Tag: intergenerational activities

Local Care Home goes quackers at Easter surprise!

 Strachan House care home in Blackhall is full of fluffy mischief on the run up Easter period!

Residents at Strachan House were pleasantly surprised to see 5 duck eggs arrive on the 4th April just in time to see them hatch for Easter. Children and relatives all throughout the day watched with the residents together as they witnessed the tiny lives come into the world.

Mandy Head of Activities said: “Sharing moments like these together on an intergenerational level is so touching.

“Making and sharing memories young and old is something we cherish here at Strachan House” 

General Manager Gordon Philp said: “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors at Strachan House.  We knew that having the hatchlings here would be a bit of fun for all our residents, especially as some find it difficult to go on many outings in our minibus. 

“We are always looking for new activities for the residents and over the Easter period we have seen the enjoyment and the therapeutic influence that the ducks have had on our residents. We can’t wait to see them grow.”

Resident Alex Laird was very excited and touched by watching the ducklings hatch: “As a child I used to love all the animals on the nearby farm.

“Easter has been so very enjoyable so far and it has been wonderful to be part of something special watching new little lives come into the world at Easter.”

Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care home’s and hospitals. 

Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.

Heart of Newhaven: September newsletter

Welcome to your September Newsletter
(And this is mostly a pictorial one)

As you must know by now, the Heart will be all about “inter-generational” activities and what better way to explain this than by this photo: 99 year old David Flucker a former pupil at Victoria Primary School, and two current pupils Uma and Aubrée, chatting about what school was or is like for them.

The meeting took place in front of STV cameras as the news team filmed a piece on what we’re all about.

Two of our trustees and one of our volunteers also spoke to camera and while we don’t yet know when it will be aired, we’re hopeful it will be soon.

The next photo comes from our Thank-You event, held outdoors in the school playground.

The aim was for volunteers who have contributed to our journey so far, to meet each other and the trustees, given that most communication for them has been online up until now. Volunteers Lesley, Anna, and Simon provided the food and drink and a good time was had by all.

Most really appreciated the opportunity to finally meet face to face and enjoy a blether in the sunshine.

Pictured is Lesley with her magnificent thank-you cake.

Now, check out a new page of the website, It will be all about the environment and especially what we can do to improve it.

Take a look at this example: an unloved carpark area which could be transformed by the addition of a few plants and a bench, where people could meet and chat together in pleasant surroundings instead of hurrying away as fast as possible.

So head to the new page and then you can contact our “environment champion” with your own ideas.

A final photo:

Join Victoria Primary School and celebrate an inclusive community art initiative. It is planned to highlight the school’s important link to the cultural heritage of Newhaven as a fishing village and is to mark the move to the new building.

The school is seeking help in the form of cutting out wooden fish that are to be decorated before they are returned to school to be placed on permanent display.

Please contact Mrs Hilary Gorrie, Depute Head Teacher, at hilary.gorrie@victoria.sch.uk if you are able to offer carpentry support.

Finally, The Heart of Newhaven Community Board was thrilled to receive a letter of congratulations from local MP Deirdre Brock, expressing her pleasure at the Scottish Land Fund news and wishing the project every success. It’s nice to be appreciated!

 Coming up next month: decoration and placement of the Friendship Benches and an exciting new collaborative event to be held in Ocean Terminal