Celebrating life at Barchester

We celebrate life through everything we do, from our thoughtful experiences and activities to our delicious food. We offer the latest technology as well as sensory engagement to nurture the wellbeing of our residents. With a wide variety of tailored activities and events we make sure our residents have the best physical, mental, spiritual and social stimulation, all bespoke to them. Take a look at what we’ve been up to…

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East Elites’ Cadets surprised visit

There was plenty of cheer in the building today as two of East Elites’ Cadets popped in after their competition in Sheffield to brighten everyone’s day. Residents loved hearing all about the competition and seeing their fantastic outfits up close, and had such fun meeting the girls and taking photos with them.

The Cadets are the youngest competitive cheer team at East Elite, and both girls play very important roles within the squad.

Mia Bird is a Back Spot a vital position in the team. Back Spots support the flyers, helping keep them safe while assisting them into positions and poses. They also have to remember all the floor routines and are often responsible for counting to keep the team in perfect time.

Freya Furnell is a Flyer and the clue is in the name! Flyers are the athletes lifted high into the air, balancing on shoulders and knees while performing positions and stunts. They are often the very top of the pyramid.
It was wonderful for everyone to hear about their achievements and share in the excitement of competition day.

Thank you both

What a fantastic afternoon at the Antique Valuation Day

We were thrilled to host our Antique Valuation Day right here in the home. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us!

We were incredibly lucky to have the brilliant Kate from Batemans of Stamford as our guest valuer. Kate brought over 20 years of industry expertise to our home. She shared wonderful stories of starting her career alongside her father in his antique shop, before they went into business together to open their very own auction house! 

Our residents, guests, and staff brought in an amazing array of treasures. Kate evaluated everything from unique ivory hot water jugs to a rare 17th-century 1-pence coin! There were definitely some very surprising outcomes and exciting valuations in the room! 

Kate also brought along a fascinating showcase of her own items for us to explore, including vintage boot pulls and a beautiful Victorian dress catalogue. 

It was a wonderful afternoon filled with history, nostalgia, and learning. Everyone loved discovering the hidden secrets behind their personal items and the history of Kate's collection.
The event was a huge success! We look forward to hosting another event with Kate in the future. The guest were also treated to lovely home made lemon cake made by the homes hospitality team. 
Thank you so much, Kate, for your time, generosity, and incredible expertise! 

Sun, Lakes, Love and Daisy Chains

A lovely morning after breakfast spent enjoying some fresh air and sunshine by the lakes  

We bumped into Janet’s husband, she was over the moon. They enjoyed sitting together on a bench chatting and taking in the beautiful surroundings.

Janet then asked if we could make a daisy chain together. She shared how it brought back happy memories of when she was little, which made the moment even more special. It’s wonderful how simple activities and nature can spark such lovely memories and conversations

Home Blooms with Community Spirit

We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Sharron at Tesco for the incredibly generous donation of beautiful flowers.

Honestly, you do not realise just how much this kindness means to all of our residents. The smiles on everyone’s faces said it all. The flowers brought so much colour, joy and happiness throughout the home and created such a lovely atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

Some of our residents spent time flower arranging and creating lovely displays together, sharing memories and enjoying each other’s company, while others carefully selected a bunch of flowers to place in their own rooms to brighten their day. It may seem like a simple gesture, but it truly made such a positive difference and lifted so many spirits.

Acts of kindness like this remind us how wonderful our local community can be, and we are so grateful for your continued support and generosity. Thank you again, Sharron you have made so many people smile this week 

Stroll, Costa, Cake & Company

Our residents enjoyed a lovely morning outing today with a walk to Costa, making the most of the fresh air and beautiful weather along the way.

Once there, everyone relaxed with delicious lattes and tasty cake, enjoying plenty of smiles, conversation, and time together.

It was wonderful to get out into the local community, enjoy a change of scenery, and spend quality time together. A truly lovely morning enjoyed by all!

VE Day

VE Day Celebrations at Hundens Park. The incredible visiting entertainer, Pete Johnson, kicked things off with a fantastic live performance. He had everyone singing along and reminiscing about some classical favourites. 

The celebrations continued with a delicious freshly prepared afternoon tea, lovingly created by our talented Head Chef, Sarah.      

Fish and chips by the sea

A return to Seaton Carew! Each month at our residents' meeting, going back to the beach is always a highly requested trip! So, with the recent good weather, Hundens Park residents and staff decided to cease the opportunity and make it happen.     

Fish ‘n’ chips followed by lemon tops and lemonade by the sea was nothing short of delightful. Even Willow the beagle joined us for the occasion, enjoying a Mr Whippy ice cream. A truly beautiful day had by all.

Ana and Mary

Hundens Park had lots of celebrations throughout May – as per usual! Firstly, our wonderful General Manager, Ana, has been promoted to Senior General Manager! Ana’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Starting at Hundens Park as a carer over 15 years ago, she has shown unwavering dedication and passion every step of the way, progressing to senior carer, qualifying as a Nurse, then taking on roles as clinical lead, Deputy General Manager, General Manager, and now reaching this incredible milestone. We are so very proud of her.     

On the same day, we celebrated our wonderful Care Assistant, Mary, who had recently tied the knot. We came together to congratulate Mary, and to wish her a marriage filled with peace, love, and happiness. 

Completion Celebration

We were absolutely delighted to welcome The Mayor of Swanley, Councillor Michael Horwood and The Chair of Hextable Parish Council, Chrissy Hudson to our completion ceremony at Elderwood House.
The event was extremely special with lots of local businesses, charities and community groups attending to celebrate with us and each other.
We are delighted to be part of this community, thank you for welcoming us and we look forward to the future here!