Activities at Chacombe Park Care Home
We understand that the people we support have passions and interests that could be difficult to pursue after moving into a care home – but that doesn’t mean we don’t encourage them to try! Some hobbies can define a person, so our Activities Coordinators are dedicated to ensuring that everyone we support is able to do what makes them happy to the best of their abilities. Social events are organised with individual tastes in mind and with the idea that residents have the opportunity to try new and exciting things.
Heather Gooch
My name is Heather and I am the Head of Activities here at Chacombe Park. My role is to ensure that all residents are supported in enjoying hobbies and events that enrich their life.
I have a Bachelors degree in Theatre Performance, as well as a PGCE in Secondary Drama. I have previously worked for another Barchester home back in 2012 before working as a secondary school teacher, teaching Drama at both GCSE and A Level. I have a passion for person centred care, which has come from my love of pastoral work during my time as a teacher. I want each resident to feel appreciated and supported to enjoy the skills/hobbies that they have treasured before their time at Chacombe.
In my spare time I enjoy singing, cross stitch and learning new skills. I endeavour to bring these hobbies and passions into my role here at Chacombe, as well as learn some new skills from the vast range of knowledge that our residents can bring!
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Chacombe Park Care Home
Harvest Time
We have had a wonderful start to the autumn season celebrating harvest time. Residents had a wonderful day out at Blenheim Palace Harvest Festival, browsing the stalls, enjoying delicious food, meeting the Shire horses from Hook Norton Brewery and soaking up the atmosphere. We have also been busy crafting and making harvest displays and wheatsheaf loaves and getting creative with the pumpkins that we picked from a wonderful little farm called Costow farm. We picked pumpkins of all shapes and sizes as well as some delicious freshly baked farm shop cake.
Banbury Fair
Residents had great fun exploring Banbury Michaelmas fair, remembering the fun they used to have at the fair in days gone by and seeing all the new rides that make the fair today, bringing back floods of memories of the smells and sounds the fair brought to town. Residents Robert gladly remembered the days he spent at the fair in Banbury and going on the dodgems with friends. We even took home some furry friends from winning on the hook a duck stall and of course we couldn’t leave the fair without picking up some sweets and toffee apples!
World Photo Day
Residents were treated to a fantastic talk from top photographer, Damien Bailey, who guided the residents through his top tips on taking a photo, and the history of the photo. After the talk, we were all feeling very inspired to get our cameras out and snap a few shots ourselves. Residents chose to use the nostalgic disposable camera to snap their photos with and will later create a scrapbook of all the wonderful shots they have taken, using the tips and techniques Damien taught us.
Gardening Club
Residents have been busy working alongside our gardener, Stefan, planting out our winter vegetables into the raised beds, watering the plants, keeping the garden tidy, pruning the plants and weeds and picking the ripe tomatoes from the green house to be enjoyed in salads and sandwiches, as well as all the handy work to keep the garden looking fabulous.
Autumn Traditions
We have a regular nature walking club here at Chacombe, encouraging residents to get out in to the fresh air to explore and learn about their surroundings and the wonderful nature that we have around us.
During walking club, we have been busy fulfilling old traditions of going blackberry picking, bringing back fond memories for the residents of days gone by, making their own blackberry jams and puddings and enjoying the fresh blackberries picked straight from the bush.
Musical Magic
We have had great live performances in the garden from saxophonist, Alan Hook and Liz and Devinder from In2Culture. The residents love having entertainers come to the home, music being a fantastic way to support emotional needs, hearing the wonderful sounds of the saxophone echoed around the garden playing familiar tunes, and learning new music from different cultures around Africa. Residents got involved clapping along, learning the songs and different traditions together.
