Home About Us Contact Us Our Services Our People News Jobs Volunteer Donate Latest News Swing into Christmas December 1, 2021 What better way to get the festivities started than to enjoy some swing tunes performed just for you by one of your favourite singers. Residents at our Holy Cross nursing home were full of cheer when Christine Rosemond visited their home to entertain everyone with a catalogue of catchy swing …Read More » Our Christmas preparations begin November 25, 2021 Residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home have begun their Christmas preparations today by making their famous Christmas cake. “The excitement of Christmas always begins with making the cake,” said Mary. “As you stir the mixture you must make a Christmas wish.” We hope the cake tastes as good as …Read More » Tea leaves and autumn leaves November 23, 2021 When the beautiful autumn leaves begin to fade and drop, they can make a bit of a mess, but, for one of our volunteers, clearing them up is simply a challenge to be overcome. Julie, who lives in our independent supported living service, likes nothing better than lending a helping …Read More » A stitch in (quick) time November 19, 2021 The click of knitting needles is often heard in our St Catherine’s nursing home but there’s been more knit than natter recently for one of our residents. Knitting enthusiast, Nancy, has always found knitting a relaxing pastime, picking up her needles at every opportunity, but now she’s found a new …Read More » Elvis has left the building… November 18, 2021 Residents at our Holy Cross nursing home in Sunderland were left all shook-up when popular Elvis tribute act, James Fox, came along to entertain them. His fantastic blend of lively rock and roll songs and slow-paced ballads took everyone on a musical journey through the years, bringing back many fond …Read More » Residents make friends with paw-some visitor November 17, 2021 Residents living in our home in Alnwick enjoyed a paw-fect time when they received a visit from a VIP – Very Important Pet, of course. Poodle, Alfie, is owned by one of our staff, but is a regular visitor to our home where residents always make sure they give him …Read More » Thoughtful treat for World Kindness Day November 16, 2021 Although kindness is always at the heart of our work, staff in our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle were still eager to show our residents how much they care on World Kindness Day. Activities’ Co-ordinator, Jenny, sprung a lovely surprise for everyone by leaving a chocolate and a cheerful …Read More » Remembering on the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month November 11, 2021 Residents and staff across our charity fell silent in remembrance at 11am today as they paid their respects to all those who have fought or fallen in conflicts around the world. Army Veteran, Lesley, who works for St Cuthbert’s Care, joined residents at St Catherine’s as they marked the occasion …Read More » Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom November 10, 2021 When our St Catherine’s residents took part in a Zoom session with nine year old students from Broadwood Primary School, they asked whether they could share any secrets about how to look good. Mary, who is a vibrant 89 years young, answered: ‘Just be yourself – that’s when you’re at …Read More » Generations brought together with creative storytelling November 9, 2021 Via a Zoom link from their home, our residents were able to chat with groups of nine-year old students in their classroom and take it in turns to test their descriptive skills and imagination to create a fictional story together. With boxes of props to spur them on, the incredible …Read More » A City Break For The Boys November 3, 2021 Best buds, David and Chris, from our Independent Supported Living service in Kenton, have missed their boys’ holidays and wanted to getaway for a couple of days. So, after much deliberating, the friends decided to book two nights in Sunny Sunderland, at The Grand Hotel on the sea front. The …Read More » Arts, Crafts and Good Company November 1, 2021 Our Holy Cross residents came together this afternoon for an Arts & Crafts social. Tea and chats were flowing in equal measure, as everyone tried their hand at knitting and did a spot of painting. There were smiles all round as everyone enjoyed spending an afternoon of creativity in good …Read More » Baking Up Excitement October 29, 2021 It might still be October, but the seasonal excitement has well and truly begun at our independent supported living service in Kenton this week, as one resident grabbed their wooden spoon and mixing bowl to whip up a seasonal treat. With oodles of dried fruit, a bowlful of batter and …Read More » A Bowling Battle October 28, 2021 Staff at our Holy Cross Nursing Home in Sunderland really know how to strike a chord with residents when it comes to activities, and they’ve done it again, this week, with indoor bowling. The action was aplenty as the activity room hosted the bowling battle between Denis, Fr Bob, Tess, …Read More » A Knack For Knitting October 27, 2021 Staff and residents at our St Catherine’s Nursing Home have always been a dab hand at a spot of knitting, and they have proven that again this week with some cracking cross-stitches and excellent embroidery. The latest examples of natty knitwork have come from resident, Nancy, who has been working …Read More » Let’s Play The Music and Dance October 26, 2021 What better way to get the week off to a flying start, than with a bit of a boogie and sing-song? That was the case at our Holy Cross Nursing Home in Sunderland, yesterday, as staff and residents put on their dancing shoes for a lively music and dance session. …Read More » Joy In Jigsaws October 25, 2021 It’s getting to that time of year where we love to sit indoors, in the warmth and do a good puzzle. That’s certainly the case for a guest at our Parkhead Resource Centre, who has been finding joy in jigsaws. Brian, who has a visual impairment, has been able to …Read More » Perfect Planting October 22, 2021 Step aside, Alan Titchmarsh, and watch out, Monty Don – this week our Holy Cross residents have been perfecting plant potting. From the comfort of The Retreat – a conservatory area overlooking our beautiful grounds – our green-fingered friends, Grace, Denis and Sr Jude, took turns in lovingly planting autumn …Read More » Happy Birthday, Rachel October 14, 2021 At our Alan Shearer Residential Home, nothing makes us smile more than when our residents get to celebrate – so we loved it, recently, when we got to put on a bit of a celebration. Our Party Princess was resident, Rachel, who celebrated turning 35 in style – with a …Read More » Pub Grub Gets The Thumbs Up October 13, 2021 As the weather gets more grey and damp, what is more comforting in the wind and rain than a cosy pub lunch? That was the approach this week for David, a resident at our Sherringham House Independent Supported Living Service, who took a trip out for some fine pub fare …Read More » Autumn colours never fail to inspire October 12, 2021 Residents and staff at our St Catherine’s Nursing Home in Newcastle have taken inspiration from nature and the arrival of autumn to bring a seasonal touch to one of their favourite meeting places. Their spacious lounge has been filled with hand-painted leaf pictures and garlands to reflect the amazing colours …Read More » Feeding Feathered Friends October 11, 2021 The week has got off to a flying start at our Parkhead Resource Centre, today, as guests have been whipping up homemade bird feeders. Taking turns in preparing a mix of seeds in melted lard for food and crafting feeders from paper cups, Matthew, Kay, Jennifer and Toni were far …Read More » St Cuthbert’s Care Recognised For Booster Programme Success October 8, 2021 At the end of September we brought you the news that our booster vaccine programme was underway. We are delighted to say more than 95% of our nursing home residents and a large percentage of our staff have now had their booster. Our swift action has been recognised in the …Read More » Carolyn’s Cup Of Coffee October 8, 2021 Nothing brings a smile to our face quite like seeing our residents’ artwork, and this week we had a couple of efforts which were just our cup of tea coffee. A big fan of a cuppa and a catch up, Carolyn, from one of our Independent Supported Living services, decided …Read More » The Spa Treatment October 7, 2021 What better way to spend an afternoon, than with a bit of a pamper amongst friends? That was the case at our Holy Cross Nursing Home in Sunderland, this week, as residents were in the lap of luxury for spa treatments including manicures and face masks. The atmosphere wasn’t TOO …Read More » Bill gives book ten out of ten October 6, 2021 Former teacher, Bill, who lives in our St Catherine’s Nursing home in Newcastle, was top of the class on Teacher Appreciation Day when he delighted fellow residents with readings from his favourite book. The rainy day outside was soon forgotten as Bill read from the compilation of poems, sparking many …Read More » Autumn Looks Awesome At Holy Cross October 1, 2021 The temperature may have dropped for us all, this week, but spirits have remained high at our Holy Cross Nursing Home in Sunderland, as residents have been making decorations for autumn. Set up with a variety of paints, craft paper, scissors, glue and even some seasonal twigs, our residents relished …Read More » There’s No Business Like Showbusiness September 30, 2021 Guests at our Parkhead Resource Centre have been treading the boards in their dancing shoes, on a recent visit to Ashington YMCA’s Alligator Klub. The fun-filled day saw everyone gleefully taking part in all three of the Klub’s workshops in dance, music and theatre. “Everyone has been so excited, this …Read More » Booster Day September 29, 2021 We’ve had a huge boost for our nursing homes this week, as residents and staff at our St Catherine’s home in Newcastle, and our Holy Cross home in Sunderland received their Covid-19 booster jab. With the first vaccinations arriving back in January, the boosters provide a real shot in the …Read More » The St Catherine’s Crossword Caper September 28, 2021 Step aside, Susie Dent – residents at our St Catherine’s Nursing Home have been showing off their own linguistic flair, this week, as they set about cracking a crossword. Sheila, Nancy, Diane and Mary joined our Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Jenny, in an afternoon of ups and downs (and even the odd …Read More » Coffee And Cake For A Good Cause September 27, 2021 There was coffee, cake and plenty of chat over the weekend, as Peter, resident from our Sherringham House Independent Supported Living Service, rose to the challenge of raising money for cancer research. Not for the first time, Peter broke out the mixing bowl and sifted through his recipe book for …Read More » Branching Out September 24, 2021 It’s been a case of ‘many hands make light work’ at our home in Alnwick this week, as residents have been helping to prepare the garden for fresh flowers for winter. Our green-fingered friends, Hughie, Val, Kate and Cheryl, decided to leaf indoor activities for another day, as they set …Read More » Quoit Good Fun In The Sun September 23, 2021 As the late September sun continues to grace us with its presence, our Holy Cross Nursing Home in Sunderland thought it would be quoit a good idea to make the most of it with some fun and games. Set in prime position in the home’s beautiful gardens, there was hoopla …Read More » Planting The Perfect Potatoes September 22, 2021 It might feel like summer has only just finished, but as we race towards October it is a handy reminder that Christmas is just around the corner. So, what better way to plan than by chipping in on Christmas dinner and growing your own potatoes? That’s exactly what a resident …Read More » Elvis Entertains September 21, 2021 We had a special guest at our Parkhead Resource Centre, today, as an Elvis impersonator had us All Shook Up. Many of our guests have a Burning Love for Elvis, so when James Fox, came along to sing a few songs in full Elvis attire, everyone was delighted to have …Read More » Scone In 60 Seconds September 20, 2021 With The Great British Bake Off just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to whisk up the excitement at our St Catherine’s Nursing Home, with a bit of home baking. Teaming up with the home’s Chef, Joe, our residents rolled out the rolling pins and rose to …Read More » Show Us Your Smiles September 17, 2021 Did you know our care home motto is: “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours?” Residents at our Holy Cross Nursing Home in Sunderland have been inspired by the motto, this week, using an arts and crafts session to create these wonderful pictures. Bridget and …Read More » The Bear Necessities September 16, 2021 There’s bear-ly anything better than a good picnic, so our Parkhead Resource Centre thought it would be a great idea to celebrate the return of the good weather with a Teddy Bear’s Picnic. The centre was filled with terrific teddies as everyone brought in their favourite bears for the day. …Read More » A Dabble In Scrabble September 15, 2021 Mind your P’s and skip the Q’s – we’ve had a dabble in a bit of Scrabble this week. The war of the words took place at our St Catherine’s Nursing Home in Newcastle, as residents teamed up with staff to pit their linguistic wits against each other. Mary joined …Read More » Chaps Who Chat September 14, 2021 Our fantastic maintenance team have been hard at work at our Holy Cross Nursing Home in Sunderland, renovating a tired old potting shed into something a little special. Set in our beautiful grounds, “The Retreat” is the perfect place to spend a little time reading a book, potting plants, or …Read More » Autumn Apples in Alnwick September 13, 2021 Our home in Alnwick has said a great, big hello to Autumn this week, by putting on an a-peel-ing seasonal activity for residents. Picking the juiciest and greenest apples from the home’s garden; Hughie, Cheryl and Val all de-cider-ed to take the opportunity to do a spot of apple picking …Read More » Barbara joins the school run September 8, 2021 Barbara, who lives in one of our independent supported living houses, was as excited as any pupil returning to school this week when she set off for her first day back at work. Bag packed, packed lunch prepared and uniform pressed, Barbara was delighted to return to working as a …Read More » Birthday Wishes September 6, 2021 Eileen, resident at our Holy Cross Nursing Home in Sunderland, celebrates her 71st birthday today and one of her birthday wishes was to listen to an all-girls choir. So, in true ‘your wish is our command style’, we were delighted to arrange a special performance by the wonderful Sunderland-based Songbirds. …Read More » Sherringham Sun and Fun September 3, 2021 It’s always tough to say goodbye to the sunshine, so what better way to bid farewell to the summer than with a bit of a party and a barbecue? That’s exactly what our Independent Supported Living services did recently, when Sherringham House hosted residents from across our services for a …Read More » A Wander Round The Garden September 2, 2021 We may be heading towards the end of the summer, but at Holy Cross the garden is stillin full bloom and providing a few late moments of sunshine. Indeed, residents, June and Barbara took the opportunity to have a wander around the greenery this week, taking a moment or two …Read More » Perfect day for ladies who lunch September 1, 2021 Our conservatory lounge is a favourite place for many of our residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle and it made an elegant setting for an impromptu lunch get-together recently. Overlooking our pretty courtyard garden, our residents find the bright and spacious lounge both uplifting and relaxing and …Read More » You Can’t Beat a Tea-Time Treat August 31, 2021 Scones, sandwiches, and even a splash of prosecco were on the menu at Holy Cross this weekend as our residents indulged in a spot of afternoon tea. Sitting down to scones with generous lashings of jam and cream – the activity room was full of lively conversation while everyone enjoyed …Read More » Rhio the Dog, Bravo August 27, 2021 Tenants at our Sherringham House independent supported living apartments celebrated World Dog Day yesterday, by paws-ing regular activities to welcome a four-legged friend. Our tenants were delighted when Rhio – one of our staff member’s pet dogs – stopped by with her owner for a few strokes, the odd game …Read More » The St Catherine’s Connection August 25, 2021 We all love the odd boardgame or puzzle with friends or family, and an old classic has been helping some of our new residents form friendships at our St Catherine’s Nursing Home. Sitting down to battle it out over a friendly game of Connect 4, Mary and Ann – who …Read More » The Vikings of Parkhead August 24, 2021 Our Parkhead Resource Centre has been celebrating all things Viking this week, with a range of activities the Norse warriors would be proud of. Guests got into the Viking spirit by showing off their artistic sides and making and decorating replica shields, snacking on some Viking-inspired pizza and even a …Read More » Hughie’s Kitchen Creativity August 23, 2021 Our Alnwick home has been upgrading its kitchen facilities, and one of our residents has been providing support by whipping up their own designs. Upon hearing about the new installation at the home, Hughie quickly set about putting some real colour into his own blueprints and showing off his own …Read More » Spud-ing artists at St Catherine’s August 20, 2021 It’s been another busy week at St Catherine’s Nursing Home, but they managed to wedge in another quality activity, as residents celebrated National Potato Day with a spot of potato printing. Ann, Freddie, Sheila and Mary all chipped in with their own potato Picassos, using carved potatoes and paint to …Read More » The Perfect Performance at Parkhead August 19, 2021 Our team at Parkhead Resource Centre really love to put on a show when they can, and they took that literally this week as they brought a Variety performance to town. Set up outside in the sunshine, guests at the centre were captivated by a performance of ‘That’s Life’, by …Read More » Everybody say ‘Cheeeese’ August 18, 2021 Holy Cross have been enjoying a taste of the finer things, this week, as our Sunderland nursing home hosted a brie-lliant Cheese and Wine afternoon. Residents were treated to a choice of red or white wine as they took their pick from a range of different cheeses. Based on their …Read More » Bingo Brilliance is Music to Our Ears August 17, 2021 Our St Catherine’s Nursing Home has been hitting the right notes over the last week, as residents have bingo-ing wild for our musical competition. Battling it out in a game of Musical Bingo, the activity lounge has seen eyes down for a full house and spirits high for a good …Read More » Alnwick gets arty August 16, 2021 Our home in Alnwick was brushed with creativity last week, as our residents showed off their aptitude for art. Cheryl, Hughie and Valerie all highlighted their status as prospective Picassos, as they used tissue paper and plenty of colour to create individual impressions of their home street. Fiona, Support Worker, …Read More » Party time at Parkhead for National Prosecco Day August 13, 2021 Our Parkhead Resource Centre has been fizzing with fun as guests and staff marked National Prosecco Day in style. With a glass of the brilliantly named, alcohol-free ‘Nozeco’ in hand, guests took turns competing in a variety of party games – Prosecco Pong being the toast of the town! Manager, …Read More » St Catherine’s crafts suit silhouette Selma August 12, 2021 Staff and residents at our St Catherine’s Nursing Home love to show off their artistic flair on arts and crafts days, and there was no overshadowing resident, Selma, this week as she showed off her love of silhouettes. Having told our Activities’ Coordinator, Jenny, of her fondness for these crafty …Read More » Pancake making is flipping fun at Holy Cross August 11, 2021 It may be August, but Holy Cross have tossed their calendars aside and had a fun-filled afternoon making mouth-watering