Excelcare’s five care homes in Milton Keynes recently came together for an afternoon of fitness, fun and friendly competition at a special inter-home sports day, delivered in collaboration with MK Dons Community Trust.

Since partnering earlier this year, Excelcare and MK Dons Community Trust have built a meaningful relationship that continues to enhance the lives of people living and working in the homes. Alongside weekly chair-based exercise sessions at each of Excelcare’s homes in the region, the MK Dons Community Trust team has also supported residents to enjoy memorable days out watching the first team play at Stadium MK. The partnership has provided a welcome boost to lifestyle and wellbeing, while creating treasured memories with loved ones, friends and fellow football fans.

To celebrate this growing partnership and a shared enjoyment of exercise, residents and team members from across the Milton Keynes region gathered for an uplifting afternoon of sport, laughter and community spirit.

Representatives from Castlemead Court, Dovecote Manor, Neath House, Water Hall and The Willows competed in a variety of light-hearted games, including the egg-and-spoon race, three-legged race, shopping-line race, tug of war and more. Residents, care teams and Home Managers all joined in the friendly competition, earning points for their respective homes while cheering one another on throughout the day.

Although the friendly competition kept excitement levels high, the event was about far more than winning. It gave residents from different care homes the opportunity to connect, form new friendships, reminisce and create new memories together, all while enjoying an afternoon filled with entertainment, encouragement and smiles.

After the action-packed events, everyone had the chance to unwind with freshly baked cakes and refreshments. While enjoying these well-earned treats, popular entertainer Holly from the Day Darlings performed a selection of wartime-inspired songs. Her performance was warmly received by residents, many of whom sang along and shared memories connected to the music.

It was then time to crown the sports day champions. In joint first place were Castlemead Court and Dovecote Manor, who achieved the same number of race wins throughout the day. To celebrate their success, each home was presented with a trophy to proudly display for the year ahead, until the regional sports day returns next summer.

Reflecting on the day, Regional Operations Director, Jayne Masterson said, “The Milton Keynes Sports Day was a truly special event, bringing together residents and teams from across our homes for an afternoon of fun, friendship and teamwork. It was wonderful to see so many smiles, hear so much laughter and watch everyone cheering each other on. Events like these play an important role in supporting wellbeing and creating meaningful experiences for the people we support. Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the day such a positive success."

The event was a wonderful celebration of teamwork, friendship and community spirit, highlighting the positive impact Excelcare’s partnership with MK Dons Community Trust continues to have across the Milton Keynes region. With plenty of smiles, shared memories and sporting cheer, residents and team members are already looking forward to coming together again for next year’s regional sports day.