For a Time: Sanctuary Seekers in North Devon

For a time, between late winter 2022 and early summer 2023, the Dilkhusa Grand Hotel on Ilfracombe’s seafront was used by the Home Office as part of the Asylum Dispersal Initiative, helping to lessen pressure on towns and cities in the south east of England.

North Devon Council engaged The Pickwell Foundation to work with the local community and the people staying at the hotel, helping to build connections, provide support and create opportunities for people to meet and share experiences. Many local organisations, groups and individuals got involved, offering time, space and resources to support the work of The Pickwell Foundation.

Photographer Toby Adamson, was one of those individuals. With years of experience documenting events and stories around the world, Toby generously gave his time to capture some of the personal stories featured in this exhibition. His photographs portray intimate moments of joy, grief, pain and human connection, documenting a significant moment in North Devon’s recent history. Accompanying these visual stories are reflections by Mark Read, Captain of the Salvation Army, who supported the sanctuary seekers alongside Pickwell during this pivotal period while on secondment.

Together, the photographs offer a glimpse into the experiences of people seeking sanctuary and the many acts of welcome and kindness shown by the local community. They show what can happen when people come together to offer support, friendship and a sense of belonging.

 For a Time: Sanctuary Seekers in North Devon. Photo credit Toby Adamson

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For a Time: Sanctuary Seekers in North Devon
Exhibition  From 24th October – 2nd January in the Community Gallery:

 Open event | FREE

 >CLICK HERE FOR MUSEUM OF BARNSTAPLE & NORTH DEVON WEBSITE

Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

 

Celebrating Harry: A Special Birthday at North Devon Nursing Home

Family member (resident) Harry recently enjoyed a special birthday celebration at Edenmore Nursing Home.

Members of the team, and family members who wanted to join in, came together in one of the home’s lounges as ‘Happy Birthday’ began to play.

Behind Harry, a special birthday-themed message came up on the TV screen, organised earlier by the team! Everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him as he was presented with a cake made by the kitchen team and was supported to cut himself a birthday slice.

Harry pointed to Team member Arun, saying, ‘he is my best mate!’ While Colin said he was having a lovely time and his favourite part had been singing happy birthday to Harry.

Harry has lived at Edenmore since April last year. Described as ‘a proper London boy’ by his daughter, Harry was a chauffeur and worked for Rolls-Royce for a time. He has a real connection with cars and particularly loved polishing them and making sure they looked their best.

Today, as Harry moves along his dementia journey, his love for cars is still very important to him. A member of the team at Edenmore recently came across a car encyclopaedia and thought Harry might enjoy looking through it. On receiving the book, Harry slowly flicked through the pages, completely focused, and even stroked the steering wheel in one photo!

Harry’s daughter, Charmain, shared about her dad, ‘One thing that he’s always been almost obsessive about is making sure that he knows where his car keys are. And at Edenmore, he obviously hasn’t got a car, so the home manager’s husband made him a little set with a tag saying Harry’s keys. So he’s always got his keys in his pocket!’

Harry also worked in construction and labouring, and loves fixing things, so the home also got him a plastic toolbox set to tinker with around the home. He enjoys sitting and ‘fixing’ things, tapping the wall, and keeping his hands busy. These simple tools can offer him something familiar to do and can support a sense of purpose.

After everyone had a slice of cake, family members who wanted to were supported to the downstairs lounge for Chair Zumba. Harry particularly loves these sessions and enjoyed having a birthday boogie!

Home Manager Gayle shared about the day, ‘Harry is such a big part of our family here and adored by so many. It was such a lovely day with beautiful connections and so much laughter!’

Edenmore Nursing Home offers 24-hour nursing and residential care by the North Devon coast. To learn more about life at Edenmore, visit www.edenmorenursinghome.com

Woolsery Show Time. Farming traditions and rural life

What better way to celebrate rural life than a visit to a traditional agricultural show. The first Woolfardisworthy "Colt Show", now the Woolsery Show, was held in 1892 and apart from the war, foot and mouth and Covid it has continued to be a draw for locals and visitors to Bideford, North Devon. It is now held annually on the last Monday in July. In 2008 the show moved from the Milky Way Family Park at Higher Clovelly to the grounds of the Clovelly Court Estate.

