Cambridge care home residents team up with local school children for Platinum Jubilee

Residents at a care home in Cambridge teamed up with local youngsters for a special Platinum Jubilee project. 

Care UK’s Heathlands House, on Bullen Close, were delighted to take part in A Recipe for A Queen, a community project organised by arts centre, Cambridge Junction, to mark her majesty’s official 70-year milestone.

The project saw residents from the home, their friends at Queen Emma Primary School, and local community group Friday Friends, take part in royal reminiscence sessions and discuss what qualities make a great queen. This was made possible with funding from Arts Council England’s Let’s Create Jubilee Fund through Cambridgeshire Community Foundation. 

The home hosted a premiere party over the jubilee weekend, which saw the three intergenerational groups come together to celebrate the occasion and watch their film for the first time, as well as enjoy a performance by The Knightingales, music by DJ Greg Butler and a buffet prepared by the home’s chef.

The party marked the start of Heathlands House’s jubilee celebrations, which saw residents take part in a wide range of themed activities including arts & crafts sessions and a commemorative tree planting ceremony.

The Platinum Jubilee was particularly poignant for one resident, 97-year-old Jean, who shared her memories of the Queen’s coronation. 

She said: “We all gathered at my aunt’s house, as she was one of the few people who owned a television at the time. I remember it being such a special day, although it poured all day with rain, and we watched the coronation on the screen.”

Sharlene van Tonder, Home Manager at Heathlands House, added: “We had a wonderful time celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and taking part in Cambridge Junction’s A Recipe for a Queen project.

“For older people, and those living with dementia, reminiscing about key milestones, such as previous jubilee celebrations, can help bring back happy memories, as well as prompting conversation and connection with those around them. These positive feelings gained from revisiting fond memories can help decrease stress, reduce agitation, and improve mood. 

“It was wonderful to take part in the project alongside our friends at Queen Emma Primary School and Friday Friends, who we’ve built a fantastic relationship with since opening the home during lockdown. Our home features lots of pictures painted by the children, and it was wonderful to be able to welcome them into the home at last to see their works of art on the wall, as well as meet everyone in person.”

To find out more about Care UK’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, please visit: careuk.com/platinumjubilee.

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Heathlands House incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities both indoors and out. The layout of the building has been configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge and dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities

To find out more about the home, contact Customer Relations Manager at Heathlands House, Tanya Jackson-Turner, on tanya.jackson-turner@careukcom, call 01223 631945, or visit careuk.com/heathlands-house.