Care home’s mini-festival inspired by Glastonbury

A GLASTONBURY inspired mini-festival took place at a Tyneside care home as part of Care Home Open Day.

The annual mega-festival at Worthy Farm, in Somerset, which took place last week, gave residents and staff at a care home over 300-miles away the idea of holding their own event.

Music and arts activities were available to residents and visitors at Waverley Lodge Care Home, in Lemington, near Newcastle, on Care Home Open Day, which sees homes across the country welcoming the public through their doors. 

Singer Christina Rosemont performed classics from the 1950s to 1970s in the home’s garden – with residents enjoying the sunshine while listening to some of their favourite songs.

Resident Betty Reay said: “The music was really great and it was lovely to sit in the sunshine.”

Similar to Glastonbury’s arts installations, residents also took part in arts and crafts activities, weaving baskets and painting stones found on the beach at Whitley Bay.

Resident Dorothy Newton said: “I’ve never painted rocks before. It was good fun.”

Michelle Park, activities coordinator at Waverley Lodge Care Home, said: “With the weather forecast looking great for Care Home Open Day, we thought why not run our own mini-festival inspired by Glastonbury.

“It was such a brilliant day and it was great to welcome family members and other visitors.

“Christina put on a fantastic performance in the garden and the residents really enjoyed creating their own designs when doing the basket weaving and painting rocks.

“Our own version of a music and arts festival was a lot of fun, with the activities also proving very therapeutic and calming for the residents.

“A massive thank you to everyone who came along and made it such a special day.”

Waverley Lodge Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.