festive sweets, and some singing of Auld Lang Syne - we had a delightful afternoon! We also enjoyed some festive drinks - a little glass of Baileys to cheers to the new year.
 
We’ve spent a lot of this week discussing our happiest memories from 2025, and what we want to achieve for 2026. As well as many fun board games, quizzes, and looking at New Year’s traditions from across the world. Fun fact: it’s tradition to literally leap into the New Year off chairs and furniture in Denmark.

We have had a phenomenal year here at Henford and wish for this to continue - thank to you anyone who has supported us, visited us, or volunteered with us! 

Today was about connection, creativity, and gentle presence. Together with our residents, we created meaningful quote board and dream-inspired collages — choosing words that feel like home, safety, hope, and belonging. 

There was no rush. Just hands cutting, eyes choosing, hearts remembering.

Each quote became a small mirror of a life lived, a story held, a feeling shared. Activities like this are more than crafts, they are moments of listening, self-expression, and emotional wellbeing. They remind us that creativity has no age, and that every person deserves to feel seen, valued, and included.

Thank you to our wonderful residents for their openness, smiles, and wisdom.

Meadowbeck was transformed into Graceland to mark what would have been Elvis Presley’s 91^st birthday on 8 January.

General Manager, Annaliza, said: “Lots of our residents are big Elvis fans and love his music.  We’ve had a fantastic day listening to all his hits, finding out about his early life and what influenced him and watching old Elvis movies, he was such an incredible talent.  In the afternoon our residents and families were delighted to have entertainment with Glenn Booth, who performed all his greatest hits for everyone to sing and dance along to, it is amazing how many songs he recorded.  We all surprised ourselves by how many we remembered!”

Residents of South Chowdene enjoyed a lovely afternoon singing and dancing together when Nikki stopped by to perform with her cello.

It was a fantastic afternoon, everyone absolutely loved having a dance and twirling around the lounge before they enjoy a refreshing cup of tea and slice of home-made cake.

There were huge smiles all around as the afternoon came to a close!

Keeping active, having social interactions and being mentally stimulated is very important to residents at South Chowdene. Residents recently enjoyed a play your cards right competition in a recent games afternoon.

Keeping active, having social interactions and being mentally stimulated is very important to Residents at South Chowdene.   Residents took advantage of an Oomph live exercise class.

As part of the homes life enrichment programme, we include firm favourites in the homes calendar with fun-filled adapted games that they played over the years in a safe environment!  
 

To celebrate the end of 2025 and welcome in the New Year we had a Silent Disco. Residents put on their headphones and had a choice of music to listen to, this was great fun as each resident could listen to their favourite style of music while enjoying the company of everyone. 

They enjoyed some New Year tipples and buffet while dancing the day away with friends, families and staff. Residents told staff they had the best time and would love to do this again in the New Year!