24 Dec Spreading Festive Joy Across Communities
We’ve been honoured with Excellence in Supported Living and Excellence in Homecare at the LaingBuisson Awards, but our commitment to spreading joy extends beyond trophies.
This Christmas, Be Caring is proud to share our heartwarming initiatives across Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, Newcastle and North Tyneside.
Christmas Fun at Allendale
The holiday season was made merrier for residents at Allendale, our supported living service in Newcastle. Residents participated in a Christmas tree decorating competition, enjoyed a meal at Michalengelos and danced the night away at the Newburn Memorial Club.
On Friday 8th December, Allendale residents donned their best Christmas jumpers and participated in a tree decorating competition. The competition’s winners were the residents of flat 3, who won a box of sweets and treats, as did residents in flat 4 and flat 2, who came 2nd and 3rd respectively. Alan, a resident at Allendale said:
“It was the first year decorating a tree like that, I really enjoyed it”
Residents also had a special guest on the day – Grinch. As expected, Grinch was not the most welcome party guest, stealing the Christmas tree, though he did redeem himself, handing out selection boxes to all residents. Everyone had a great time, with Kim (resident) summing up the sentiments of the day:
“I really enjoyed both the party and the meal, the food was lovely. I won on the tombola and I was really happy”
A huge thank you to LA Taxis, who donated £100 to help pay for raffle prizes and to JR Holland Food Services for donating food on the day!
Residents attended a slap-up meal at Michelangelo’s Restaurant on the 14th December and on Tuesday 19th December, residents danced the night away as a Christmas themed disco at Newburn Memorial Club, people at Allendale were also joined by some other people we support from our Holmes Close supported living service.
Christmas Carolling in Leeds
Our amazing colleagues spread festive joy to clients, surprising people we support with carol singing on Tuesday, 19th, and Wednesday, 20th December. Alongside the bustling preparations for the festivities, our Leeds service recognised the importance of spreading cheer to those who might find this time of year lonely.
Rachel brought her guitar along, helping her 25 or so colleagues stay in tune while surprising and serenading 12 clients with classic carols, including Away in a Manger, and Christmas classics like Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Margaret (client) who can be seen singing along in the video shared:
“That’s the beginning of my Christmas, this has made my year.”
Cat Sabo, our Leeds Service Manager, said:
“Christmas can often magnify feelings of loneliness, especially for those in need of care. We wanted to ensure our Clients felt the spirit of the season and knew they were not alone. Our team’s initiative to bring music, smiles, and thoughtful gifts is a testament to their unwavering dedication. We are immensely proud of their compassion and commitment to enriching lives within our community.“
Above & Beyond across Be Caring
Michelle in Liverpool is possibly one of our biggest contributors to Above & Beyond, frequently supporting a few clients who need that extra bit of time and company, or struggle to get out and about and see people. Recently Michelle took one of her clients to fun-filled night of music attending the Magic of Motown at M&S Bank Arena on 11th December. Kath (client) said:
“I had the time of my life”
Derri, our Care Assessor in Leeds, is visiting 3 clients who are alone on Christmas day, dropping off Christmas dinners and saying hello. We have had many colleagues going Above & Beyond, supporting people with decorating trees, wrapping Christmas presents and staying with clients so that family members to go out and do their Christmas shopping. Thank you to everyone who has gone Above & Beyond, for example Agnieszka in Leeds, Carrie in North Tyneside, and Michelle in Liverpool.
We received a compliment from a client in Leeds recently when one of our new starters, Justyna who was shadowing as part of her induction, could see that Jackie (client) was low in mood. Justyna sang Christmas songs to her in Polish, which really cheered her up and inspired her to decorate her home for Christmas.
Personalised Messages from Newcastle
In Newcastle, we’ve embraced the timeless tradition of handwritten sentiment. Our team dedicated hours writing messages into over 140 Christmas cards, ensuring each carries a personal touch to ensure the people we care for know just how much we care!
LIFE weren’t the only service to have a Christmas party, our colleagues in Manchester were joined by several Clients too. The sessions were a Christmas celebration, filled with laughter, dance, and shared stories, for some it was their first time at a social event in months.
Celebrating Life with Joyful Moments
LIFE: Coffee & Cake (December 2023)
Manchester: Coffee & Cake (December 2023)
We invite colleagues to join us every winter at our Coffee & Cake sessions, to celebrate the year’s achievements and to say thank you. In Newcastle, our LIFE Coffee and Cake session was attended by over 30 clients, one individual shared:
“Next time, can we have a disco?”
LIFE weren’t the only service to have a Christmas party, our colleagues in Manchester were joined by several Clients too. The sessions were a Christmas celebration, filled with laughter, dance, and shared stories, for some it was their first time at a social event in months.
Embracing the Season of Giving
Across Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, and North Tyneside, our commitment to spreading joy extends further. Over 800 hand-wrapped Christmas gifts of warm sherpa blankets have been delivered by our dedicated care team. We hope these gifts will help keep our people warm and comfortable this winter and be a cosy reminder of how much we care.
The holidays are not just about celebration; they’re about creating moments of warmth and connection. These Christmas initiatives stand as a testament to our unwavering commitment to transforming lives and ensuring our values are at the heart of everything we do. From all of us at Be Caring, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a season filled with love, joy, and compassionate care.