pancakes. Residents needed no egging-on to show off their culinary creativity – each preparing and making their own delicious pancakes to suit their individual tastes. Emma, Home Manager, said: “Everyone really …Read More » Residents bask in the brilliance of bells August 10, 2021 A couple of our residents from our home in Alnwick were treated to a day out that was music to their ears. Cheryl and Hughie paid a special visit to St Michael’s Church in the town to take a look at their spectacular new bells before they were installed in …Read More » Perfect toms from our Parkhead garden August 6, 2021 Salad doesn’t come much fresher than this – the first crop of tomatoes collected from our very own Parkhead garden. The tasty toms have been grown and nurtured by staff and regulars at our Resource Centre in Ashington for months and James, pictured, had the honour of picking the very …Read More » Puzzle prompts perfect get-together August 4, 2021 Our St Catherine’s residents are firm believers in ‘many hands make light work’ – especially when it comes to piecing together one of their favourite jigsaws. Avid dog-lover, Selma, got the ball rolling by choosing a dog-themed puzzle and was soon joined by fellow resident, Nancy. As the picture began …Read More » Residents’ Hoopla at the Holy Cross Ring Toss August 1, 2021 Fresh from bowling last week, residents at our Holy Cross Nursing Home have been causing hoopla this week with a spirited game of ring toss. Continuing to be inspired by the Olympic competitors on TV, our residents stepped up to the mark to see who could make the most successful …Read More » St Catherine’s Songbird Hits the Right Note July 29, 2021 Did you know at St Catherine’s Nursing Home we have our very own singing sensation? Resident, Mary, who loves to sing, is rapidly becoming known as the Songbird of St Catherine’s. Whether residents are sitting in their rooms, socialising in the activity room, or taking in the sun in the …Read More » On your marks, set …GO for Gold at Parkhead July 28, 2021 With the Olympic Games now in full swing and the nation cheering on Team GB, guests at our Parkhead Resource Centre have been getting into the Olympic spirit by hosting their own games and ceremony. Opening with a parade of their own iconic Olympic flames made with coloured paper, our …Read More » The Great Bailiffgate Bake Off July 27, 2021 Cakes, flakes and fun have all been on the menu this week, as our residential home in Alnwick has been whisked away by baking. As summer and the warm weather are still very much here, our residents whipped up seasonal cake creations – with some even looking like delicious 99 …Read More » Bowling fun is right up our residents’ alley July 26, 2021 There was fun to Spare over the weekend, as our Holy Cross Nursing Home residents decided to Strike out with a game of ten-pin bowling. With space cleared in the activity room, the pins and ball were neatly set up in preparation for the drama to unfold. Oooh’s and aaah’s …Read More » Activities at Parkhead are out of this world July 21, 2021 Guests at our Parkhead Resource Centre have been taking one giant leap towards fun and discovery this week, as they celebrated the anniversary of the moon landing. In reference to the date Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took those fateful steps in 1969, 20 July is known as National Moon …Read More » What a GRRRRReat piece of work July 20, 2021 Rachel, resident at our Alan Shearer Residential Home enjoys nothing more than spending time at the Alan Shearer Activity Centre with her favourite recreation assistant, Heather. The pair have enjoyed so many art and craft sessions over the last few months – with projects such as upcycling furniture and creating …Read More » It’s official – according to our residents St Catherine’s Nursing Home serves the best ice cream in town! July 19, 2021 Who doesn’t love an ice cream on a hot summer’s day? Our residents at St Catherine’s Nursing Home certainly showed they did this weekend. In our true ‘your wish is our command’ style, we took delivery of our very own ice-cream truck to give residents a sweet treat. “That’s fantastic,” …Read More » Welcoming back old friends July 16, 2021 It’s been amazing to see some of our old friends as we continue with the phased re-opening of our Alan Shearer Centre. There was smile all round when David returned for the first time yesterday. After a dip in our fantastic hydrotherapy pool David enjoyed his pack lunch in our …Read More » Keeping our fingers crossed for St Swithin’s Day July 15, 2021 Today is St Swithin’s day and as the famous legend has it: St Swithin’s Day if thou dost rain, For 40 days it will remain, St Swithin’s Day if thou be fair, For 40 days will rain na mair Resident’s at our Nursing home in Sunderland have their fingers and …Read More » Basking in Bastille history July 14, 2021 From period costume to chocolate eclairs, residents living in our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle have thoroughly enjoyed their virtual trip to France to mark Bastille Day. Accompanied by traditional accordion cafe music, our residents soaked up historical stories of fact and legend told by Activities’ Co-ordinator, Zaeley, who …Read More » Knit and natter in the sun July 13, 2021 Residents at St Catherine’s Nursing Home in Newcastle decided to make the most of their beautiful garden this weekend. Never a one to miss a sunny day, our residents decided to take their ‘knit and natter’ group outside. The name of the group maybe a little misleading as sometimes there’s …Read More » Marketing manager by day, ISL trip organiser by weekend July 12, 2021 Our Marketing Manager Nicola, certainly knows how to make our residents smile. This weekend she volunteered to be taxi driver and day trip organiser for tenants at our independent supported living service. Linda, enjoyed a trip to Tynemouth, first stop was exploring the hidden gems in Tynemouth Market where a …Read More » National BBQ Week has never tasted so good July 9, 2021 Guests at our Parkhead Resource Centre have kick started the Euro final’s weekend celebrating National BBQ week. There were lots of tasty BBQ regulars including burgers and sausages – Mr Sunshine even made a brief appearance. “Football fever took over the centre this week, so we thought we would take …Read More » Back in the saddle July 8, 2021 There was neigh holding back our two talented equestrians as they returned to riding school to show off their skills. Even though Sarah and Cheryl have been unable to enjoy horse riding since the start of the pandemic, they were soon trotting, cantering and galloping as if they’d never been …Read More » Wimbledon’s a winner for our residents July 7, 2021 Rain didn’t stop play at our Holy Cross nursing home where our residents thoroughly enjoyed getting into the Wimbledon spirit. It was game set and match for some of our residents who faced each other over their coffee table tennis court for a head-to-head with handmade paper plate rackets and …Read More » Celebrating NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day July 5, 2021 As a leading social care charity, we are delighted to support the NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day. Today allows us all to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our amazing staff teams. They have responded to the pandemic with their usual compassion, commitment and selflessness ensuring our …Read More » If you go down to the woods today … July 2, 2021 Did you know that July is National Picnic Month? Residents at our Alan Shearer Residential home are already embracing the occasion with not just any old picnic … but a teddy bears’ picnic! The windows at our Alan Shearer Centre have been transformed to set the scene and are looking …Read More » Bring on the celebrations July 1, 2021 Residents at our Holy Cross nursing home have boundless energy and enthusiasm when it comes to making sure our national days are celebrated properly – even when there’s something special to mark almost every day. The month of June was jam packed with so many national awareness days, yet our …Read More » Reach for the skies June 30, 2021 Everyone attending our Parkhead Resource Centre in Ashington has been carrying out a little competitive cultivating at home as the race hots up to grow the tallest sunflower. While our centre sessions continued via Zoom during the pandemic, tiny sunflower seeds were posted out to encourage everyone to plant the …Read More » Party, party, party! June 29, 2021 Rock and roll and sausage rolls were an absolute must at Kate’s party tea as she celebrated her birthday with her housemates and staff. Our home in Alnwick was alive with music, fun and laughter when everyone joined in to make sure Kate had the best birthday ever. “We all …Read More » Ain’t nothing like a hound dog June 25, 2021 A Whippet, a couple of Labradoodles and a brace of Boxers are among the special pets bringing so much joy to our service users on Bring Your Dog to Work Day. Across our services, dogs offered strokes and cuddles and lapped up treats and ‘walkies’ throughout the day. “Many of …Read More » Cupcakes and cuppas June 24, 2021 There’s always something special about a cake and a cuppa with friends, but residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle have enjoyed making their coffee morning extra special. Taking delicious, but very plain, cupcakes, our residents dipped into a selection of pretty icing decorations to create their own …Read More » Birthday tea party with plenty of smiles June 23, 2021 When it comes to making a birthday celebration special, nobody does it better than staff and tenants at our independent supported living service in Kenton. That was the verdict of our latest party princess, Diane, who enjoyed celebrating at a cosy tea party at home with her fellow housemates. “I …Read More » Sea how much we know about our oceans June 22, 2021 Young people at our Auton House residential children’s home in Newcastle have been dipping into all things ocean as they took a closer look at the incredible seas covering over 70% of our planet. Working with our staff, our young people