Celebrating life at Barchester

Our White Lodge residents enjoyed a wonderful day out at the Hollywood Bowl, and what a special experience it was! From friendly games of snooker to trying out other fun activities, everyone found something they loved. We ended the day with a comforting hot drink and plenty of smiles.

Outings like these are more than just days out, they remind us of the importance of living a rich and meaningful life, no matter your age or health. Even while living with dementia, our residents continue to enjoy new experiences, connect with others, and create joyful memories.

At White Lodge, we believe that every individual deserves opportunities to thrive, stay active, and feel valued. Days like this truly show the positive impact that enriched living can have on wellbeing and happiness.    

Marion and Jenny from the Purton community visited us to deliver a wonderfully engaging presentation on the history of Purton. Using a collection of old photographs projected onto the screen, they brought the village’s past to life, its people, buildings, traditions, and moments that shaped the community over the years.

The session had a particularly meaningful impact on several of our residents. Many recognised familiar places from their childhood: the school they once attended, the church where they worshipped, the chapel where weddings were celebrated, and streets they used to walk every day. These images and stories sparked warm memories and personal reflections, prompting conversations about their own experiences growing up in Purton.

It was a truly heart-warming afternoon filled with nostalgia, shared stories, and a deep sense of connection, not only to the village, but also to one another. A beautiful reminder of how powerful it can be to revisit the places and moments that shaped our lives.     

We welcomed members of the Swindon Veterans Group for a touching Remembrance Day cream tea. Our brave veterans arrived proudly in their blazers and medals, each one carrying stories of courage, sacrifice, and love for their country. Residents and families gathered around, listening with admiration as the veterans shared memories from their service — moments of bravery, friendship, and resilience that will never be forgotten.

As everyone enjoyed warm scones and tea, the wonderful Philip Dawdling filled the room with the sounds of wartime tunes on his organ, bringing back precious memories and smiles all around. It was an afternoon of reflection, gratitude, and togetherness reminding us all how deeply we owe our freedom to those who served. The veterans left with promises to return and celebrate Christmas with us, and we can’t wait to welcome them back.       

Seeing the new year in style! In true Field House fashion, our residents always say that the best parties are the Field House Parties.

With entertainment, singing and dancing with family and friends, plenty of fizz and fantastic buffet food for everyone, from our chef Mark. We had the best party ever as a family.      

Life Enrichment Through Interactive Technology

Our Memory Lane community is thoroughly enjoying the benefits of our LifeSize Touch Screen, which plays an important role in enriching the daily lives of our residents.

For residents living with dementia, the touch screen provides meaningful opportunities for creative expression, cognitive stimulation, and engagement in a supportive and accessible way. Activities such as painting, interactive games, and matching exercises encourage participation while promoting enjoyment and confidence.

The LifeSize Touch Screen is equally beneficial for our residential and nursing residents, offering a wide range of stimulating activities including puzzles, games, and creative programs that can be enjoyed individually or as part of a group. These shared experiences help foster social interaction, connection, and a sense of achievement.

One of the most valued features of the screen is its flexibility — it can be easily moved into communal areas or into a resident’s own room, allowing for personalised, one-to-one engagement tailored to individual needs and preferences.

Seeing the smiles, focus, and enthusiasm our residents show while using this technology highlights its positive impact on wellbeing, enrichment, and quality of life within our community.

One of the cornerstones of our life enrichment program is live musical entertainment. Resident involvement in choosing genres along with feedback after each performance means that we are able to constantly improve our activities calendar.

Werrington Lodge received a visit from the musical duo "Boots and Cats". They played hits from across the years to keep spirits high moving into 2026. There were hands a clapping and toes a tapping. Smiles all around.

At Werrington Lodge we love opening our home up and hosting events that friends and family can join us for. Shared experiences are the best experiences and we ensure that our residents remain connected with their loved ones whilst they live with us. 

The home was transformed into Graceland to mark what would have been Elvis Presley’s 91st birthday on 8th January. The spirit of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was alive and well as residents were treated to a high energy performance from Elvis Presley tribute act.

It is estimated that Elvis has sold over one billion records worldwide so to honour the undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the staff and residents enjoyed a fantastic morning of music, with performer Peter, clad in a signature rhinestone- studded jumpsuit.

All the residents said: “We loved Elvis growing up. Listening to all his old hits has brought back so many memories.  We’ve all had a brilliant time reminiscing about our dance hall days!”

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “Pete did not just the hits, he really brought the legendary Elvis charisma to all!”

General Manager, Larisa Bledea, said: “Lots of our residents are big Elvis fans and love his music.  We’ve had a fantastic day listening to all his hits performed by Peter, who is a brilliant tribute act. We all surprised ourselves by how many we remembered!”
 

Our Activities Team is dedicated to ensuring that we organise events that encourage our residents to host their families and friends at Werrington Lodge. Our home is always to open to loved ones who wish to take part in our life enrichment program.

Its was very busy Christmas Day at Werrington Lodge this year. The Residents opened their presents with a little help from Santa's Elves. The it was off for a three course Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and it was great to welcome family and friends.

Residents at Awel y Mor were treated to a wonderfully entertaining pantomime performance this year, as North East Productions returned to visit us once again. The show brought plenty of laughter and excitement, with residents thoroughly enjoying getting involved and joining in with the fun throughout the performance. There were many smiles as the lively characters, colourful costumes and humorous moments filled the room with festive cheer.

A particular highlight of the afternoon was when a member of our staff joined the cast on stage, delighting residents by becoming part of the act as the princess at the end of the show. This year’s pantomime, Puss in Boots, was a huge hit, and residents have already shared how much they would love to see the production return again next.