Celebrating life at Barchester

Today, we were honoured to mark International Guide Dogs Day with a special visit from members of the guide dog community.

A sincere thank you to Joy, Phil, and Alan for joining us, along with the wonderful guide dogs, Ida and Heath. It was a privilege to hear about their experiences of living with sight loss and to learn more about the vital role guide dogs play in supporting independence and daily life.   

Residents and staff were engaged throughout, asking thoughtful questions and gaining insight into the extensive training guide dogs undergo and how they confidently navigate everyday environments.

It was a warm and inspiring afternoon enjoyed by all.

Thank you again to Joy, Phil, Alan, and Ida and Heath. We look forward to you visiting us again in the future. 

We recently celebrated Saint George’s Day here at Woodside!

The staff all dressed up, and we slayed the dragon, as you can see in the photos! We also hosted a quiz session all about Saint George. To top it off, we had a live performance from Splash Duo.

We recently had an Alice Wonderland tea party for our residents and staff. 

It was such a wonderful day, as always, everyone came together to ensure our residents had a really lovely time. As you can see by the photo, our staff went all out for the event! 

Staff and residents have taken part in a charity cake bake sale and tombola to raise money and help save the homes local swimming pool.

The Stamford Bridge Community Pool is an important part of the village, providing support to the whole community and is run by a committee of volunteers and in need of repair and funds to save it.

Residents, their relatives, staff and the general public are all supportive and behind the campaign to save, the home made over one hundred pounds on the day mainly from a very busy tombola and a fabulous cake stall with delicious home-made cakes prepared by the home’s hospitality team.

Residents Anne, Doris, Dulcie and Mary enjoyed a fabulous morning at Hamworthy Park & Cafe .They walked around the park, soaked up the glorious sunshine, chatted with Chloe and Karen, and met local dog walkers too. A well-earned hot drink finished off a lovely sociable outing .

Harvey and Vincent delighted everyone with a lively performance featuring When I’m Cleaning Windows and classics like Daisy Bell. Residents, families and staff all joined in, creating a warm, joyful atmosphere.

A highlight was the audience participation, with humorous “ways to woo a woman” — from washing up to bringing chocolate!
We’re excited to welcome them back in December for Oliver!

Thank you for such a memorable visit!         

Such a lovely end to a glorious week of weather. We enjoyed a lovely pub lunch out with two of our gentlemen residents. It was a wonderful opportunity to get out, share some great food, and enjoy good company together. Lots of smiles, laughter, and full dishes all around!

Outings like these mean so much and create special memories for everyone involved. 

We had a wonderful visit to Root One Garden Centre today. Residents enjoyed a relaxed browse, choosing a beautiful selection of seasonal flowers and plants for our gardening club. It was lovely to see so much enthusiasm and care in their choices throughout the afternoon.            

The visit was perfectly rounded off with a traditional cuppa and a selection of delicious cakes, giving everyone a chance to unwind and enjoy each other’s company.

A truly enjoyable and rewarding outing for all involved.