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…

Hazel Lodge Care Home

Harvest Festival Donation

Thank you to all who donated to our Harvest festival collection.
Residents recently delivered the donations and enjoyed a tour of Ashburnham and Penhurst and the beautiful surroundings and learnt about the history of these stunning grounds.
Thank you to reverend Gary who was so welcoming and gives up his time to come into Hazel lodge for our monthly church services .

Bingo Bonanza

What a wonderful afternoon we had with our sister homes Wadhurst Manor Care Home - Mortain Place Care Home - and Lydfords Care Home .
Activities coordinator Megan organised a fun bingo afternoon with prizes for all. It's so lovely to see other residents and the life enrichment team from our sister homes. Well done Megan for organising such a successful afternoon

Macmillan Coffee Morning

Thank you to everyone who donated to our Macmillan coffee morning last week.
Whether you baked , came along , donated or did all three we really do appreciate your support .
We have now managed to do the final count up and we are thrilled to be able to announce that with your help we managed to raise a fantastic total of £143.47 for this amazing charity.

Not Another Manic Monday… Another Marvellous Monday

Looking for a lovely way to spend your Monday afternoon ~ come and create a little happiness.

Our sessions are all about enjoying a little creativity, meeting new people and sharing some laughter along the way. Whether you love arts and crafts or simply fancy trying something different, everyone is welcome - no artistic experience needed.

Creative activities can be a wonderful way to relax, express yourself, build confidence and make new friendships. And sometimes, it’s not about what you create, but the enjoyment of creating it together.

Mondays at 2.30pm

Kings Park Care Home

A Proud Moment for National Cadets Week

What a lovely sight to see the Armed Forces cadets march past as part of National Cadets Week.

Our residents enjoyed seeing the cadets pass by, celebrating the commitment, teamwork and community spirit of young people involved in the cadet forces.

Being part of the cadets helps young people develop confidence, discipline, leadership and valuable life skills, while building an understanding of service and supporting their local communities.

At Kings Park, we’re proud to celebrate our Armed Forces community and recognise the important role that serving personnel, veterans and cadets play in bringing people together.

A big thank you to the cadets for including Kings Park in their march past and bringing a special moment to our residents.

A Little Pampering

There’s nothing quite like a trip to the hair salon to lift your spirits, boost your confidence and leave you feeling fabulous.

Our lovely hairdressing salon is a special place where residents can enjoy a little pampering, catch up on a chat and take some time for themselves. Whether it’s a trim, a fresh style or simply having their hair washed and set, these little moments can make such a difference to how we feel.

Our salon is in the very capable hands of Carol Greening, whose warmth and friendly manner make every visit a pleasure. Carol began her career working with Marc Young in Poole, building her experience and passion for hairdressing before bringing her talents to our residents.

For Carol, it’s about more than just doing someone’s hair. It’s about helping people feel good, taking the time to listen and creating a lovely experience where residents feel relaxed, cared for and looking their best.

We think you’ll agree that a little time in the salon can work wonders.

It’s the little things that help make life enjoyable, and we love seeing our residents leave the salon with a smile and sitting in the sunshine.

Boxercise

Exercise classes at Alice Grange provide vital physical, mental, and social benefits that improve residents' overall quality of life and independence.

Our Residents requested a boxercise class this week. As you can see for the smiles all round they had a great fun while getting a great workout.

Exercise classes and routines are a regular feature of our weekly activities programme at Alice Grange.

Whitewater Place Care Home

Chef of the Year!

We are absolutely thrilled and so proud to announce that our very own Symoun Genobatin has won Chef of the Year at the prestigious Barchester Care Awards!! The 2026 awards saw 6000 nominations of individuals ands teams across our homes, celebrating and recognising the hard work and dedication of our staff. Symoun has worked tremendously hard to come out on top and win this national accolade! We are over the moon that he has won, it is so well deserved! Congratulations Symoun!!

Castle Care Village - Castle Park

Reptiles!

Sam absolutely loved the big, giant rabbit! The cuddles and affection he gave showed just how much he enjoyed the experience. Jackie was incredibly brave, confidently having a snake wrapped around her neck and sharing how much she absolutely loved it. Simon enjoyed touching the lizards, exploring their unique textures, feeling their little spikes and experiencing the different sensory sensations. Jenny enjoyed this sensory experience too.

It was heart-warming. Sam absolutely loved the big, giant rabbit! The cuddles and affection he gave showed just how much he enjoyed the experience. Jackie was incredibly brave, confidently having a snake wrapped around her neck and sharing how much she absolutely loved it. Simon enjoyed touching the lizards, exploring their unique textures, feeling their little spikes and experiencing the different sensory sensations. Jenny enjoyed this sensory experience too. It was heart-warming to watch our residents engage with the animals, showing curiosity, courage, joy and affection throughout the session.

Why this was meaningful:
Animal encounters provide valuable opportunities for sensory stimulation, emotional wellbeing and social interaction. They encourage residents to explore different textures, build confidence, express their preferences and experience moments of happiness and connection. Most importantly, each resident was able to participate in a way that suited their individual interests and abilities.

It was a beautiful day filled with smiles, cuddles, new experiences and meaningful moments that made it truly special for everyone. Why this was meaningful: Animal encounters provide valuable opportunities for sensory stimulation, emotional wellbeing and social interaction. They encourage residents to explore different textures, build confidence, express their preferences and experience moments of happiness and connection. Most importantly, each resident was able to participate in a way that suited their individual interests and abilities. It was a beautiful day filled with smiles, cuddles, new experiences and meaningful moments that made it truly special for everyone.