Activities at North Park Care Home
Our home is always full of life, and we can thank our wonderful Activities Coordinators for this. Dedication to creating a unique and interesting activities programme is what sets us apart from other homes. We always take into consideration that some people would prefer to pursue their own interests, which is why our team strive to incorporative activities that cater to a wide range of tastes and hobbies. Our trips out are always fun and exciting as well, and residents are guaranteed to return with stories to tell their loved ones!
Claire Liddy
Hi, my name is Claire, and I am Lead Activities Coordinator at North Park. I have 15 years’ experience in the role, three years at North Park and absolutely love my job. I like to involve the local community in events within the home, so we have connections with local churches, schools and community groups. We have a PAT dog that visits weekly, so our residents can enjoy pet therapy, and lots of external entertainers, who come into the home regularly as well; in addition to fairs, monthly coffee morning and so much more.
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 North Park Care Home
Summer Newsletter
National Citizenship Scheme
Sixteen young adults, all aged sixteen from schools throughout the Darlington area, spent five days at North Park. The volunteers chose spent their time transforming the dull garden to a stimulating area with new plants, ornaments, water feature with scents and colour to stimulate the senses.
The group met with residents and asked what they would like to see in the garden before going out shopping for plants and garden features. Residents joined the group getting their hands dirty by helping to pot plants, Bernard said “it is so good to feel the soil again it has been a long time, to long really”. Apart from working outdoors with some of the residents, the volunteers held a coffee morning, bingo and quiz sessions and played games, which they all enjoyed.
On their last afternoon of the scheme all volunteers were presented with a box of chocolate and rewarded with a karaoke party with mocktails, scrumptious cake, delicious summer fruits and a sweetie basket to show how much everyone at North Park appreciated their work.
Resident Jessie Wareham said “I can’t wait to spend time out here, isn’t it lovely, you have all done a fantastic job thank you so much”. Everyone involved had such a good time it was hard to say goodbye, several of the NCS volunteers who live close to North Park are to come in on a regular basis now as they have enjoyed their time here so much, and others who live further away are planning to reunite at North park every six weeks to keep the garden going and continue to add to it.
Summer Fair
North Park held their summer fair on Saturday 20th July. There were delicious homemade cakes, pies and quiches to purchase and to take home and treat the family to along with giant hotdogs, chips, and mouth-watering strawberry, and cream scorns to enjoy.
The children enjoyed a magic show and were awarded balloon animals for participating. Residents and friends enjoyed a good old fashioned sing-a-long and all were given balloon hats. Richard was delighted with his tombola prize and one of our carers Kerry was the lucky recipient of her sons prize of luxurious hand cream and Yankee candle.
Barchy Bear Cake
As the theme of our Care Home Open Day this year was arts, North Park decided to do sugar crafting demonstration in the afternoon. Auriele, a member of the activities team wanted to show what could be done in this area using simple ingredients, she made a delicious sponge cake, filled with raspberry coulis and vanilla butter icing.
The cake was then decorated using fondant icing, topped off with a sculptured Barchy bear, Auriele had crafted out of fondant icing and enhanced the look with sugar paste roses.
Residents, staff and visitors all admired the craftsmanship and the outstanding taste, which everyone enjoyed with a cup of afternoon tea.
Colouring Competition
Children from Reid Street Primary School in Darlington entered a colouring competition run by North Park Care Centre.
The standard of the pictures was so high, that it took two days for the judges to decide on winners. On 12th June, two of the resident judges— Jean and Bernard—went to Reid St School to hand out prizes and were treated to tea and cakes from the head boy and girl.
Residents were also presented with more art work to display around the home, and bookmarks made by the students of year 4 for all our residents.
Golden Wedding Anniversary
Alan and Christina, residents at North Park Care Centre, celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in June this year. The happy couple hosted a tea party and was surrounded by loving family members and friends. Everyone was smiling and having fun.
Upcoming events
Meeting Room for Hire
Are you looking for a venue? Look no further! North Park is also close to local amenities and not far from the A1.
Could you be a Volunteer?
We recognise the impact a Volunteer can make on the lives of our residents, do you have any spare time? For more information we'd love to hear from you.
Emergency Services - Take a break on us!
Calling all emergency services personnel - police, ambulance and fire services, district nurses - come and take a break on us, there maybe a cake or two available....
