Activities at Tixover House Care Home

Mindspace, Stamford is a grassroots initiative working to improve wellbeing in our area. ‘Mindspace is a Stamford-based charity with the vision of improving the wellbeing of the people of Stamford by offering groups and activities for the community. The Wellbeing Garden is an important part of the Mindspace vision. 

Contact and active engagement with our natural environment has proven beneficial effects on all of us, and it was with this in mind that the Garden was developed.’ We spent a morning at their Wellness Garden, kindly looked after by Kay. We took a walk round the garden and then gave a charitable donation to enjoy refreshments in the tranquillity and beauty of their gardens. A sketch class was taking place during our visit. We took much pleasure in looking through their wonderful work, what a setting to sit in. We hope to see you again very soon. ‘ 

We were so lucky to pass a morning at the Vineyard, beneath the umbrellas, with refreshments. Located on top of a narrow ridge between the rivers Welland and Chater, 70m above sea level and facing south, we’ve got a prime part of Rutland. Hard to think 160 million years ago this would have been England’s south coast! 

Single site vineyard planted in 2021.’ It was a beautiful sunny, warm day, and we sang 'You Are My Sunshine.' We were joined by our wonderful carers Laura and Kathy, and their families, which made it such a beautiful intergenerational activity for our residents, as well as being joined by Pat, our regular singer in the home, who has become a real friend to our home. 

We had a fabulous outing, taking in the views at Lyndon Nature Reserve. Rutland Water Nature Reserve is an internationally recognised Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. It is one of the best places to enjoy birds and wildlife in the UK. Search for rare spring migrants, admire fishing ospreys in the summer, enjoy the autumn wader passage and marvel at huge flocks of winter wildfowl.

We enjoyed simply sitting and watching the birds and squirrels, whilst we had hot and cold drinks, cakes and ice creams. We used the telescope, saw the Osprey on screen, read through pamphlets and took a look through the gift shop. On our way home, we took another scenic route through Lyndon, Pilton and South Luffenham, pausing to take in the views, seeing donkeys and Shetland ponies too. Where to next week?

Katherine Smith at Tixover has been crowned Dementia Care Champion for the North East Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2025 and is through to the national round of judging.

The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 13,500 residents living in Barchester’s 267 care homes and private hospitals across the country. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Activities Coordinator of the Year’. 
 

The much awaited evening of the Rutland Morris performing to our home. This has been in the diary for a year (it isn’t even guaranteed to get a yearly performance, because they are just that busy covering events across the county, sharing their talents with so many). A few residents chose to brave the elements (yes, in June, there were elements!) and be seated outside for the performance, but for most, they were seated in the Garden Lounge, with large windows overlooking the evening entertainment. 

The Rutland Morris made introductions and shared information to all residents throughout the evening, the attires filled the home with colour and jangles and with the dancers we didn’t know which way to look, there was so much to watch. For those, where the event wasn’t accessible, or they were too tired from the day’s events, the care-team put on Morris Dancing on the screens across the home. Rutland Morris filled our Main Lounge following, taking the time to join our home for refreshments and to speak with our residents and staff. Now, I just need a staff member to join the folk dance group, as a way in to get regular bookings, any takers?!

We came together on Sunday to have a day to celebrate our diversity "Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself" and inclusivity "Pride is for everyone." The home has been decorated in hearts (I really don't want to take these down!) All of our staff came together in their colours (don't they look fabulous!) and we used edible pens to decorate our biscuits, which everyone, residents and staff were able to enjoy. Literature was printed, including pride activity books, pride picture quizzes and pride true or false quizzes. 

Lots of 1-1s were logged by our carer-team, who took the time to sit down with residents alongside the literature and have meaningful interactions and discussions surrounding ‘Pride;’ to ensure deeper context is provided besides colour flooding our home. Residents praised the staff, with lots of compliments, in seeing what their staff team look like in regular clothes as opposed to their tunics. A huge well done to the staff-team at Tixover for celebrating diversity not just for the month of pride month, but by being exemplary of celebrating differences on every date of the diary. 

We saw the return of Wittering Community Choir to our home, passing a Sunday afternoon singing uplifting songs to our residents, staff and lots of weekend visitors in our Main Lounge. A particular highlight was when the room was split into three parts each singing different parts to a song, including ‘I’m good, I’m good, I’m feeling good,’ I found myself singing all three parts, but it honestly didn’t matter, it was so interactive and ‘bouncy.’ 

The atmosphere was joyful and full of energy, including Pharrell Williams – Happy, ‘Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth, clap along if you know what happiness is to you.’ We simply adore the community contacts we have to our home and are always looking for new connections; adding to the varied nature of our life enrichment programme. 

Our Head Chef Tony kindly delivered a fabulous cheese and wine event at the weekend. Not only did Tony do this, he set to work making lots of delicious cakes and cookies and making homemade sausage rolls, prawn cocktails and an Eton mess! Thank you for making this event such a success! And to the staffing team alongside Tony, who facilitated this event. 

We love themed dining and food-related activities in our home, whether it is resident baking, baking demonstrations by our chef, or simply enjoying homemade food put together to accompany an entertainment or activity within our home. Cheese and wine are always a hit, a much-asked-for treat, featured in our weekly calendars, the next one being only next week, within our Main Courtyard of our home over a game or two in a social setting (and hopefully in the sunshine!)   

We had a lovely morning spent at Rutland Water at Normanton Café, enjoying a selection of hot and cold drinks, cakes and Magnum ice-creams! It was such a relaxing atmosphere, just quietly taking in the view and discussing the pastimes of sailing and being on or close to the water for many. 

Following, a few residents took a stroll down to the reservoir's edge, and we walked round and saw a viewpoint overlooking the beautiful Normanton Church. On our walk back to the bus, we stopped and saw baby ducklings. It was such a tranquil way to spend the morning for our residents. 

Thank you to Tracey for being a part of this outing! We enjoy regular outings within our home, offering choice to our residents, to enrich their minds, bodies and souls, as well as having our ‘Wish Tree’, whereby residents can name any special outings they would like to take on for an activities team to facilitate their wish fulfilment.