Residents from Kingfishers and its sister home, Woodpeckers, had the pleasure of attending the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) Cake Concert in Pilley.
This unique concert, designed for those living with dementia but open to everyone, provided an inviting and relaxed atmosphere to enjoy classical music.

The event was a resounding success, with attendees describing it as “wonderful,” “spectacular,” and “brilliant.” Residents, along with others from local care homes and the New Forest community, were treated to captivating chamber performances by talented musicians Owain, Eluned, and Kate, who performed throughout the morning.
The event was further complemented by delicious cakes, biscuits, and other sweet treats, beautifully presented with a touch of Valentine’s Day spirit. These refreshments were kindly provided by Colten Care’s Hotel Services team, adding to the festive and heartwarming atmosphere.

This concert marked the first of its kind in the New Forest, and we look forward to seeing the partnership between Colten Care and the BSO continue to flourish in the future.
You can find out more about the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra by clicking here.

Colten Care has trained 32 team members as Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) to help colleagues maintain and improve their work-life balance.
Colten Care has prioritised the training as part of a wider focus on wellbeing. Organisers say the response from participants has been highly positive and already leading to a demonstrable shift in how mental health is talked about and supported in the workplace.

With guidance from Mental Health England, Colten Care planned the training for two groups of 16 colleagues over two days.

Sessions were held in training suites at two of its dedicated dementia care homes, Linden House in Lymington and The Aldbury in Poole.

Trainees included Home Managers, Clinical Leads, Care Trainers, Healthcare Assistants, HR Managers and Maintenance and Gardening team members.
“Staff were asked if they would volunteer for the role of MHFA, and the response was great,” said wellbeing strategy lead and MHFA Barney Baxendale. “These dedicated individuals received personal certificates for their time in training and are now equipped to offer a listening ear, guidance and signposting to colleagues who may be struggling.
“The service is offered to all 2,000 of our staff completely free of charge. Now, no matter where they are located across our 21 homes or our head office, they have someone they can see in person if they need to. Phone and video calls are also an option if they prefer.

“Training session content included the many influences on mental health, what ‘first aid’ means in this context, how best to approach someone who may be struggling, the importance of listening and reassurance, and how to identify a support network.”

The sessions were delivered by external mental health training consultant Christo Hudson.

After serving in the RAF, Christo spent 12 years as a commercial pilot but found himself unemployed when the airline he worked for went into administration at the onset of the pandemic.

As well as flying, his airline career had included being a flight data monitor, a role that involved gathering insight on the behaviour of fellow pilots.

The aim was to address human factors such as stress, fatigue, relationship issues and financial worries that might affect pilots’ performance and lead to safety-critical failures.

Christo, who was in shock and questioning his role in life after redundancy, steadily found the strength to apply some of the learnings from his data monitor experience to establish a new career delivering mental health first aid and suicide prevention training to individuals and organisations.

A key focus for him is the importance of being able to share experiences, feelings and emotions.

Christo, who is based in Edinburgh, said: “I teach people about the power of human connection and that even when someone’s world may feel so dark, lonely, cold and scary, there is always hope.”
On his sessions with Colten Care specifically, he said: “It’s about equipping staff with the skills to recognise when a colleague isn’t quite themselves and confidently being able to step in with support. The uptake has been good – people are engaging, conversations are happening, and we have been seeing a real shift in how mental health is talked about and supported in the workplace.
“In a sector built on care, it’s easy to focus solely on the wellbeing of the residents, however I think that looking after those who provide that care is just as important. This initiative ensures that mental health support is woven into daily life, not just something for a crisis. By normalising these conversations, Colten Care is leading the way in making the care sector a place where staff feel valued, supported and able to ask for help when they really need it.”

As well as training and appointing MHFAs across the organisation, Colten Care’s wellbeing strategy includes encouragement for many activities at individual home level.

Initiatives so far have included dedicated ‘wellbeing weeks’ for teams, soundbath sessions, a trip to a salt-water sauna, ‘fun at work’ days and participation in February’s Time to Talk Day, a national mental health awareness campaign led by Rethink Mental Illness and Mind in partnership with the Co-op.

Colten Care team members have also received ‘wellbeing packs’ containing a guide on dealing with stress at work along with a ‘goodie bag’ of treats.

