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Court Lodge residents deliver Easter joy to community foodbank

Big-hearted residents at Court Lodge, gathered chocolate treats, filled gift parcels and delivered an Easter surprise to their local foodbank.
A party from Court Lodge travelled across Lymington to the New Forest Basics Bank with items donated by families and friends of residents and team members.

They handed over dozens of chocolate rabbits, Easter eggs, sweets and Easter-themed toys to help local families in need.

Residents spoke of their joy in going hands-on to help with the initiative.

100-year-old Margaret Honeyman said: “I enjoyed being part of the drop-off, being so local and such a good cause.”

Lesley Saunders said: “It was great to be a part of this and being able to help our own local people in need.”

Brenda Corfe said: “It has been a really lovely thing to do and all for a good cause.”

Residents were accompanied on their trip to the foodbank by Court Lodge Companionship Team Leader Julia Puia.
Julia said: “We enjoyed having a look around and finding out more about how the foodbank works.

“They were extremely grateful to us helping out this Easter and we would love to continue to support them.

“We’re also planning to have our own mini foodbank at Court Lodge and they absolutely loved that idea.”

Based in the Cannon Street East Car Park in Lymington, the New Forest Basics Bank distributes non-perishable food, personal hygiene items and basic household essentials to families in need.

There were Easter activities at our other care homes too, some of which had a fundraising element for charities supported by residents and staff.

Children from nearby schools and nurseries enjoyed Easter egg hunts at Avon Reach in Mudeford, Brook View in West Moors and the Winchester homes St Catherines View and Abbotts Barton.

Belmore Lodge in Lymington hosted an ‘Easter Eggstravaganza’ for families and friends of residents and staff. It featured a balloon modeller, face painting and various crafts.

Bourne View in Poole held an ‘egg hunt with a twist’ for children from St Joseph’s Primary School who had to solve riddles called out by residents to progress to each stage and find the chocolate treats.

At Wellington Grange in Chichester, residents welcomed youngsters from the local Little Pioneers nursery for games and craft activities. Together, young and not so young spent time in conversation as they made bonnets for an Easter parade.

Colten Care carol singers light up forest of Christmas cheer

More than 30 residents from six of our care homes joined forces to sing carols and entertain visitors at a church Christmas tree festival.
Performers from our homes across the New Forest and Christchurch were in fine voice amid the seasonal fun at St Thomas Church in Lymington.

Under the direction of our Music and Arts Partner, professional musician Fiona Pritchard, the choir sang ten carols, adding the gift of Yuletide music to complement a display that numbered more than 60 Christmas trees.

Fiona said: “It was so lovely to be able to bring all the homes together to sing. They rehearse individually and when they come together, the sound is magical.”

Jack Phillips, a resident at Kingfishers in New Milton, said: “It was a great afternoon, I just had the best day.”

As well as Kingfishers, the singers came from Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, Avon Reach in Mudeford and the Lymington homes Belmore Lodge, Court Lodge and Linden House.

The festival, organised as an annual fundraiser by the Friends of St Thomas, ran over five days this year with Colten Care once again one of the partners alongside other businesses, organisations and charities.

As well as the opportunity to sing in public, several of our homes organised arts and crafts sessions in the run-up to the festival so that residents could make decorations for some of the trees on display.
“We are proud to support the festival here in Lymington, especially as three of our homes are just minutes away from the church,” said Laura Davis, Marketing and Communications Manager for Colten Care. “The logistics of bringing six homes together to perform is no mean feat, so hats off to all involved.

“Residents told us just how wonderful the day was, how the relatives were there to support and join in, and how the public were wowed by the fact there were so many residents there and how lovely it was to hear them sing. Everyone was joining in. It’s something people will go out and talk about.

“The residents and relatives had a wonderful afternoon and that is at the heart of why we take part.”
Involvement in the St Thomas Church festival is just one of the many ways our residents are celebrating Christmas this year.

A choir representing five of our homes is singing at a public service at St Peter’s Church in Bournemouth in aid of the disability charity Diverse Abilities. They are Fernhill in Longham, Amberwood House in Ferndown and the Poole homes Bourne View, Canford Chase and The Aldbury.