learned how to be an ocean defender by doing …Read More » Learning Disability Week 2021 June 18, 2021 The theme of this years’ Learning Disability week is Art and Creativity and there’s nothing our residents don’t know about being artistic and creative. From a game of Pictionary at our Parkhead Resource Centre to the fabulous art gallery created by our tenants at our Independent Supported Living service in …Read More » Nutrition and Hydration week has never tasted so good June 18, 2021 Residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home have enjoyed an afternoon tea fit for a queen when they took part in a global tea party to mark Nutrition and Hydration Week. The week has been filled with all things food and drink related from smoothie making to baking, residents have …Read More » Along came National Beer Day June 17, 2021 Just when we thought national days couldn’t get any better, along came a day everyone across our charity was up for celebrating … National beer day! And with this glorious weather and football fever in the air who can blame them. Still on a high from being reunited at their …Read More » Smiles and Sprinkles for National Cupcake day June 16, 2021 These days there seem to be a national day to celebrate just about everything, but we think National Cupcake Day has got to be one of the best! And judging by the smiles from our residents, we think they agree too. Julie and Linda, residents at our Independent Supported Living …Read More » Swapping pints for pinot June 15, 2021 Residents at our home for adults with learning disabilities in Alnwick enjoyed a sophisticated ‘cheese and wine’ themed night alongside their support workers this weekend. The night was thoroughly enjoyed by all as residents sampled a variety of wines and tasting a selection of cheeses. Fully embracing the occasion, residents …Read More » Ladies who lunch June 14, 2021 Residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle have been keeping cool in style this weekend in their very own café. The vintage style café was created to give our residents a sense of ‘going out ’ in the comfort of their own home. With fresh scones and tea …Read More » It’s coming home … June 11, 2021 The beautiful game has come to our Parkhead Centre in Ashington as everyone is excited for tonight’s Euro 2021 opening ceremony. From face painting to a penalty shoot-out competition our guests have been having a ball. Well done Stephen for being our top scorer – if Gareth Southgate needs a …Read More » Sun, sea and smiles June 11, 2021 Tenants at our Sherringham House independent living apartments have been making the most of this gorgeous weather and what better way to enjoy the sunshine than with a visit to the seaside. David and David, along with their support worker, hopped on the metro to South Shields to soak up the …Read More » Say Cheese! … It’s National Smile Month June 10, 2021 In honour of National Smile Month, we thought we would share some smiles with you from across our services.Read More » Not goodbye, just au revoir June 9, 2021 Staff at our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential home enjoyed a bitter-sweet moment when resident, Beth, was finally able to move back into her family home. After suffering horrific brain injuries in a car crash at just 18 years old, Beth moved into our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential Home five years …Read More » Perfect partners June 8, 2021 Tenants at our Sherringham House independent living apartments enjoyed the perfect pairing of cheese and wine to mark National Cheese Day. With a glass of red wine and various cheeses to taste test, our sociable tenants relaxed together to share their connoisseur views and catch up on the day’s happenings. …Read More » Thank you to our wonderful volunteers June 7, 2021 In celebration of Volunteer’s Week 2021, we would like to say a great big thank you to all of our volunteers, fundraisers and supporters throughout our charity. We can’t thank you enough for everything that you do! We have a wide range of volunteering opportunities, something as small as sharing …Read More » Puppy love June 4, 2021 Sensory experiences don’t come much better than the latest visitor to our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential home in Newcastle. Registered Manager, Gareth, surprised everyone when he brought his brand new puppy, Pax, to meet our residents and staff at the home. “Thomas particularly loves cuddly toys,” said Gareth, “but a …Read More » An egg-cellent day at Parkhead June 3, 2021 Parkhead Resource Centre guests have had an egg-cellent day, with plenty of fun in the sun. Today is national egg day and what better way to celebrate than a good old fashioned egg and spoon race. But this was not just any egg and the spoon race, as there was …Read More » Relaxation keeps us busy June 2, 2021 It’s amazing what our St Catherine’s nursing home residents can pack into a lazy summer afternoon. Starting with a post-lunch period of relaxation listening to some classical music, our residents simply enjoyed basking in the sunshine in their tranquil courtyard garden. But, once refreshed, everyone agreed it was definitely time …Read More » Fun and celebrations in the sun June 1, 2021 There was plenty of cheer at Holy Cross as fellow residents raised a toast to celebrate Edna’s 100th birthday in glorious sunshine. The sprightly centenarian enjoyed plenty of fun and laughter, oodles of presents, a garden get-together with her family – and a special card from the Queen, of course. …Read More » Time for tea May 28, 2021 At our Holy Cross Nursing Home, in Sunderland it’s always a good time for tea.So to enhance the experience we have re-decorated one of our rooms and turned it into our very own tearoom. Doesn’t it look fabulous! The tearoom is the perfect spot for residents to share a cup …Read More » Name the Gnome May 27, 2021 This little gnome might look familiar as last month residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home enjoyed painting him a jazzy green jacket and red trouser combo. ‘He’s looking quite the gentleman now and best of all he doesn’t talk back!’ laughed Mary.Now that the weather is perking up (fingers …Read More » The time to be kind is always now May 26, 2021 Young people living in our Auton Residential Children’s home in Sunderland took the theme of showing kindness to your neighbour and turned it into reality by giving a very special gift. Each of our young people took time to help put together a pretty hamper of tasty treats and make …Read More » Eurovision gets our vote May 25, 2021 Residents at our home in Alnwick were glued to their TV for the return of the weird and wonderful world of Eurovision. With drinks and nibbles chosen specially to fit in with the multi-national theme, even their taste buds enjoyed a trip around the world. From Italian wine to Irish …Read More » Our residents work their magic May 21, 2021 Something magical has been happening in St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle, and it’s all down to the talents of our residents. With the help of our clever activities’ co-ordinators, a collection of humble wooden spoons has been transformed into a bewitching collection of good fairies. Our residents had great …Read More » Happy hoops for our Parkhead Peregrines May 20, 2021 Watch out Newcastle Eagles, now that the sun is finally shining, our Parkhead Peregrines have been out practising their moves. Regulars at our Parkhead Resource Centre in Ashington are loving being back together and couldn’t wait to get some friendly competition going around their basketball hoops. Pivots, Jump Shots and …Read More » Marking May days May 19, 2021 It’s been a busy and varied month so far for young people living in our Auton Residential Children’s home in Newcastle. Throughout the holy month of Ramadan, our young people learned about the importance of fasting and prayer and the celebration of Eid, getting a personal insight from one of …Read More » New wheels in town May 18, 2021 Yesterday was a special day for Fr Bob, residents at Holy Cross Nursing Home in Sunderland, as he took delivery of his new set of wheels. It didn’t take long before he was whizzing along the corridor – although we aren’t sure he can give up the L plates yet! …Read More » Celebrating 20 years of fostering May 17, 2021 A massive ‘thank you’ to our wonderful foster carers, Ian and Amanda, for 20 incredible years of fostering with us. If you’d like to become a foster carer, our small, friendly team would love to hear from you. Why not give our Registered Manager, Sheila, a call on 07813 117758.Read More » All you need is nature May 14, 2021 This week we have had typical May weather, the sun may shine, it may rain or we may have thunder, lightning and hail. But it hasn’t stopped our residents and staff from embracing the nature theme of Mental Health Awareness week. Residents from across the charity have been tending their …Read More » Keeping The Competitive Spirit Alive, One Game At A Time! May 13, 2021 There’s nothing our residents at St Catherine’s Nursing Home enjoy more than an afternoon of games in the lounge, accompanied with tea, cake and biscuits. Whether it be skittles, Connect 4 or Scrabble, Carers’ don’t stand a chance against our residents. ‘Of course, we are good at games we didn’t …Read More » International Nurses’ Day May 12, 2021 Today, as we celebrate International Nurses’ Day, we’d like to give a big shout out to all nurses. Our nurses are amazing, as well as providing our residents with expert care, they are always ready to offer a friendly smile and comforting companionship at any time of the day or …Read More » Sing for a Cuppa May 11, 2021 There’s nothing quite like a good sing-song to spread some cheer, especially when it’s accompanied by a cuppa and some cake. Residents at our Holy Cross nursing home in Sunderland were full of smiles when our carers provided them with ready-made song sheets and musical instruments so they could sing …Read More » Foster Care Fortnight May 10, 2021 Today marks the start of Foster Care Fortnight and our charity’s Fostering North East team is pleased to support