At Abbotts Barton in Winchester, Senior Nurse Joanna Sliwka welcomed receipt of her pack, saying: “It makes you feel important and shows you that the management care about their staff.”

Abbotts Barton Home Manager Dee Lovewell said: “To help embrace team wellbeing even further, we are providing a new outdoor break area and starting new slimming and walking clubs. We want all team members to feel supported and have an opportunity to contribute to their own wellbeing.”

‘Fun at work’ days, held so far at Fernhill and Brook View, have included themed lunches, party games, casual clothes days and an interactive song and dance show with visiting performer Dame Daisy that residents enjoyed too. Brook View resident Diana Pearce said after the home’s singalong with Daisy: “I’ve had the best day ever!”

Companionship Team Leader Claudia Canosa said: “It was an inclusive environment where everyone felt free to express their joy and a reminder of the power of connection among staff and residents at Brook View.”

More than 20 residents from six of our care homes across the New Forest and Christchurch came together to sing carols at a community Christmas tree festival.
The parties, joined by relatives, friends and staff members, performed for visitors at the annual charity fundraiser at Lymington’s St Thomas Church.

While some rehearsals took place at homes leading up to the event, it was the first time the combined choir had sung the carols in unison and in public.

The conductor was our Music and Arts Partner, professional musician Fiona Pritchard, who led the singers through a mix of traditional and modern carols.

The 12 piece-set included timeless classics such as The Holly and the Ivy, In the Bleak Midwinter, When a Child is Born, White Christmas and the Angels’ Carol by English composer John Rutter.

Fiona said: “The residents chose the carols to perform and did a lot of preparation beforehand. We sang the Angels’ Carol for the very first time. They loved learning that one and it was a huge achievement for everyone to sing it in public.

“This was a lovely occasion, an opportunity to launch into advent with a wonderful celebration of music, singing and Christmas trees, really unifying for everybody.”
Some of our singers were making a return trip to St Thomas, having performed at the same festival in 2023, while for others it was a new experience.

Fiona added: “More than a few people remembered each other from last year whereas others had no idea what to expect. You could see the anticipation in people’s eyes as we set up and got ready to sing. It was a very special, memorable experience to come together and sing as one, with the acoustics of the church adding to the joy.”
Among the performers were three residents from Kingfishers in New Milton: Susan McPhee, Molly Speirs and Jack Phillips.

Jack said: “We had such a warm welcome at the church and we could see audience members joining in when we sang which was fantastic. A festive singalong is such a wonderful way to bring people together.”

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

Residents from the homes also went hands-on to support the festival by making decorations for several trees purchased by Colten Care that were sold in aid of church charity the Friends of St Thomas.

They were among dozens of trees contributed by local companies and organisations that were put on display for sale to the public.

Involvement in the Lymington festival is just one of the many ways Colten Care residents are celebrating Christmas this year.

A choir of residents and staff from Bourne View in Poole, Amberwood House in Ferndown and Fernhill in Longham spent weeks rehearsing carols to perform in St Peter’s Church, Bournemouth, part of a public service hosted by the disability charity Diverse Abilities.

Fernhill is also the venue for two ‘carols by candlelight’ evenings with visiting Girl Guides and Brownies.

Among other homes’ community activities, Brook View in West Moors welcomes a visiting choir from nearby St Mary’s Church, Canford Chase in Poole is hosting a ‘mince pie and quiz social’ and Christmas markets feature at Abbotts Barton and St Catherines View in Winchester and Braemar Lodge in Salisbury.

The Sturminster Newton Choral Society is performing at Newstone House in the Dorset town, while Woodpeckers is offering Brockenhurst villagers an opportunity to ‘meet the reindeer’ at its annual Christmas community get-together.

There are also Christmas fetes and fayres, live music, pantomimes, gala lunches and dinners, Christmas jumper days, donkey visits and a host of other festive games and competitions being held at Colten Care’s 21 homes over the Yuletide season.

Residents from our New Forest care homes joined families and friends for a French-themed afternoon tea that raised hundreds of pounds for charity Parkinson’s UK.
Boldre War Memorial Hall was transformed into a Parisian-style restaurant as the parties from our New Forest Homes and other community organisations sampled homemade patisserie delights.

More than 100 guests listened and danced along to traditional French songs played live on accordion, guitar and double bass by French-costumed New Milton group Café Mondial.

