Residents from Stockton-on-Tees Care Homes once again proved that age is just a number as over 100 participants from 15 Care Homes, consisting of a mix of older persons residential, learning disability and mental health residential care homes, descended on Thornaby Pavilion to take part in the second annual Care Home Legends Games. Competing in such events as Hungry Henrys, Cup Stacking, Balloon Keepy Up, Archery, Table Tennis, Netball, a Bean Bag Shoot Out and on top of that the North Riding FA Shape the Play Coach Shaemela Khan put them through their paces in an energy packed chair-based exercise session.
The Care Home Legends Games is part of a pioneering initiative which aims to engage with residents of care homes by enabling them to partake in activities which will keep them active whilst interacting with residents from other care homes. The Care Home Legends programme which has been developed and organised by Tees Active in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Stockton-on-Tees Care Homes and funded by Tees Valley Sport, has already delivered a Residents on Ice session Christmas Extravaganza at Billingham Forum Ice arena with the help of Billingham Ice Skating Club.
The Care Home Legends Games at Thornaby Pavilion had a fantastic Funky4Life warm up led by Leanne Oxley and assisted by the children from Treetops Nursery. Each different event was led by pupils from St Michaels RC Academy and volunteers from Knights Solicitors and Tees Active live streamed the event into the care homes across the borough so non-participating residents could cheer on their teams.
The event also included a performance from 6 members of ARCulele, a group of ukulele players who meet weekly at Stockton ARC. Their playing was very popular with the residents and even had them dancing in the aisles.
Chief Executive of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Mike Greene, attended the event and was fully engrossed in the activities trying his hand at archery and table tennis. Mike said, “It’s been absolutely wonderful to see this fun event which is great for community cohesion and health and wellbeing. I am exceptionally proud of the partnership work that has taken place to see this event happen and hope it will continue for long into the future.”
Allan McDermott, Tees Active Community Engagement Manager, has said “The Care Home Legends is a fantastic event for the residents, staff, and volunteers. Today’s event has been our largest and most diverse to date and is a great example of partnership work for the benefit of the local community and judging by the smiling faces of the residents and staff it’s been a hit.”
100-year-old Care Home resident Joyce from Wellburn House summed up the day perfectly, “I like the atmosphere, I like the people, I like the games, and I like the smiles”.
Find out more about how Tees Active are working with partners to drive positive change in the community.