this annual campaign with their own appeal for new carers for the many children in need of a loving home. Foster families, like any family, come in all shapes and sizes …Read More » A Blooming Marvellous National Gardening Week May 7, 2021 Whether it’s been arts and crafts, indoor planting or braving the cold residents from across our charity have embraced National Gardening Week. Although not everyone was hard at work – some took advantage of a rare glimpse of the May sunshine.Read More » No sur-pies our residents excel at baking May 6, 2021 Some good old fashioned baking had residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle chatting away about the times they would bake for their families. With the help of our nursing home Cook, Vian, our residents made delicious plate pies from scratch, filling them with corned beef and potato …Read More » Residents tune in for Karaoke May 5, 2021 There’s nothing like a bit of home entertainment when the weather is being far from spring-like outside and our residents at our home in Alnwick found just the thing to chase away the wintry weather. With the help of their karaoke machine, everyone was soon warming up their voices with …Read More » Rainy Day Fun May 4, 2021 There’s only one thing to do on a rainy day in May – enjoy a good old movie. Our residents at Holy Cross nursing home in Sunderland chose the all-time classic ‘Houseboat’ staring Sophie Lauren and Cary Grant to banish the cold, wet weather. Chris, our senior carer added an …Read More » Gardening week gets started at St Catherine’s April 30, 2021 St Catherine’s Arts and Craft group have been hard at work hand-decorating planter and garden gnomes for National Gardening Week. They have even painted some beautiful butterflies to bring some of the outdoors into our home. “My two favourite things,” said Selma “gardening and painting, oh and a cuppa and …Read More » Bible gifts acknowledge our keyworkers April 29, 2021 Staff at our home for adults with learning disabilities in Alnwick were delighted when their frontline keyworker status was acknowledged with some very special gifts. Before lockdown, resident, Hughie, was often accompanied to church by his friend, Brian who thought a set of specially produced bibles would make the perfect …Read More » Sweet 16 party full of surprises April 28, 2021 Turning sweet 16 is a special time in anyone’s life, but for one of our looked after young people it was made an extra special occasion when her birthday wishes came true. Abbie, who lives in our Auton residential children’s home in Sunderland, really wanted a slumber party to mark …Read More » Great to be back at Parkhead April 27, 2021 No-one could hide how much they loved being back at our Parkhead Resource Centre in Ashington as the doors were finally able to open again after lockdown. Imaginative and engaging Zoom sessions had kept everyone going when they were unable to meet in person, but being back together in person …Read More » St George’s Day Celebrations April 23, 2021 Our services are celebrating St George’s day in very English style with afternoon tea, quizzes and good old arts and crafts. We have been surprised with some of the interesting facts we have learnt about St George did you know St George: Wasn’t English – he was actually born in …Read More » A right royal tea party April 22, 2021 Although the Queen is still in mourning, people living in our specialist residential home at the Alan Shearer Centre wanted to hold a special tea party in honour of Her Majesty’s 95th birthday. The royal tea party began with a baking session which produced delicious home-made cheese and fruit scones …Read More » A day out delights after lockdown April 21, 2021 Sherringham Alfresco A day out turned into a bit of a celebration for tenants living in our Sherringham House independent living apartments. With lockdown easing, staff surprised them with a table booking at their local pub where they were able to enjoy a drink and meal out for the first …Read More » A look back at the 80’s April 20, 2021 Auton 80’s Young people at our Auton residential children’s home in Newcastle delved into history by reliving some of the fun highlights of the 1980’s. Vibrant colours, hippy chic, lycra, leg warmers and oversized medallions were just some of the fashions on parade, while staff laid on a buffet of …Read More » Out of this world April 16, 2021 Our Parkhead regulars have taken their zoom sessions to the next level for ‘International Day of Human Space Flight’. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first human space flight Tomas and James certainly looked the part. We think they look out of this world! Parkhead, our day centre in Ashington, …Read More » Resident’s delight as hairdresser returns April 15, 2021 Like most of us, our resident’s at Holy Cross Nursing Home have been counting down the days for the return of their much-loved hairdresser, Margaret. And Margaret certainly didn’t disappoint, there were smiles all around as residents enjoyed a pamper and a good catch up in the salon. We think …Read More » Grounds and gardens open for visits April 14, 2021 What better way to celebrate the arrival of some spring sunshine than by knowing how much joy our Alan Shearer Centre grounds and gardens are bringing once more. Rachel and Thomas, pictured, who live in our specialist residential home in the grounds, were happy to check everything was ship shape …Read More » Thoughtful staff bring spring indoors April 13, 2021 When freezing temperatures put paid to hopes of our Holy Cross residents being able to pop out to see the home’s spring garden displays, our staff had just the solution. If our residents couldn’t go out to see the flowers, staff would bring the flowers to our residents. Armed with …Read More » Paying tribute to Prince Philip April 9, 2021 Residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle have been paying their respects to Prince Philip with a special Mass in their chapel. ‘The news of Prince Philip’s death has come as a shock and is particularly sad for many of us as we belong to the same era …Read More » Musical Bingo mornings at St Catherine’s Nursing Home April 8, 2021 We had toes tapping and chair dancing this morning, as residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle enjoyed a few games of musical bingo. ‘Our residents love a good sing-along and some friendly competition, so we thought let’s combine the two!’ beamed activities’ coordinator, Jenny. Resident, Mary, was …Read More » Beth’s visit makes headlines April 7, 2021 Beth, one of our residents at our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential home, has felt quite the celebrity since being featured in the Chronicle, showing the special moment she was able to hold her mum’s hand for the first time in over a year. Across our charity, we have pulled out …Read More » What an egg-citing Easter April 6, 2021 Around our services Easter has been marked with a host of different activities, each one giving the chance for our service users – and staff – to show off their talents. Our nursing homes have both enjoyed holding competitions, with Holy Cross in Sunderland organising a traditional Easter bonnet competition …Read More » Spring has sprung! March 31, 2021 Residents at our Alan Shearer Specialist Home have been making the most of the good weather and our beautiful grounds. They started the afternoon off making Easter bonnets, for their parade during the Easter weekend, and rounded it off with a lovely picnic in the sunshine. Our grounds open to …Read More » Bailiffgate enjoy a garden spruce March 30, 2021 The warmer weather has got everyone looking forward to days in the garden, especially our residents at our home in Bailiffgate, Alnwick, who decided to get a head start by giving their garden a little spring clean. It was a real team effort as everyone got involved, from tackling unwanted …Read More » Battle of the nursing homes March 26, 2021 It was the battle of our Newcastle and Sunderland nursing homes when residents threw down the gauntlet for a virtual quick draw challenge. No Wild West shoot outs were involved, simply a very enthusiastic game of Pictionary involving some technological wizardry to bring the teams together. Our residents at St …Read More » Bailiffgate Bake Off March 25, 2021 Inspired by the Bake Off series on TV, residents at our home in Bailiffgate, Alnwick, have been rustling up their own favourite dishes. Traditional Scotch eggs were their first challenge, which tested their skills in cooking and peeling eggs to perfection before carefully wrapping them in a delicious coat of …Read More » Egg-stra special donations March 24, 2021 Our grateful thanks go to Morrisons West Denton for their generous donation of Easter eggs. We collected more than 200 delicious chocolate eggs from their Community Champion, Sharon, and they’ll now be distributed to our service users in time for Easter Sunday. “This is a wonderful gesture from Morrisons,” said …Read More » Birthday gifts to excite the senses March 23, 2021 Manager at our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential Home, Gareth, sprung quite a surprise for a special birthday. Whilst on annual leave, Gareth tapped into his incredible culinary skills to rustle up a glamorous and delicious cake for Emily, who lives in our home, to mark her 21st birthday. Combining all …Read More » Spring into our Activity Centre gardens March 22, 2021 We’re delighted to be able to begin taking bookings for the gorgeous grounds and gardens at our Alan Shearer Centre from Thursday, 1st April. As well as having over an acre of open space to explore, our adapted outdoor equipment will also be available. Members and guests will be able …Read More » St Cuthbert’s Day March 20, 2021 This has been a difficult year for us all, with many of us living apart from our families and loved ones. Today, as we mark the Feast of St Cuthbert – the patron saint of our Diocese and the namesake of our charity – we remember his life. Cuthbert was …Read More » Instant makeover inspired by Mother Nature March 19, 2021 The arrival of spring continues to inspire, with residents at our home in