Activities at Glebefields Care Home

The residents had the pleasure of partaking in a festive Christmas dinner, which was marked by an atmosphere of joy and camaraderie. This special occasion provided a valuable opportunity for all to come together, enjoy a sumptuous meal, and foster a sense of community. The event was a memorable celebration, characterised by warmth, delight, and the true spirit of the holiday season.

In a particularly heartfelt gesture, Tony Bailey was kindly invited to join the Christmas dinner by staff, as this was Tony’s first Christmas without his wife, who had previously resided at Glebefields and sadly passed away. This invitation was extended to ensure Tony felt supported and included during this meaningful time, reflecting the compassionate care and community spirit upheld by the staff and residents alike.

At Glebefields 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 and when they are no longer with us we reach out to the families we have created bonds with, inviting them to celebrations in the home. 

Residents and staff came together to celebrate New Year's Eve with an evening full of joyous festivities.

The event featured lively singing that brought everyone into the spirit of the occasion, fostering a strong sense of community and shared celebration. 

Residents also enjoyed a delightful selection of snacks, including cheese, wine, sausage rolls, and samosas, adding to the festive atmosphere. 

As the night drew to a close, attendees gathered in the garden to enjoy sparklers, which added a magical and memorable touch to the conclusion of the evening. This wonderful celebration provided an opportunity for all to reflect on the past year and welcome the new one with hope and positivity.

The home welcomed two local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). PCSOs Fiona and Emma visited the home following a special invitation from Snobia the homes activities lead for breakfast, which was hosted by Glebefields’ Customer Relationship Manager, Louise Ramage. The visit aimed to strengthen ties between local police and the care home community.

There was a sense of "family" which was highlighted during breakfast, where the officers were joined by Tony, the husband of a former resident who sadly passed away in August. Despite his wife no longer being at the home, Tony visits frequently, citing the deep bond he shares with the staff and residents who have become his extended family.

During the tour, the officers were introduced to General Manager Benazir and Deputy Manager Jeni, discussing the vital role the home plays within the Drayton and Banbury community.
Both officers expressed their admiration for the home’s environment, noting they were "in awe" of the high standards of presentation and the warm atmosphere provided for the residents.
A highlight of the morning was a meeting with Resident Ambassadors Fiona and Joan. The ambassadors explained their unique roles as the "voice" of the home, advocating for their fellow residents to have a platform to share creative ideas for home activities and improvements.

There was also some hilarity as the residents got to try on the officers hat and even the dog statue in the main café had a go! whilst the officers talked to residents and visitors this morning.
Thanks to Fiona and Emma and we cant wait to have you back to the home soon. 

Heavenly voices rang out at our home as staff and residents got in the Christmas spirit by inviting the community to come and join in with a organised carol concert to sing some festive Christmas favourites. The carol singing was led by Tudor School students.

There was mulled wine, hot chocolate, mince pies along with lots of other Christmas treats all prepared by head chef, to get everyone feeling festive.

General Manager, Benazir Shakkir said: “We are so lucky to have such a fantastic connection with Tudor Hall School and the local community here at Glebefields.  Singing Christmas carols is such a lovely tradition, I’m so glad we could invite our friends and neighbours to come and join in us.”

The residents had the pleasure of spending a truly delightful afternoon with the students from Tudor Hall School who perform a choir concert. The harmonious voices and heartfelt singing created a warm and memorable experience for everyone involved, making it a wonderful occasion that brought joy and community spirit to all present

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.

Celebrations were in full swing this morning as we gathered together with family, and friends from the local community to rejoice our beautiful resident; Margaret Foster’s 102nd birthday!

Margaret was joined by staff, relatives, friends and other residents as she marked her landmark birthday with a special ‘community coffee morning’.

It was Margaret’s wish to invite all the attendees of Drayton Village Hall’s monthly coffee morning to join her in celebration over tea and plenty of cake! We even held a free tombola as Margaret loves the excitement of a prize draw.

Chef provided freshly baked shortbread biscuits, iced cup-cakes and a terrific birthday cake. The room was full of love, laughter and conversation with the odd burst of song… from Happy birthday to my old man’s a dustman!

Deputy Manager; Jeni said “We were  delighted to see so many from our local community celebrating a truly remarkable lady as she reaches this amazing milestone. Margaret is such a popular resident, her elegance shines through at all times, a true lady whose life deserves to be celebrated.”

This morning, residents enjoyed a delightful arts and crafts session where they created personalized 2026 calendars.

The activity was a perfect blend of creativity and practicality, allowing everyone to showcase their artistic skills while designing something useful for the year ahead. The session fostered a warm and friendly atmosphere, encouraging social interaction and collaboration among participants.

To make the experience even more enjoyable, refreshments were served, giving everyone a chance to relax and chat while sipping on their favourite drinks and enjoying some light snacks. Overall, it was a wonderful way to kick off the new year with creativity and a touch of fun.