Bourne View is the venue for a separate rooftop carol concert with residents, families and friends from Amberwood House coming along to join in.

Also in the comfort of their own surroundings, residents at Bourne View, Avon Reach and Kingfishers will welcome visits by fellow carol singers on a ‘road trip’ from the Julia’s House hospice charity.

Children from a nearby day nursery will likewise entertain residents at St Catherines View in Winchester with carols.

At Braemar Lodge in Salisbury, residents and staff created a seasonal wreath tree to feature in an annual tree festival at the city’s St Thomas Church which is traditionally attended by thousands of visitors each year.

Across our 21 homes, residents will also enjoy Christmas fetes and fayres, live music, pantomimes, gala lunches and dinners, and a host of festive games and competitions.

A world of celebration delights music lovers at Colten Care

Fun-loving residents at Court Lodge, and our sister home’s, have celebrated World Music Day with singalongs, karaokes, themed parties and concerts.
From cardio drumming to hillbilly-style dances, there were joyful sounds filling the air to entertain residents and visitors alike at our 21 sister homes across the south.

At Kingfishers in New Milton, Hampshire, there was intergenerational festivity as children from Durlston Court School’s ukulele band came along to perform.
Resident Hugh Cooke said: “They were all so very good. I really enjoyed the concert.”

And Joyce Ponsonby said: “What a wonderful afternoon seeing the kids perform. I really enjoyed listening to them.”
Elsewhere, our staff and residents chose a variety of ways to showcase their own musical creativity and knowledge.

There was a music quiz at Whitecliffe House in Blandford, a six-decade jukebox celebration at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth and song and dance-themed coffee mornings at Court Lodge and Linden House in Lymington.

Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst held a ‘Walking on Sunshine’ music and movement session while Newstone House in Sturminster Newton staged an ‘Abba spectacular’.

Participants in a music and movement session at Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst

At Canford Chase in Poole, residents took the microphone and sang to each other in a garden karaoke.

At fellow Poole home The Aldbury, the focus was on cardio drumming and at Fernhill in Longham there was singing and dancing on the theme of ‘hillbilly blues’.
Fiona Pritchard, our Music & Arts Partner, said: “World Music Day was a great opportunity to celebrate the breadth of musical creativity our residents enjoy.

“There really was a lot of variety. People joined together to say thank-you for the many ways that music brings joy and pleasure to them.”

Having fun at a garden karaoke session at Canford Chase in Poole are Margaret Connor and Frank Daley

World Music Day has been celebrated every June since 1982. It originated in Paris from a proposal by the then French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, as Fête de la Musique, a day when people were encouraged to play musical instruments in their neighbourhoods and in public spaces and parks.

Now celebrated in more than 120 countries, the aim remains to celebrate and have fun with music.

Canford Chase’s Senior Care Lead Abner Saclayan plays guitar. On vocals is Abner’s wife Rowena who visited the home to support the World Music Day celebration.

Love is in the air as our homes prepare for Valentine’s Day

Residents are set to celebrate Valentine’s Day with romantic lunches, parties, live music and community greetings
Hearts, flowers, bubbly, cards and chocolates will all feature in the fun as homes enter the romantic spirit.

At Belmore Lodge, pianist Mark Busell will entertain residents at a Valentine’s-themed afternoon tea. A raffle will be held in aid of the home’s nominated charity, the Lymington Dogs Trust.

Residents at Belmore have also been making heart decorations featuring photos and wording about loved ones. These will be put on display on a ‘Sweetheart Tree’ in the home.

At Linden House, around eleven couples have been invited to an afternoon tea party in the home’s sun lounge. The room and tables will be decorated Valentine’s-style and soft music will be played in the background to create a romantic mood.

Here at Court Lodge we are taking a community-themed approach to Valentine’s Day. In a ‘random act of kindness’  we are writing messages with loving words, attaching them to roses and sharing them with the community in nearby Woodside Park.

At Kingfishers, the fun includes a Valentine’s party with live entertainment from the Land Girls, a sherry and wine social, a special lunch and a bingo afternoon.

Woodpeckers is staging an ‘Art With Heart’ exhibition featuring works by residents intended to represent love.