Alnwick choosing to pay tribute to the wonders of Mother Nature at this time of year. Daffodils, spring bulbs and budding trees in their garden got our residents thinking they’d quite like a touch of springtime colour …Read More » Swing into spring March 18, 2021 Residents at our Holy Cross nursing home had a swinging time at their Spring Bop with a selection of much-loved music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. The chilly, dull weather outside soon became a distant memory as everyone reminisced about days gone by and how exciting it was to …Read More » Happy St Patrick’s Day March 17, 2021 St Patrick’s Day celebrations are in full swing right across our services today. In keeping with tradition, leprechauns, shamrocks, tasty Irish fayre and Guinness all feature in the fun festivities, but there’s a little of the unexpected, too. Over at our independent supported living apartments in Kenton, our service users …Read More » Spring makeover for Rachel’s room March 16, 2021 Rachel, who lives in our specialist residential home at the Alan Shearer Centre, is celebrating the arrival of spring with her blossoming crafting talents. Supported by Heather – one of our Centre’s talented recreation assistants – Rachel has transformed a forgotten chair into a stunning floral masterpiece for her room. …Read More » Friendship never tasted so good March 15, 2021 Young people at our Auton residential children’s home in Newcastle are learning all about baking, generosity, responsibility and patience in their latest project. In true sharing style, staff member, Laura, has given part of her special friendship cake mixture to the young people so they can start growing and raising …Read More » Doll therapy recalls the bliss of motherhood March 12, 2021 As Mothering Sunday approaches, residents at our Holy Cross nursing home in Sunderland have been recalling the blissful days of motherhood. Residents living with dementia in our nursing homes often find comfort through doll therapy sessions with our staff, revisiting a time when they enjoyed nurturing and raising their families. …Read More » Kate’s hall of fame March 11, 2021 A resident at our residential home in Alnwick is creating her very own hall of fame to show off her talents. With the help of our staff, Kate has shown amazing patience and courage to work with her disability to complete a painting of Winnie the Pooh. “It’s very difficult …Read More » A little less conversation as Elvis joins Zoom March 10, 2021 Our Parkhead regulars have added an Elvis concert to the list of things they’ve been able to enjoy together over Zoom whilst our Ashington-based centre is closed. Jamie Fox struck a chord with everyone with his Elvis tribute act, belting out some of The King’s greatest hits, including Teddy Bear …Read More » A day to remember March 9, 2021 Today has been a day to remember at our St Catherine’s Nursing Home as it was the first time Stan has been able to hold his daughters hand since January last year. It was an emotional reunion for all, with staff holding back tears. “It’s just so lovely to see …Read More » International Women’s Day March 8, 2021 Today, as we mark International Women’s Day, we acknowledge the many inspirational women throughout our charity. With great admiration we share the story of one of our amazing resident at St Catherine’s nursing home, Barbara Hann CBE. At just 13 years old, Barbara was one of a number of girls …Read More » British Pie Week March 5, 2021 The great British Pie is being celebrated this week and people around our services have been enjoying baking and eating their perfect pastries. Aromatic apple, sensational steak and kidney and comforting corned beef and onion were just three of the favourite fillings served up with pastry jackets. Of course, a …Read More » World Book Day – Rachel’s book nook March 4, 2021 What better way to enjoy World Book Day than to snuggle up with a good book in our book nook at our Alan Shearer Centre. That’s exactly how Rachel, who lives in our adjacent specialist residential home, chose to spend some time. Not only has Rachel enjoyed dipping into her …Read More » Sun brings promise of more garden days March 3, 2021 At the first glimpse of warm, spring sunshine residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle couldn’t wait to get outside to revisit their gardens. Our sheltered kitchen garden and courtyard garden are both sun traps, giving all the protection our residents need to enjoy an early spring jaunt …Read More » Tablet gift keeps Debra in touch March 2, 2021 Despite lockdown, Debra, who lives in one of our independent supported living houses, is keeping up with her classes and her friends, thanks to a very special gift. The Hub, which Debra usually attends in person for drawing lessons and to meet up with friends, has provided her with a …Read More » Food for thought during Real Bread Week February 26, 2021 It may be Real Bread Week and, while many of our services are enjoying baking and eating their own bread, one of our children’s residential homes has gone gluten free. Understanding and respecting other people’s differences is a topic that’s often explored at our home so, when staff member, Jayne, …Read More » Green room is perfect mix for Emily February 25, 2021 Residents at our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential home are making the most of their exclusive time in our Activity Centre. Emily has grown to love our green sensory room with its mix of calming colours, bubble tubes and interactive light box. While she’s waiting to enjoy the Centre’s gorgeous grounds …Read More » Baking with Phil and Gill February 24, 2021 Philip, who lives in one of our independent supported living houses, has revived a favourite pastime thanks to his sister and the local postie. When a special package from his sister dropped through his letterbox, Philip was overjoyed to find it contained a cookery book with lots of his favourite …Read More » Sharing and caring February 23, 2021 Our services often exchange thoughtful little gifts, so, when craft and cookery sessions at our Alan Shearer Centre produced some goodies to spare, they were quickly dispatched to our nursing home in Sunderland. Cheery bird sculptures, made during a focus on bird watching at the Alan Shearer Centre, were soon …Read More » Poppy lights ups the room February 22, 2021 Our Holy Cross Nursing Home residents in Sunderland were delighted when operations Manager, Michelle, brought in a surprise visitor. Michelle’s gorgeous dog, Poppy, certainly lit up the room, from playing fetch to having cuddles, she provided lots of fun and laughter. “When it was time to go home, Poppy didn’t …Read More » Showcasing the positives for Care Day February 19, 2021 Young people in our Auton residential children’s homes have been marking today’s global celebration of children in care by getting creative with their feelings and achievements. Acknowledging Care Day, each young person in our home in Sunderland has chosen to make a poster featuring, in their own words, what being …Read More » Feeling good and keeping active with Mexican Day February 18, 2021 Young people living in our Auton residential children’s home in Newcastle love a themed day – especially when it’s as colourful and expressive as their recent Mexican Day. Being able to express how they feel is something our young people can find difficult, so it can be really helpful when …Read More » Howay and have a happy birthday, Chris February 17, 2021 Tenants at our Sherringham House independent supported living apartments thought Christmas had returned this morning. However, the piles of presents to be found in every spare space of their kitchen diner marked the start of a very special 60th birthday bash for fellow tenant and friend, Chris. Keen football fan, …Read More » A feast of treats for Pancake Day February 16, 2021 Pancakes are definitely the order of the day today with lots of flipping and filling going on around our services. Residents at our nursing homes in Newcastle and Sunderland have been remembering times when their families were young and the excitement of making pancakes together. “It’s been lovely,” said St …Read More » Love, hearts and secrets February 15, 2021 Lovingly crafted cards and hand-made badges are just some of the ways people around our services marked Valentine’s Day. This year, sending cards or tokens of affection to someone special has been more important than ever for many of our service users who are still unable to see friends or …Read More » Welcome Chinese New Year Of The Ox February 12, 2021 People around our services have been pulling out all the stops and honing their craft skills to make sure they are ready to greet the Year of the Ox. Beautiful wall displays, Chinese lanterns and traditional paper dragons – including an impressive giant sculpture made by our St Catherine’s nursing …Read More » Snow fun February 11, 2021 It’s perfect weather for making snowmen – and there are plenty of them cropping up outside our services. The rare, heavy snowfall has provided loads of fun – we just hope there aren’t too many people missing their winter scarves and hats. At least the snowmen look cosy! Julie and …Read More » A great way to start your career February 11, 2021 In our final piece to mark Apprenticeship Week, Robert, who now works for us as IT Support, shares his experience of our apprenticeship scheme: “As an apprentice, I think I had the best of both worlds: benefiting from all the practical experience – and a salary – that comes with …Read More » Hard work, but so rewarding February 10, 2021 As we continue to mark Apprenticeship Week, Rose, who has just joined our St Catherine’s Nursing Home as an apprentice carer, shares her apprenticeship story: “I’ve wanted to work in care for as long as I can remember and, when I did some research, I found St Cuthbert’s Care’s apprenticeship …Read More » Great opportunities, great salary February 9, 2021 In our second piece to mark Apprenticeship Week, our HR Officer, Grace, provides a few more details about our apprenticeship opportunities: University isn’t for everyone, but you can still take the