At Glebefields, we know that providing the best care for our residents is a team effort that goes far beyond our own front doors. Our General Manager, Benazir Shakir, recently spent the day visiting some of our wonderful local partners to hand-deliver hampers filled with goodies as a token of our massive appreciation.

A huge thank you for your tireless hard work and partnership to:
The Discharge Team at Horton Hospital 
The team at Windrush Surgery 
Our colleagues at Cherwell Hospital 
The dedicated staff at Amos Court

We are so proud to work alongside such incredible professionals in the Banbury community. Thank you for all that you do!

Our dining room in the home was filled by the aroma of irresistible cocoa and chocolate this afternoon! Our residents enjoyed a truly magic and engaging baking session, focusing on crafting delicious chocolate brownies. More than just making a treat, this activity provides a wonderful opportunity for sensory engagement of mixing up the ingredients, the richness of smells and the baking also provided a stimulating sensory enjoyment.

Our residents and staff were also engaged in social interaction, working along side each other and shared stories, laughter which aid to fostering strong social bonds with a lively community spirit. This also offers a hand on session offering a chance to engage in familiar and comforting tasks which led to a real sense of accomplishment.

It was truly a special afternoon proving the best ingredients in life is good company over a shared treat!!

Our residents enjoyed a cosy minibus trip to Cotefield Nursery today afternoon, catching up with old friends, having lovely chats, and browsing seasonal plants and Halloween decorations.

Our residents had the pleasure of enjoying a delightful lunch outing at Bloxham Nursery & Tearoom.

This visit provided them with an opportunity to experience the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the establishment while savouring a carefully prepared meal. Such excursions not only offer a change of scenery but also contribute positively to the residents' social engagement and overall well-being.

Resident Ambassador Fiona stated "What a wonderful afternoon lunch out we all had, being able to get into the minibus no matter the mobility, browse around the nursery at beautiful Christmas trinkets along with a delightful lunch, we all has such a great time".

Yesterday, We opened its doors to the local community for a vibrant and inspiring Health and Wellbeing event, aimed at providing professional support and fitness guidance for 2026.

The day-long event featured a diverse program designed to address both physical and mental health. The morning kicked off with high energy as local fitness expert Jane from JaneyHFit led a "Fitness for All Abilities" session. The class saw residents and community members of all ages participating in gentle movements designed to boost mobility and mood.

In the afternoon, the focus shifted to nutrition and specialised support. Jane returned to deliver an insightful talk on healthy eating, providing practical tips for maintaining a balanced lifestyle. This was followed by a series of vital discussions led by Jo and Kelly, specialist counsellors from Fresh Minds Therapy. The duo provided a safe and supportive space for attendees to discuss complex topics including women’s health, perimenopause, neurodivergence, and navigating life transitions and grief.

Benazir, General Manager at Glebefields Care Home, said "It was a delight to see so many familiar and new faces from the Banbury community joining us. At Glebefields, we believe in supporting not just our residents, but our neighbors too. Having experts like Jane, Jo, and Kelly share their knowledge for free is exactly what community wellness is all about."

Residents were recently treated to a magical afternoon outing, travelling by the homes dedicated minibus to Drayton Village Hall for a special Christmas Choir event. The trip was a heart-warming opportunity for the residents to connect with the wider community and embrace the spirit of Christmas season.

The event was hosted with a beautiful decorated setting ay Drayton Village Hall, immersing the residents into the festive atmosphere, with laid tables and the comforting aroma or warm mince pies.

Activity Coordinator, Snobian Hussain said “It was wonderful to see the residents singing along and chatting to the local community members. The experience was fabulous with the warm welcome, mulled wine and traditional mince pies”.

General Manager, Benazir Shakkir said: “The community connection we have at Glebefields is a commitment to enrich the lives of our residents through active community engagement. This was more than just an enjoyable event it was a moment for integrational connection and community bonding.”

The residents had the pleasure of enjoying classic Christmas Carols in a relaxed and social environment which they will have new found cherished memories. Glebefields care Home looks forward to further planning of collaboration events in the community in the new year.
 

What a fantastic festive afternoon was had by all our lovely residents and staff, as the home was filled with a live performance of Christmas music by the very talented Vintage Ruby.

Ruby wearing her beautiful Christmas dress always comes along with the energy and spirit that really gets our residents engaged at the organised event. The joyful melodies and seasonal songs helped to create a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere, encouraging residents to relax, sing along, and celebrate together

General Manager, Benazir Shakkir said "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".

At Glebefields we love to support our residents do the things they used to do at home. This week our residents enjoyed a lovely afternoon baking and decorating cupcakes together. All the mixing, the smell of baking and finishing off each cupcake with cream had them reminiscing about children's parties and cookery lessons at school.