The home has asked Brockenhurst Primary School, Brockenhurst College and other Colten New Forest homes to contribute entries too.
Guests coming to the show on Valentine’s Day will also have the chance to enjoy a heart-themed afternoon tea. Donations will go to the Honeypot children charity.

[caption id="attachment_4573" align="alignnone" width="768"] Brook View residents and married couple Audrey and David Vincent enjoy their romantic lunch on Valentine’s Day[/caption]

At Avon Reach, staff are decorating the home with love hearts and inviting residents to tuck into a high tea. A raffle on the day will raise funds for Macmillan Caring Locally.

Two resident couples at Brook View, Trevor and Pam and Audrey and David, will enjoy romantic-themed meals in the dining room.

At Avon Cliff, residents and staff are being encouraged to wear red or pink at a tea dance. There will also be a ‘luxury high tea’ accompanied by the gentle sounds of live harp music.

Valentine’s Day will also be celebrated at our homes further afield. Residents at St Catherines View in Winchester will welcome toddlers from the nearby Topps Day Nursery for chocolate-making fun.

The youngsters will be taking home the treats to give to their mums and dads afterwards as Valentine’s gifts.

At Whitecliffe House in Blandford, staff will deliver roses and sweets to all residents. In the afternoon, residents will come together to listen to favourite love songs and share memories of Valentine’s Day and loved ones.

‘Enchanted forest’ gives our residents an early taste of Christmas magic

Residents from our New Forest care homes took the chance to decorate Christmas trees they contributed to a Lymington church festival
Parties from our New Forest homes – Kingfishers, Belmore Lodge and Linden House – were joined by our residents to add colour and sparkle to their trees at St Thomas Church.

They then returned a couple of days later to admire the full community collection of more than 60 trees going on public display in what the church described as an ‘enchanted forest’.

Colten Care was among the businesses, organisations and charities to partner on the Christmas Tree Festival, creating a hands-on opportunity for its residents to support a community cause.

As well as viewing the display, our residents enjoyed tea and cake and live music performed by Milford West Gallery Quire and the Forestina Concertina Group.
Resident Joy Blackmore said: “It was so lovely to be a part of something so traditional and like old times. I had such a wonderful afternoon.”
Our Chief Operating Officer, Elaine Farrer, said: “Our residents have had a magical time being involved in the festival, preparing their trees in advance and visiting again for the opening.

“They had great fun looking through the collection knowing that hidden amid the sea of tinsel, lights and baubles they would find a tree of their very own.”

Colten Care totaliser tops hundreds for Children in Need 

Residents and team members across our homes have done their bit for Children in Need by raising more than £400
The total was totted up from various events held during and since the BBC’s annual fundraising appeal.

At Kingfishers in New Milton, Hampshire, residents had fun at a singalong with visiting pianist Mark Busell who played tunes from the 40s, 50s and 60s.
Resident Terry Darrell said: “Everyone had a great time. We had many people really engaged with it. There was a lot of foot tapping and dancing. It felt like New Year’s Eve.”
As well as the live music, we held a cake sale at reception while staff wore Pudsey-style T-shirts and onesies.

Here at Court Lodge we celebrated Children in Need with an afternoon tea and raffle featuring prizes such as hairdos, freshly baked cakes and chocolates.

The fun at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth included a duvet and pamper morning while at Bourne View in Poole there was bingo and a cheese and wine party.

Our dedicated dementia care homes also took part in activities for the appeal.

At Fernhill in Longham, Dorset, staff and residents held a pyjama day and an afternoon of baking cupcakes to sell.

At St Catherines View in Winchester, residents decorated cupcakes for children at the nearby school and enjoyed a visit by balloon artist Chris Kimber who made some very clever balloon creations in front of their eyes.

The home’s Customer Advisor Vanessa Hall did her bit for Children in Need by walking ten miles to work specially in aid of the appeal.
“We greeted her with a banner we had made the day before,” said Companionship Team Leader Laura Sheldrake. “Welcoming Vanessa, getting involved with the cupcakes and watching the balloon artistry of Chris gave everyone a great opportunity to come together and have fun while supporting such a worthy cause.”

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