first steps towards a rewarding career by joining us as an apprentice in health and social care. Whilst working …Read More » Kick start your career with our apprenticeships February 8, 2021 Throughout this week we’ll be taking a look at opportunities to work and learn with our charity as we mark Apprenticeship Week. As one of the longest-established social care charities in our region we are looking for reliable, dedicated and compassionate people to join our apprenticeships scheme in health and …Read More » Vaccine is landmark moment for Jordan February 5, 2021 Staff set up a mini vaccination centre in our Alan Shearer Centre to make it is as easy as possible for people living in our adjoining specialist residential home to receive their first Covid vaccine. Each resident has profound disabilities which makes it difficult for them to understand the vaccination …Read More » A little of what you fancy February 5, 2021 We love making sure our nursing home residents feel extra special and know exactly what’s at the top of their list of favourite indulgences. For residents in our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle, staying in really is the new going out when we lay on afternoon tea in our …Read More » Keeping dignity in the spotlight February 2, 2021 With support from our staff, people around our disability services have been busy expressing exactly how important Dignity Day is to them. People living in our independent supported living services and our residential home in Alnwick have made murals, created artwork, and enjoyed lively debates, discussing some of the words …Read More » Not just for Dignity Day February 1, 2021 Today’s Dignity Action Day offers an opportunity to focus on the importance of dignity in care and gives us the chance to highlight the work of our dignity champions. Each of our services, has its own dignity champion, ensuring the dignity and respect of each individual in our care is …Read More » Pizza perfect January 29, 2021 Rachel, who lives in our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential home, loves a good stint in the kitchen making delicious food to share. Her dedication to making the perfect pizza starts with hand-stretched dough, of course, and a variety of toppings that would be the envy of any pizza parlour worth …Read More » A look back at fun in the sun January 28, 2021 This week’s Throwback Thursday has turned up a gorgeous photo to remind us all of lazy summer days that we all hope we can enjoy again later this year. Residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle love nothing more than basking under parasols in their courtyard garden, sipping …Read More » Holocaust Memorial Day January 27, 2021 Young people in our Auton residential children’s home in Newcastle have been taking a look back in history to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Our staff have gathered information and photographs to create a mural for our home, which acts as a poignant reminder of the Nazi atrocities marked on this …Read More » Charming the birds out of the trees January 26, 2021 Residents at our Holy Cross nursing home in Sunderland are hoping their beautiful, hand-decorated bird houses are going to be a hit during this year’s Big Garden Bird Watch. Already surrounded by beautiful grounds and trees strung with tasty snack-filled feeders, their bird houses are another addition to their gardens …Read More » Burns Night Celebrations at St Catherine’s Nursing Home January 25, 2021 Activity Co-ordinators, Jenny and Zaeley have delivered a fantastic Burns Night celebration for residents at St Catherine’s Nursing Home. The lounge has been transformed with decorations created by our residents to celebrate the work of Robert Burns. Along with poetry, our residents have also enjoyed some Scottish delicacies, including a …Read More » Words of friendship signed and sealed January 22, 2021 Friends separated because of the pandemic have revived the art of letter writing to help them to keep in touch. Before lockdown, strong friendships had sprung up between people living in our home in Alnwick and others living in our independent supported living apartments in Kenton, with regular visits, shared …Read More » Puzzle makes perfect keepsake January 21, 2021 When a member of our support staff retired, he couldn’t go without a very special memento being left behind to mark the especially close bonds he had with one of our service users. Michael, a key worker at our Sherringham House independent supported living apartments, was popular with all of …Read More » Staying cosy in our Lilac sensory room January 20, 2021 On a dull and chilly winter day, Rachel, who lives in our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential home, found the perfect place to enjoy a favourite hobby. With unlimited access to our Alan Shearer Activity Centre, Rachel decided a cosy corner in the calming, Lilac sensory room was just the ticket …Read More » A ray of sunshine on a dull day January 19, 2021 Nicola, our Marketing Manager, brought a little bit of sunshine to our Residents at St Catherine’s as they celebrated International Flower Day. Many of our residents are keen gardeners, we thought this would be perfect to watch grow, we are sure when bloomed they will look beautiful. Symbolising friendship, the …Read More » Beat Blue Monday January 19, 2021 Grace, our Mental Health First Aid Champion shares her tips for overcoming #bluemonday: 1. Pick up the phone and catch up with a friend or family member Now more than ever it is important to stay connected to our loved ones. Make yourself a cup of tea and have a …Read More » Being Gorgeous Georgians for a day January 13, 2021 Our Parkhead regulars have had a ‘horrible’ time at their latest Zoom session – and enjoyed every minute of it. Their Horrible Histories Zoom get-together took a look back at the Georgina period, with everyone taking it in turns to become one of the dubious characters around at the time …Read More » Music and sparkle make fitting tribute January 12, 2021 Photos are just in of some of our service users enjoying a day of celebration to mark Elvis Presley’s birthday. Rachel from our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential home chose to give her tribute by making a guitar from all the pre-loved materials she could find, making sure to finish off …Read More » Lunchtime menu to beat the chills January 8, 2021 As frost, snow and plummeting temperatures continue across the region, one of our residents at our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential home has been preparing the perfect comfort food. When resident, Rachel, and recreation assistant, Heather, headed to the kitchen for their regular cookery session, they couldn’t wait to surprise everyone …Read More » Messages of thanks are so special January 7, 2021 Christmas crafting may be over, but residents at our home in Alnwick still had some creative flair left over for their thank you cards. Our residents were so delighted with their Christmas gifts that they wanted to make sure their thank you messages were just as special too. So, adding …Read More » Residents give their verdict on virtual gaming January 6, 2021 Residents living in our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle set aside their traditional games to try their hand at some virtual gaming. Being past masters of skittles, bowling, quoits and even the humble yoyo, it was time to expand their talents and, with the help of activities’ co-ordinator, Zaeley, …Read More » Our vaccine roll out begins January 6, 2021 Today at 3pm, 90-year-old Bill Fennelly was delighted to make St Cuthbert’s Care history by becoming our first resident to receive the COVID -19 vaccine. Receiving the vaccine, Bill, who lives in our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle, said: “I’ve had many vaccinations in my life but none as …Read More » Festive show beamed live to our residents December 23, 2020 Residents at our Holy Cross nursing home in Sunderland have enjoyed a Christmas performance by one of their favourite entertainers, thanks to a live link direct to their home. Entertainer, Michaela, has performed for our residents many times and her Christmas shows are always a massive hit with everyone. So, …Read More » Thank you for a green Christmas December 22, 2020 We would like to send a massive ‘thank you’ to class 11BBC at Sacred Heart RC High School for their incredibly thoughtful Christmas gift with a difference. The environmentally conscious class has dedicated seven trees to our charity as part of a drive by the National Trust to plant a …Read More » Residents just can’t stop making Christmas special December 21, 2020 Christmas may be just around the corner, but that hasn’t stopped residents living in our home in Alnwick adding a little bit more to their festive décor. Christmas crafts have been so popular with everyone that they wanted to make just a few more decorations – this time, some sparkling …Read More » Singing students bring Christmas joy December 18, 2020 Christmas at our St Catherine’s nursing home is never complete without a visit from a school choir and, even in this difficult year, we found a way to keep to the tradition. A total of 55 Santa-hat-wearing students from English Martyrs’ Primary School lined our home’s kitchen garden to entertain …Read More » Bauble with a special message December 17, 2020 Staff and young people at our Auton Residential Children’s Home in Newcastle have included a very poignant message in their Christmas decorations this year. A unique bauble takes pride of place on the home’s Christmas tree to mark the year of lockdown and celebrates the close bonds of everyone who …Read More » Spreading the word about human rights December 16, 2020 Our Sherringham House independent supported living tenants produced a colourful and informative display for the foyer of their apartments to mark Human Rights Day. Our tenants collected posters and information sheets to promote this year’s theme of ‘Build Back Better’ which focuses on the importance of human rights in re-building …Read More » Fun and laughter with balloon pong December 14, 2020 