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Colten Displays Cracking Community Spirit this Easter

Easter at Colten Care homes has featured bonnet parades, garden egg hunts, an appearance by the Easter Bunny and in-person food bank donations.

Residents at Avon Reach in Mudeford gathered and donated 40 packed lunches, each with an Easter egg, for families in need who use Christchurch Food Bank.

The packs, prepared by the home’s kitchen team, also contained colouring activities and pencils for children.

Resident Viv, who joined staff on the visit to deliver the donations, said: “It’s a meaningful opportunity to give back to our community.”

Thanking residents’ families and staff for contributing to the packs, Home Manager Ruth Wildman said: “It’s wonderful to see residents like Viv actively involved in supporting the wider community especially at this important time of year.”

Team members at Colten Care’s Castle View in Poundbury also organised an Easter egg collection which they delivered to food bank group the Dorchester Community Church Food Share.

Liz Meech, from the foodbank, said: “Because of these donations, every child on our family list will receive their very own Easter egg this year.”

Community spirit was also in evidence as Colten Care’s dementia care home Linden House hosted a visit by 24 children from Lymington Infant School, all wearing homemade Easter bonnets.

The youngsters, who are regular weekly visitors to the home in smaller groups, took part in an Easter egg hunt in the garden, accompanied by the Easter Bunny, before parading their bonnets for judging by the residents.

As she took in the array of hats, resident Pam said: “They must have put in some hard work to make each one.”

Fellow resident Tony said: “It was the best feeling to see the children all having fun and laughing.”

Home Manager Priya Joseph said: “Our residents enjoy the sheer delight that the children bring to the home. Easter is a very special time that brings joy to all.”

Egg-cellent fun as Colten Care residents celebrate Easter

Cracking Easter fun at Colten Care homes featured egg hunts, crafts activities and children’s visits with a host of good causes supported.
At Court Lodge in Lymington, Hampshire, residents and team members welcomed children from the community who spent time with them decorating eggs and biscuits and making Easter banners.

Together they took part in a chocolate egg hunt, sampled cakes made specially by the home’s Chef Steve Gates and enjoyed other activities raising £350 for the home’s charity for this year, the young carers’ organisation Honeypot.
Court Lodge resident Anne Burchell said: “I had a great time watching the children find the eggs, especially the gold ones. The children were beautifully behaved and seeing them all together made me really happy.”
Anne also won the home’s Easter raffle prize, a presentation basket of various drinks, which she decided to donate to the staff in the spirit of sharing.

Among other Colten Care homes, Newstone House in Sturminster Newton hosted young visitors for an Easter Bonnet-making session ahead of the Dorset town’s Easter parade.

There was similar fun at Brook View in West Moors which welcomed pupils from St Mary’s First School for an Easter egg hunt in the garden.

And at St Catherines View in Winchester, children from nearby St Peter’s Primary School joined residents for a bonnet parade and hunt.

A community celebration of Easter-themed fun at Amberwood House in Ferndown included gentle ‘cuddle sessions’ with bunnies, chicks and guinea pigs brought along by Blandford Animal Sanctuary.

And at Woodpeckers in the New Forest village of Brockenhurst, residents welcomed children for a day of arts and crafts activities and an Easter egg hunt in aid of the home’s charity for this year, Olivia Inspires.

Fellow New Forest home Belmore Lodge in Lymington laid on a host of Easter treats for residents and visitors, and organised a raffle for the home’s charity, Lymington Cat & Kitten Rescue.

Also in Lymington, dementia care home Linden House held an Alice in Wonderland-themed afternoon tea event including an appearance by the White Rabbit.

Elsewhere, Avon Reach in Mudeford invited families and children for an egg hunt and afternoon tea with proceeds going to the Christchurch Community Partnership.

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