Activities at Southerndown Care Home
Our specialist activities staff are committed to organising a mix of activities and events for residents and the local community to get involved in, including trips out to local places of interest in our minibus and visits from entertainers and musicians. It is important to us that each individual who we support can get as much from these as possible, so we try our best to arrange activities that reflect their interests and capabilities as best as possible, and encourage them to participate in any way they can. We also encourage relatives to join with activities and events as often as they can.
Cathy Wheeler
I have been with the team at Southerndown since 2023
People ask me what I enjoy about my job and the answer is easy... 'the people'. Its the small things that make the difference every day, seeing people smile and seeing someone respond positively to interaction. We offer a great life enrichment programme at Southerndown and every day is different but enjoyable.
In my spare time I like to spend time in the garden, I enjoy sewing but mostly love spending time with my grandchildren
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 Southerndown Care Home
Cyclethon Challenge Complete!
Southerndown Cyclethon Team Challenge - We've done it! 124 miles in 5-weeks.
Our residents and staff celebrated in style yesterday with champagne and the presentation of collective awards and trophies to all those involved. We have so enjoyed pushing ourselves to reach the end goal, and have been overwhelmed by the wonderful community spirit our challenge has generated in aid of young carers across Oxfordshire Be Free Young Carers
Our residents can now sit back as they watch and encourage John our Team Leader and Dementia Champion as he prepares for his personal challenge and the final leg of this intergenerational Cyclethon.
John will be 'road' cycling the whole route on ‘The Longest Day’ 21st June 2021. Starting from Southerndown care home in Chipping Norton he will cycle the route, from home to home to achieve the full 124 miles in 1-day! To find out more and get involved please visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Barchester Every penny raised goes directly to the Be Free Young Carers charity.
Did you know? “At least 2 children in every class in Oxfordshire are young carers COVID-19 is affecting the wellbeing of young carers disrupted education and child development. Be Free Young Carers is continuing to support young carers and families during this time. You can help these young people have a chance to be children, relax, make friends and have fun away from the pressures of their caring roles, away from the anxiety and stress so many feel. We are currently the only organisation in Oxfordshire that offers this support.” https://befreeyc.org.uk/
Virtual Tour Sea Life London Aquarium
On Tuesday 20th April our residents gathered together in the lounges to get up close a personal with our underwater friends. We were treated to a virtual tour of the wonderful underwater world of SEA LIFE London Aquarium, hosted by Senior Curator, James Wright and his expert team.
The SEA LIFE London Aquarium is home to more than 300 species and 4,000 creatures, including Gentoo Penguins, Sea Turtles and Seahorses, which are cared for by its dedicated team of 15 Aquarists. The shark tank alone is one million litres in volume and six metres deep and is home to five species of sharks – Sand Tigers called Bungle and Zippy, a Grey Reef Shark, Nurse Sharks, Tawny Nurse Shark and a shiver of Black Tip Reef Sharks as well as a Bowmouth Guitarfish called Betty.
Our residents couldn't decide which they found more fascinating, the Penguins or the Sharks it was an amazing tour and talk. Big THANK YOU to the team for setting up such a fabulous afternoon of underwater adventures SEA LIFE London Aquarium™
Catching Up and Catching Rays
The weather's getting better, and garden walks are on the agenda. Today our residents enjoyed a stroll and chat in the sun, checking on our potted plants and catching a few wonderful rays.
Cyclethon Team Arrives At Middletown Grange
Yesterday the team virtually arrived at Middletown Grange Care Home after completing 34 miles on their foot pedal cycles from Hempton Field care home in Chinnor.
We were invited to join the residents of Middletown for a virtual tea party and 'All about Oxfordshire' quiz! It was such a lovely afternoon of happiness, smiles and laughter between residents across the zoom screens.
The overall winners were... Southerndown although we all feel like winners being able to get together in support of the fabulous charity Be Free Young Carers
We'd like to send a big 'thank you' to everyone who has donated and for spurring the team on. We have 16 miles to go to complete the overall challenge of a total '124 miles' by next Wednesday, arriving back at Southerndown on 21st April just in time to celebrate the Queen’s birthday with a 'Street Party' themed event.
National Scrabble Day
13th April is the day Scrabble inventor Alfred Mosher Butts was born. He gave the world an iconic board game now played all over the world. Today, more than seven decades later, our residents and staff were scratching their heads to achieve a triple word score or two!
Scrapbook Memories
Over the weekend our residents spent time updating our scrapbooks, they love arranging the pages, photos and cuttings. It's a time of reflection on what they've done and a chance to chat as they recall each event, and read the messages received from the wider community to the home.