Featured just a few of the events in the main ring, surrounded by colourful trade, farming community and vintage equipment and food stands and craft marques.

Check out the video clip of the day

  Images include Fancy Dress Parade, Horse, Sheep, Cattle Competitions, Shire Horses and Concorde Elegance, Team Relay, Parade of Hounds, Meet the Hounds -credit Pat Adams North Devon Focus -  View High Res images on my gallery on Flickr

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North Devon Focus. Watching the changing seasons throughout the year, looking out and photographing events, nature, wildlife and places while walking on the North Devon coast and in the countryside. 
All photos/articles copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

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Roberto's Chair Zumba Brings Joy to North Devon Care Home

Edenmore Nursing Home has been enjoying their Chair Zumba sessions from Robert ‘Roberto’ Campbell for a number of years now, with family members (residents) lighting up every time he walks through the door.

Roberto has been leading Zumba sessions for over 20 years, starting out by teaching people living with disabilities and church groups, where he saw first-hand the benefits of movement in combination with music. Believing people living in nursing and care homes could benefit from a similar approach, Roberto began taking his sessions into homes too.

Unlike a traditional Zumba class, where learning and following fixed routines may take centre stage, Roberto’s sessions at Edenmore use gentler movements and are shaped by the mood in the room, allowing him to adapt the pace and approach as he goes. They are more about supporting wellbeing with music and movement, rather than purely physical exercise.

Family members who choose to take part do so in their own way. Some tap their feet from their chairs or sit with their eyes closed, nodding along to the beat, while others sway hand-in-hand with someone beside them or get up on their feet. For many, music has the power to evoke positive and familiar feelings linked to their past, such as favourite songs from a happy time in their life.

Family members Harry, Diana, Carol and Anthony particularly love these afternoons. Although Anthony isn’t always able to dance up on his for feet for too long before getting tired, his feet start tapping and he starts singing as soon as he sees Roberto. Harry and Diana have a lovely dance together, talking and smiling at one another as they sway, holding each other’s hands.

One memorable afternoon, Carol decided to get up to stand at the front of the room and sing the song that was playing to everyone!

Sessions are held in one of the home’s lounges, with family members from Edenmore’s different households encouraged to come together and take part. The household model approach means people with similar care needs live in smaller communities within the wider home, while still having opportunities to spend time with people from other households.

Edenmore is also preparing to open its newest household, The Quays, which will welcome people who are self-funding.

Home Administrator Emma shared about these sessions, ‘Roberto is always so happy and vibrant. He doesn't just come in and put some music on. He is totally involved and talks to everyone, getting as many family members up dancing as he can. Even the team can’t resist joining in!’

Activities like these at Edenmore give family members different ways to spend an afternoon together and socialise, with the music and movement naturally prompting laughter, conversation and interaction.

 

Edenmore Nursing Home offers 24-hour nursing and residential care by the North Devon coast. To learn more about life at Edenmore, visit www.edenmorenursinghome.com

International Food Tasting Event

Sundial Care Home near Sidmouth recently held its annual international food tasting event, with team members bringing in homemade dishes from around the world and from their own heritage to share with family members (residents) and the rest of the team.

The event is a chance to celebrate the different cultures through food within the residential care home, with everyone encouraged to taste something they may not have tried before. It also gives team members an opportunity to bring something personal from their own lives into the home, whether that is a favourite dish, a family recipe or food connected to their culture.

This year, the table was filled with chicken noodles, balti curry and rice, samosas and bhajis, followed by brownies and flapjacks. Rather than a usual lunchtime, plates and dishes were passed around the table for people to sample, with conversation naturally turning to the different flavours and ingredients.

There was also a homemade lassi made with yoghurt, mint, coriander and pepper, traditionally enjoyed after curry to refresh the palate. The drink proved particularly interesting for those tasting it for the first time and prompted plenty of discussion about what went into it and the different food traditions people had experienced over the years.

The international food tasting also reflects the wider community within Sundial, where people from different backgrounds spend their days together and get to know one another beyond their everyday routines. Bringing a dish from home is one small way for team members to share a part of who they are with the people they live and work alongside.

Regular events like this are an important part of the community at Sundial, bringing family members and team members together and strengthening the sense of belonging within the home.

If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit: https://www.sundialcare.com/activities-in-care/