Advance tickets, on-the-door entry and donations helped the event raise £700 for the New Forest Branch of Parkinson’s UK.

One resident of Linden House dedicated dementia care home in Lymington, Liz, said: “We had smiles on our faces all afternoon, clapping and dancing. We absolutely loved it. It was wonderful from start to finish.”

Residents from Court Lodge and Belmore Lodge in Lymington, plus Kingfishers in New Milton and Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, also enjoyed the occasion.

Community guests included members of a French language group in Lymington, set up in relation to the town’s official twinning partnership with Vitré in Brittany.
Peter Doyle, Colten Care Operations Manager, who later presented a cheque with the proceeds to a meeting of the Parkinson’s UK branch, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to help put on such a happy, successful occasion for our residents, the Parkinson’s group members and the local community.

“It was great to chat to people who had a good time enjoying the chance to relax, meet friends and listen to very talented musicians at what was an amazing event.”
Martin Hall-Patch, Chairman of the Parkinson’s UK New Forest Branch, said: “The atmosphere in the room was amazing, with a strong buzz of conversation throughout and this, coupled with the music of Café Mondial, demonstrated that a good time was being had by everyone present.

“It was a truly memorable occasion and an excellent afternoon’s entertainment. This was only made possible by the ceaselessly professional yet personal way the Colten team carried out their duties and the hard work that went into making it all happen so well.

“Everyone I spoke to said they enjoyed the afternoon and it was clear from their faces that the Colten residents felt the same.”

Dedicated Scrabble fans from four of our care homes were quick to mind their Ps and Qs as they enjoyed a friendly battle of words in multiple encounters.
Players at our care homes in Dorset and Hampshire pitted their wits against each other to search for the ultimate word score using giant Scrabble boards.

While Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst welcomed friends from Kingfishers in New Milton, there was similar gentle rivalry as Amberwood House in Ferndown took on visitors from Bourne View in Poole.

The inter-home fun, timed to celebrate National Scrabble Day, lasted several hours and featured a sweepstake so non-players could feel involved by guessing the number of words the teams achieved in each game.

At Amberwood House, staff reflected the theme of word play by dressing up as something beginning with the first letter of their name.

Companionship Team Leader Kirsty Richmond-Cole was a Kite, Clinical Lead Hanna Rehbein was a Hot Dog, Home Manager Diane Nicholls was a Dragon, Nurse Anika McQuirk was Alice in Wonderland, and Maintenance Manager Christian Blanch was Clark Kent, unveiling a Superman top from under his shirt.
Kirsty said: “We decided to dress up so residents could have a good laugh and join in with the celebrations even if they had decided not to play. We did have some strange looks and one or two belly laughs. Resident Don Cussen asked us if we had lost our marbles!”
The Bourne View team – Harold Faircloth, Wendy Barnes and Peter Prior – arrived at Amberwood House just before lunch, taking a stroll around the garden and enjoying fish and chips before sitting down for the competition.

In the end, Amberwood House put up three teams itself, with residents Marjorie Hutchings, Rita Bryant and Noreen Hewitt having a closely fought match with Harold, Wendy and Peter.
Kirsty said: “There were some clever moves and a few challenges on words and Marjorie, Rita and Noreen jumped into the lead. But Harold, Wendy and Peter refused to give in and made a word score of 41 which enabled them to go in front. As it went on and with a final push from Marjorie, Rita, and Noreen, Amberwood House cheered with joy as they cleared their rack with a fantastic move and won the game.”
Marjorie said: “It was great to welcome our visitors. Hopefully, it’s the start of more get-togethers. We all love Scrabble, it’s a definite favourite.”

At Woodpeckers, there were also multiple matches with some ties open to family and friends as well as residents.

The most successful residents’ team was Jo Bray, Pam Welch and Molly Wolstenholme.

Companionship Team member Sian Harris said: “Over an hour and a half of playing and 75 words later, Jo’s team were the clear winners with 307 points against 239. Jo also won a prize for the longest word. This prompted a lot of laughter as her word was ‘headstones’.  One resident said, “you have to laugh at these things, even if it’s dark humour!”

There was also National Scrabble Day fun with games between residents living at Avon Cliff home in Bournemouth.

National Scrabble Day is celebrated annually in honour of the game’s creator, an American architect called Alfred Mosher Butts who was born in April 1899 and came up with his invention in 1938.