Activities at Chester Court 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 Coordinator is 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.
Our aim is to make sure that our residents feel they had something to look forward to each day. We have a varied life enrichment programme, both in the home and in the community, and we always ask if there is anything different that residents would like to do. Residents and families approach our Activities Coordinator and comment on how much they enjoy what we do, so that we can continue to develop our programme to the benefit of our residents.
Lauren Corbett
Hi, my name is Lauren and I am the Activities Coordinator here at Chester Court. I joined the team in December 2020 and bring a wealth of enthusiasm to the role. I have just graduated from university in July 2020 and have previously completed work experience at another Barchester home. During this work experience I discovered how meaningful and important activities are for residents and how they can help enhance resident’s lives. Therefore, I decided to become an activities coordinator myself as I feel this is such a rewarding role.
I love working with our Residents here at the home and getting to know them and their families so that I can deliver and support in meaningful activities, keeping them socially stimulated and active as part of our extensive life enrichment calendar. The lifestyle and continued community links are also important.
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 Chester Court Care Home
Floristry masterclass at Chester Court
Staff and residents at Barchester’s Chester Court were treated to an interactive virtual floristry masterclass courtesy of Master Florist, Michal Kowalski, from Blooming Haus.
Blooming Haus started with a small pop-up shop in Chelsea. They have since blossomed spectacularly on to the floristry scene as ‘floral engineers’, carving themselves an outstanding reputation as one of the UK’s most innovative floral design studios. The company is the vision of Master Florist, Michal Kowalski and his business partner, Michael Dariane. The pair bring a completely fresh approach to floristry and their ambition to push the boundaries of traditional floristry has laid the foundations of Blooming Haus’ success to date.
Museum in a box with Royal Mint
Ever wanted to visit the Royal Mint Museum in Wales? Well staff and residents of Chester Court care home in Bedlington did just that, and all from the comfort of their own armchairs.
To celebrate International Museum Day Chester Court residents and staff got involved by visiting the Royal Mint Museum virtually and loaning a reminiscence Museum in a box from The Royal Mint Museum. This Museum in a box contained objects such as, out-of-circulation replica and original coins, decimeters, newspapers and photographs. Each object also had an audio file to play which described the history of the object. This interactive session is designed to stimulate memories of the changeover to a decimal currency and prompt residents to share their memories of the time.
Hairdressing is back on the agenda
There were happy scenes at Chester Court today as hairdressers were finally allowed back into the home!
Just like the rest of the country, residents had been waiting patiently for months to get their hair styled and so they were delighted to be able to book in for a long overdue cut and blow dry. The residents also enjoyed receiving manicures. It was a wonderful pamper day.
Residents enjoy Vegetarian for Life demo
To celebrate National Vegetarian Week, staff and residents at Barchester’s Chester Court care home in Bedlington were treated to an interactive virtual cookery demo courtesy of chef, Alex Connell, from Vegetarian for Life.
Chef Alex whipped up some tasty, healthy vegetarian snacks in a live, interactive cookery demo. Much to residents’ delight, Chester Court head chef had prepared the same recipes so that residents could try all the dishes. Residents sampled delicious, light and summery veggie dishes including Borlotti bean and dill pate, Greek fritters with Tzatziki and Coronation 'chicken' pastries. All finished off with a sweet and simple but totally yummy banana bread.
Residents join the Green Goddess
Staff and residents at Barchester’s Chester Court home in Bedlington were treated to an armchair work out courtesy of the Green Goddess, Diana Moran, and Shackleton’s furniture company, followed by a mindfulness session led by Shackleton’s Emma Raybould.
Diana rose to fame as a glamorous fitness guru on BBC’s Breakfast Time in the 1980’s and has made an outstanding contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of people in the UK. She now brings that experience to Shackletons as their Health and Wellness Adviser.
VE anniversary celebrations
Chester Court Care Home in Bedlington marked the anniversary of VE Day in style by decorating the home in red, white and blue. Residents observed the national two minute silence and listened again to Churchill’s iconic speech. They read replica World War II items such as, newspapers, posters and ration books and reminisced about their memories of the war and of VE Day.
They also enjoyed tasty treats from our Head chef Dawn who whipped up a delicious selection of freshly-baked scones and cakes for the occasion, all washed down with pots of tea and coffee.
