Activities at Westergate House Care Home
Our activities team are great at building the activities programme around the likes and interests of the people we care for. Ensuring that our social events offer fun and adventure is part of the ethos of our home; it’s important that those we support can enjoy an active and social lifestyle. Of course, there will always be those who prefer peace and quiet, and in these instances, a cup of tea and a chat are always welcomed.
Lee Austin
My name is Lee and I am the Head of Lifestyle here at Westergate House.
I support our residents daily to do the things they enjoy and it is extremely important to me that we are offering a premium and person centred service to each resident. I support our residents on a daily basis by providing meaningful and quality activities either in groups or on a 1:1 basis, to help encourage and build confidence while creating an enjoyable environment for everyone. Westergate House is the home of our residents, we as staff are working in it, so it is extremely important to me that we are respectful of that, while offering a premium and person centred service to each and every resident.
I am a trained actor and professional vocalist and not shy in making a fool of myself. If I do that every day to put a smile on our residents faces then I’m happy I have played my part, along with the rest of the amazing team, to brightening their day. If you hear someone singing along the corridor or see them dancing in the lounges, it will probably be me.
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 Westergate House Care Home
Pallant House Art Gallery Workshop
Residents at Westergate House were delighted to take part in a fabulous art workshop with Emily Robson, Public Programme Manager at Pallant House Art gallery. Emily visited the home and introduced the theme of Surrealism, profiling the work of artist Eileen Agar. Our residents were asked how Eileen's art made them feel and their thoughts on her choice of colours. Everyone then engaged in an activity creating compositions using pre-cut acetate shapes and collage materials to create individual Surrealist pieces.
Emily, and her colleague Lucy, from Pallant House Art Gallery are visiting Westergate House to deliver workshops on a monthly basis, and will be exploring the work of different artists and eras with our residents. We are looking forward to next time!
Not 1 but 2 Divisional winners
Westergate House are so proud to announce that we have not one but two Divisional Winner’s in this year’s Barchester Care Awards. A testament to the high staffing standards here at Westergate House
Laura Guidici has been crowned Community Engagement Champion for the South Division and Annie Kellett is his years Volunteer of the Year in the 2022 Barchester Care Awards and is through to the national round of judging tomorrow.
More than 2,950 nominations were received from all Barchester homes and hospitals across the UK. All entries were a very high standard and Laura and Annie are both over the moon to have been named the winner for the division, beating hundreds of other nominees.
Our divisional winner’s Laura and Annie are through to the national finals in which the overall winner is decided. r.
Westergate House Presents Cheque to Local Men’s Shed Charity
Westergate House recently presented the Men’s Shed Project in Petworth with a cheque for £1500 to help with the purchase of tools, supplies and equipment. As part of the Petworth Community Garden Project, the charity works hard to support low-income locals to grow organic fruit and vegetables. The aim is to promote healthy lifestyles, to represent the community, and to celebrate peoples’ abilities.
The grant had been awarded by Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, a charity that helps older people and adults with a disability or mental health problems across England, Scotland and Wales by offering funds to help people connect or re-connect with others in their local community.
Care Awards
Annie Kellett at Westergate House in Fontwell has been Volunteer of the Year for the South division in the Barchester Care Awards 2022 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 12,000 residents living in Barchester’s 248 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’.
More than 2,950 nominations were received from homes and hospitals across the UK. All entries were a very high standard and Annie is over the moon to have been named the winner for the South division beating hundreds of other nominees.
Annie said: “I was so surprised. I have been visiting Westergate House for the last ten years and love catching up with the residents. Westergate House is a second home to me.”
As the winner for the South division, Annie, is through to the national finals in which the overall winner is decided. They will join winners from across the UK at a special awards event in October to celebrate their outstanding achievements and discover if they have won a national award.
Happy Birthday Joan!
Celebrations have been in full swing at Westergate House as one of its Memory Lane residents Joan reaches her 102nd Birthday in style. Joan was joined by staff, family and other residents as she received a beautiful bouquet of flowers, cards and her favourite sweet biscuits, in recognition of her landmark birthday. Joan enjoyed a special birthday cake made by the home’s chef Chris. Joan worked many years as a nurse in the Army before coming to Westergate House, where she is enjoying a new chapter of her life. The birthday girl, said: ‘Is all this fuss for me, you are all lovely thank you’
Westergate care home visits Chesnuts day centre
The Westergate House community engagement team visited the Chestnuts Community centre last week for a coffee morning. The care home, which is based in Westergate, were welcomed by Katie Chadwick team who run the day community centre for local people living with dementia and learning disabilities. A hub greeted Kay Vevers, lifestyles lead, and Laura Giudici, team leader of Westergate House and over coffee and homemade cake, conversation centred round future opportunities to engage the home’s residents with visitors to the centre and plans for other future events.
