Holt community joins care home residents for ultimate circus experience

A care home in Holt has become tent-ertainment central after hosting a circus show for friends, family and the local community.

Team members at Care UK’s Heath Lodge organised live entertainment, animals and games, transforming the home’s garden with a red-and-white tent, balloons and bunting. 

To truly bring the circus to Nightjar Road, the team dressed up as classic circus characters, with appearances from a ringmaster, clown, pirate and a mime. 

Residents and guests enjoyed a range of activities for all ages, including face painting, a special meet-and-greet with alpacas from Norfolk Alpacas and performances from a professional stilt walker who helped residents finesse their circus skills. 

Resident Stan Parry said: “Having the children at this event really made it for me – they were so lovely!”

Among the visitors to the circus show was resident Ann West’s pen pal and friend nine-year-old Rosie, who was specially invited to enjoy the day alongside her family. 

After over a year of exchanging letters as part of an initiative that aims to foster friendships across generations, Rosie and Ann finally met for the first time. To mark the occasion, Rosie gifted Ann homemade cookies and a tactile flower as a token of their friendship.

Ann said: “It was so lovely to meet Rosie and her family – it made my day.”

Hazel Madden, Home Manager at Heath Lodge, said: “We loved welcoming the local community to our very own circus event, which was a roaring success! 

“Here at Heath Lodge, we’re always looking for fun and exciting ways to connect with our neighbours, and themed events like this are great for doing just that. It was also a fantastic opportunity to invite residents to try new activities and form precious memories.”.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to the team, particularly Dee, who worked extremely hard to make this event memorable for everyone.”

Heath Lodge is a state-of-the-art care home that provides residential and dementia care on a permanent and respite basis. Designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives, it offers its own café, cinema room and hair and beauty salon, as well as plenty of space for relaxation and recreation.