The teams across our care homes in Cambridge have been letting their creativity shine, all incorporating firework themes into their busy activity schedules in honour of Bonfire Night.
Aliwal Manor had their annual fireworks display in the garden, which the people living in the home were able to watch from the lounge windows. People that wanted to go outside were also able to hold a sparkler as they donned their coats and watched in the crisp night air. There were lots of claps and cheers at the beautiful show, while they took in the display and ate delicious cupcakes that they had made the night before. Buchan House also held their annual firework display, delivered by Scott Reynolds, the son of the home’s Lifestyle Coordinator Debbie. This is the third year that Scott has kindly made this event happen and donated the fireworks for the event. Everyone had an amazing time and asked Debbie to thank her son for them.
The people living in Brook House took the time to reminisce about firework days of the past, and how much bigger a spectacle it is now. Then the team read out different facts about fireworks followed by a fun, educational quiz. At Hunters Down, the fireworks prompted a discussion about their old Bonfire Night traditions. Myrtle, one of the people living in the home, rejoiced in telling everyone about how she used to play hide and seek in the dark with her friends and then roast some potatoes in the fire. The fireworks were also a big talking point at Rheola, and they spoke about the excitement they felt seeing fireworks as young children.
Many of the homes were inspired by firework night in their arts and crafts sessions. The people living at Etheldred House made firework pictures using sponges, fruit, paint brushes, and pom poms made of wool. Whereas at Fitzwilliam, firework art was created using glitter and kitchen rolls that were cut with slits in to help create a firework print. Glennfield also got creative, choosing to dip tea bags into paint and throw them onto black paper to depict fireworks at night. This got a giggle from the residents at Glennfield, with Richard describing the activity as “super splodgey”.
St Georges Court chose to adopt a similar method, with Lindsey replacing their regular paintbrushes with tea bags and shuttlecocks. At first, the people living at the home were very confused, but once Lindsey explained that they could dip the items in paint and flick them at the paper, they thought it was a fantastic idea and couldn’t wait to get started. Primrose Croft chose a softer method, creating their firework art with cotton buds and paint. The results were very effective, and everyone was pleased with their masterpieces.