Our St Catherine’s nursing home activities co-ordinator, Zaeley, is always prepared when it comes to creating something fun and new for our residents. With the help of a simple balloon and a basket, a new game of ‘balloon pong’ was quickly invented to spread smiles and laughter on a wintry …Read More » Student letters spread Christmas joy December 11, 2020 Residents at our Holy Cross nursing home in Sunderland would like to thank the girls from St Anthony’s Catholic Academy for sending them lots of Christmas joy. Visits from the girls were always a highlight at our home so, to let our residents know they were still very much in …Read More » Throwback Thursday – visitors come carolling December 10, 2020 We aren’t able to invite visitors into our nursing homes just yet, so we thought it would be lovely to look back at the time we had some very special visitors last year. Residents at our St Catherine’s nursing home are lucky enough to have some great friends in the …Read More » It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas December 9, 2020 There’s nothing quite like home-made treats at Christmas and Rachel, who lives in our Alan Shearer Specialist residential home, couldn’t wait to whip up some of her festive favourites. With the support of our recreation assistant, Heather, the kitchen was soon smelling of ginger and spice as a tasty dough …Read More » Advent crafts by post December 8, 2020 Our Parkhead Resource Centre in Ashington isn’t only scoring a hit with their regular Zoom sessions; craft kits sent out by our staff in the post have been popular, too. When the latest craft kit arrived through the letterbox, it had everyone reaching for the paints, crayons and pencils to …Read More » Pop-up salon is a perfect treat December 4, 2020 There was no way residents at our home in Alnwick were going to miss out on their beauty treatments while salons remained closed during lockdown. Too fond of a pamper to skip their usual facials and haircuts, our staff helped our residents to turn the home’s lounge into a relaxing …Read More » International Day for People with Disabilities December 3, 2020 To mark International Day for People with Disabilities, we’d like to showcase the work of two of our amazing young adults. Rachel and Matthew, who live in our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential home in Newcastle, love this time of year – especially when it comes to showing off their crafting …Read More » Cards that say we’re thinking of you December 2, 2020 Residents living in our St Catherine’s nursing home have each received a special handwritten card from staff working in our charity’s head office. The ‘thinking of you’ cards have been sent to let our residents know that, despite being unable to visit in person, our staff still have each and …Read More » Song of the Day returns for Christmas December 1, 2020 Back by popular demand is our Song of the Day, which lifted so many spirits around our services all spring and summer. From our children’s services to our nursing homes, people thoroughly enjoyed picking their all-time favourite song to share with everyone across our charity. And, with our new festive …Read More » Advent message from our CEO November 30, 2020 Dear Friends The events of this year have resulted in us working very differently at St Cuthbert’s Care. We have striven to ensure that our client groups have remained safe. In addition, to help to maintain high levels of physical and mental wellbeing, we have protected the close and precious …Read More » Remembering our special little visitor November 27, 2020 A little throwback to when St Catherine’s Nursing Home had a furry VIP visitor, Laika the Labrador. Our residents were ecstatic when Wag and Company came to visit for some animal therapy. Laika made herself right at home and certainly brought a smile to everyone’s face, she was spoilt rotten …Read More » Sherringham…mmmm November 26, 2020 Our tenants at Sherringham House independent supported living apartments like nothing better than a natter with a tasty treat or two – especially when they’re home-made. Each person chose their own recipe to follow and, after little more than an hour, the kitchen was filled with enticing aromas and a …Read More » Parkhead delves into the Wild West November 25, 2020 It may not have been high noon when our latest Parkhead Resource Centre Zoom session was held, but their Wild West afternoon was a massive hit just the same. Our regulars and staff dressed up for the occasion in fine style, complete with cowboy hats, sheriff badges and bandanas. And …Read More » Alternative pub quiz is a big hit November 24, 2020 Pub quizzes may be on hold for the time being, but residents living in our St Catherine’s nursing home in Newcastle have enjoyed the next best thing. From the comfort of their cosy lounge, our residents had a brilliant afternoon taking a little general knowledge quiz while enjoying a glass …Read More » Putting on the style November 23, 2020 Our multi-talented staff at our Holy Cross nursing home in Sunderland are happily turning their hand to hair styling to keep our residents looking their best. With lockdown preventing visits from their usual professional hairdresser, our Duty Manager, Sam, can easily fix a bad hair day in no time at …Read More » A winning month for our young people November 20, 2020 November has been a busy time for young people living in our Auton House residential children’s home in Newcastle. The month has provided so many opportunities to learn and explore a variety of topics – from looking at men’s mental health to mark Movember, to joining in with the odd …Read More » Spring colour provides feast for wildlife, too November 19, 2020 Although the days are short and the temperatures are dropping, we’re already planning stunning spring displays that are nature-friendly, too. All around our services, spring flowering bulbs are being planted – including over 3,000 assorted bee, bird and butterfly-friendly bulbs at our head office grounds which we also share with …Read More » No loafing around for baking special November 18, 2020 It was Zoom video calling to the rescue when our Parkhead Resource Centre regulars wanted to mark home-made bread day together. In the latest in a series of Zoom calls, our Parkhead service users certainly rose to the occasion by being prepared with all their ingredients for a bread baking …Read More » Pampering in style November 13, 2020 Like many of us, our residents at St Catherine’s Nursing Home, are missing their weekly trip to the salon, but in true, your wish is our command style, our marketing team have come to the rescue. Although they know nothing about perms and we thought it best to hide the …Read More » Zooming marvellous fun November 12, 2020 Parkhead, our day centre for adults with disabilities, in Ashington, is keeping spirits high and proving that although we may be physically apart, we can still spend time together. The team has gone above and beyond to create fun and engaging Zoom sessions, bringing fun-based learning back on the agenda, …Read More » Heartfelt displays to commemorate Remembrance Day November 11, 2020 Residents across St Cuthbert’s Care have been creating beautiful displays to commemorate Remembrance Day. Each display has been hand-made with so much love and thought. From painted poppies, that drape beautifully in St Catherine’s Nursing Home’s chapel, to stunning silhouette artwork that is displayed at The Alan Shearer Centre’s window. …Read More » Hedgehog buns are a hit at Alan Shearer Residential November 10, 2020 Rachel, who lives in our Alan Shearer Specialist Residential home, has been enjoying autumn so much that it’s even providing inspiration for her cookery. As well as being a talented artist, Rachel enjoys cooking and baking, too, and, with the support of our staff, turned her hand to creating some …Read More » Strawberry smoothie tops the taste test November 6, 2020 Our residents at our Holy Cross nursing home in Sunderland have found a winning way to enjoy their five a day. Freshly made fruit smoothies that not only do you good but look terrific are available on their menu every day; and, to make sure they are the best they …Read More » An explosion of colour on Guy Fawkes night November 5, 2020 Firework celebrations around our services don’t need to go with a bang to be a success. Our service users have happily created a dazzling display of colourful crafts and paintings to mark Guy Fawkes night and, for those who like a little more sparkle, there’ll be a few virtual displays …Read More » Five star staycation for bugs November 3, 2020 It’s great to get cosy during the autumn and winter months and Rachel, who lives in our Specialist Residential Home, has even been sparing a thought for the smallest of creatures. With the support of our staff, Rachel has made one of the fanciest bug hotels any discerning guest could …Read More » Virtual Halloween still oozes with fun October 30, 2020 Guys and ghouls are out in force around our services as everyone finalises their preparations for this year’s very different take on Halloween. Although the current restrictions mean our service users are unable to mingle to mark the spookiest event in the calendar, it certainly hasn’t cramped their style. Many …Read More » Handy way to show things we hold dear October 29, 2020 Our Holy Cross nursing home residents in Sunderland have used their hands to capture some of the most special things in their lives. Combining crafts and reminiscence – two of their favourite ways to spend time together – our residents created templates of their hands to use as a blank …Read More » Parkhead serves up virtual cookery fun October 28, 2020 Our Parkhead Centre in Ashington is bustling with exciting activities – even if they have to be of the virtual kind for now. While the Centre remains closed, regular Zoom sessions are helping our service users to keep in touch and making sure their admirable skills stay in tip top …Read More » © St Cuthbert's Care 2020. Company Limited by Guarantee. Company Registration No. 1645917. Registered Charity No.512912 Cookies Privacy Notice Learn more Cookie settings ACCEPT