Celebrating life at Barchester

Love and friendship were at the heart of a very special afternoon here at Newlands. The residents and families enjoyed a lovely hearty 3-course meal made by Chef James. Moments like these remind us that Valentine’s Day is not just about romance — it’s about kindness, connection, and sharing smiles with those around us. 

Because love is best celebrated together.       

We heard that our Margaret used to do a lot of baking and teaching, so we then spent the afternoon getting a few baking tips from her. In our life enrichment programs, we aim to recreate those exciting moments or hobbies that our residents love and enjoy. 

And we can tell from the smiles that she enjoyed the outcome.     

Every month we thrive to introduce food delicacies from all over the world. Our dining rooms were transformed into Chinese restaurants, our residents and staff enjoyed Chinese food made by our creative chef. For some, it was the first time I had Chinese food, and it was received very well. We look forward to our next destination. 

Where do you think we are heading to next?     

We were so pleased to welcome Smile Through Sport, alongside Mind Active, our fantastic local charity, into the home to deliver a variety of fun and engaging sports games!  

A huge thank you for coming into the home, our residents thoroughly enjoyed themselves!       

We had a wonderful Valentine’s lunch celebration with our residents and their loved ones, celebrating love, friendship, and togetherness. Such a lovely afternoon filled with good food, great company and Valentine's cheer!

Everyone enjoyed a delicious three-course meal in a beautifully decorated room, filled with laughter and special moments. After lunch, we were entertained by a fantastic singer and finished the afternoon with a raffle.

Did you know our activities team create a weekly schedule of activities based on residents’ interests? We love planning activities and this week we’ve prepared something special to commemorate this year's Winter Olympics. 

We have been hosting a series of our own Highfield Winter Olympics, and we recently had Ice Hockey! It wasn't just the residents getting stuck in either. Some of our ladies had their daughters join us in the bar for fun and games. Sylvia scored the highest points, followed by Elizabeth then Mike.          

What a lovely visit we had from Evie’s Owls. The residents were keen to learn all there is to know about the Owls that visited us and how Evie’s Owls started.

Evie first got her interest in owls from a book that her father used to read her. It was about three baby owls. Evie-Grace Forsdick can always find a touch of magic at home thanks to her menagerie of pet owls. So much so that Evie now runs her own business, Evie's Owls, with the help of her dad, Mark.         

A Chinese New Year themed dining experience was enjoyed by all. Residents had an amazing time listening to traditional Chinese music while enjoying an authentic Chinese meal prepared by Chef Iain. 

They also took part in reading fortune cookies and learning interesting facts about Chinese New Year, making the celebration both fun and educational for everyone involved.    

This month during our community craft café, we rolled up our sleeves and got wonderfully creative making beautiful clay hearts! Each one was carefully shaped and ready for painting, then in another craft session we decorated our designs with beautiful unique colours. 

Everyone had such a fantastic time chatting, laughing, and crafting together. These lovely handmade hearts will brighten up residents’ bedrooms, adding a truly personal and heartfelt touch to their space.

We’re also excited to invite you to our upcoming seasonal Craft Café, a special event we’re delighted to host for our local community. This free gathering is all about creativity, connection, and celebrating the season in a warm and welcoming setting.

Come along and enjoy a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you can get stuck into crafts, share ideas, and meet new faces. Whether you’re a seasoned maker or simply curious to try something different, there’s plenty of fun to be had. Bring a friend, bring your imagination, and join us for a lovely time — we can’t wait to welcome you!