Porthaven Blog | Porthaven Care Homes

We wore pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Date posted: 28th October 2026

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we hosted a Wear It Pink Day in our wonderful home to raise vital funds for a great cause.

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Our day out to remember!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

We enjoyed the most wonderful day out on a bus trip to Weymouth this month! From the sea air to the beautiful views, it was a fantastic day filled with fresh air, laughter and lovely company. It's outings like these that bring so much joy. They are a chance to get out, explore and make new memories together.

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Happy birthday, Shirley!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

We love making our residents feel special on their special day, and this month we celebrated Shirley! We would like to thank our team for helping celebrate this milestone. Our talented chef made a delicious birthday cake for the occasion and our team members gathered everyone around to sing.

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We celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

In honour of this important month, we hosted a cocktail and mocktail celebration with our residents, team members and loved ones. We decorated our home with all things pink, and of course spent our time sipping pink-themed drinks accompanied by delicious pink treats!

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Our indoor bowls sessions are becoming a regular favourite!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

We look forward to our indoor bowls sessions. They are full of determination from everyone who attends, friendly competition, and lots of encouragement from friends. Seated exercise like this keeps our residents moving and gives them an opportunity to socialise and share a funny moment.

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A brilliant trip out was enjoyed by all!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

We enjoyed a brilliant trip out exploring the beautiful grounds and interiors of Winchester Cathedral which has over 1,000 years of heritage. Our guided tour of such amazing history was much appreciated!

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We enjoyed some seasonal flower arranging.

Date posted: 28th October 2026

To welcome the new season into our home, we kept ourselves busy creating autumnal floral masterpieces. Our Activities and Wellbeing team members helped our residents create these beautiful creations which we have displayed around our home for everyone to enjoy.

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Happy 94th Birthday, Pam!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

One of our wonderful residents, Pamela, turned 94 this month! To celebrate, she invited her family and friends to our home for an experience in our gorgeous private dining room. It was a beautiful occasion filled with laughter, love and plenty of special memories. Our whole team sang happy birthday to Pamela which took her by surprise in the best way – she looked so happy, which was wonderful for everyone to witness.

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We hosted a wonderful Silver Sunday celebration!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

We enjoyed celebrating Silver Sunday, Age UK's national campaign to celebrate older people by encouraging organisations to host activities and events. We were joined by 20 fabulous members of our local community for a delicious three-course Sunday lunch followed by a fantastic performance by saxophonist Alan Hook.

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We enjoyed a change of scenery for one of our Memory Café events.

Date posted: 28th October 2026

We host a weekly Memory Café at Lea Grange alongside The Harpenden Trust. This month, we ventured to a nearby venue of The Salvation Army to support our community.

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We enjoyed sharing hobbies this month.

Date posted: 28th October 2026

Our wonderful resident Irene is a very talented knitter, and has been teaching Natasha, our Activities and Wellbeing Assistant, the craft. Knitting requires great hand-eye coordination skills and definitely a lot of patience, which Irene passed on to Natasha very kindly.

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We celebrated National Cadets Week!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

In honour of this special week, we wanted to share a life story of one of our residents who was in the RAF for 36 years, eventually retiring as a Wing Commander. He was the mentor for the RAF Air Cadets in Somerset and taught them flying skills. He also organised their parades, marches, attended their sporting activities and organised comping.

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Happy 96th birthday, Norma!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

We love celebrating amazing milestones and making our residents feel special on their special days, and this month the spotlight was on Norma! We made birthday cake for Norma, bought her some flowers and sourced some very impressive balloons.

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We celebrated International Chefs Day!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

We celebrated and paid tribute to our wonderful hospitality team whose hard work, passion and dedication help make our home a special place. They bring smiles to faces, create moments of togetherness and ensure our residents and lovely guests feel welcomed and cared for every day.

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We got involved with local organisations!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

As soon as we heard the wonderful team at Harry’s Rainbow were hosting a chocolate-filled ball to raise funds, we had to get involved! Harry’s Rainbow is one of the only Milton Keynes-based charities, and they support bereaved children and their families in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas – a great cause that deserves ours and our community’s contributions.

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We connected generations for National Cadets Week!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

In honour of National Cadets Week, we hosted Ledbury Army Cadet Force in our wonderful home, bridging the gap between young people of today and, of course, our amazing Veteran residents and their loved ones. We shared stories while looked back on our residents’ service days and were honoured to highlight Nigel, 16th Air Defence Royal Artillery, Margaret, an RAF wife for over 20 years, and Bill and Ethel, where Bill served six years with The Black Watch and 10 years in the Merchant Navy.

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We welcomed the new season into our home.

Date posted: 28th October 2026

With changing seasons at this time of year, it can be hard to adjust to less daylight and colder winds blowing… but that didn’t stop our residents from enjoying themed arts and crafts! We designed beautiful autumn wreaths together which we have displayed on residents’ bedroom doors. This activity was a wonderful way to introduce the new season and allow for a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all.

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We celebrated International Chefs Day!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

We thanked our wonderful kitchen team for everything they do, every day, for our residents, team members and visitors at our home. Our amazing chefs joined our residents in our Bistro for well-deserved gifts from our residents: homemade cards, goodies, drinks and chocolates. So much hard work goes on behind the scenes in our kitchen every single day, and we want our team to know just how genuinely appreciated they are. Thank you for your hard work, care and dedication that never go unnoticed – we are incredibly lucky to have you!

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We celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

This month, we raised awareness for breast cancer in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a special afternoon full of fundraising and community spirit! Our residents, team members and guests were treated to live entertainment from Nik Stoter, great company and, of course, lots of delicious cakes. We enjoyed the music and spent time together having important conversations while supporting a cause close to so many of us.

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We were awarded Best Care Home Garden in Farnham 2026!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

We are thrilled to announce that our home won the Best Care Home Garden in Farnham 2026 award as part of Farnham Town Council’s Farnham in Bloom! This wonderful achievement reflects all the hard work, love and dedication that has gone into creating our beautiful garden – a space for our residents to enjoy, relax in and make special memories.

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Our Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s Society was a great success!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

Our team members enjoyed a day out in London together, seeing the wonderful sights and views along the River Thames, all while helping raise vital funds for a great cause. Thank you to our team members for representing Barley Manor and contributing to a wonderful charity and the important work that they do!

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We celebrated World Food Day!

Date posted: 28th October 2026

Our residents enjoyed a delicious journey around the world tasting dishes from all seven continents in honour of World Food Day. Thank you to our talented chef, Vas, and his team, for helping our residents and team members sample a variety of foods and explore new flavours. Throughout our taste-testing session, we used scorecards to rate each dish along our culinary journey.

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Our Sunday Art Club remains a favourite activity in our home.

Date posted: 28th October 2026

At Astbury Mere, Sundays are for getting together, getting creative and producing some truly wonderful works of art! From brush strokes to masterpieces, everyone has the opportunity to express themselves and create something unique.

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Our beautiful willow heart workshop.

Date posted: 1st October 2026

Our residents took part in an amazing crafting workshop which everyone enjoyed getting involved in. We made a willow heart to display in our home for residents, team members and visitors to enjoy. The creation of this beautiful piece was quicker than expected – but only because we all wanted to be part of something wonderful and add our own unique touches!

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We celebrated International Housekeepers’ Week!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

In honour of this national week, we took a moment to say thank you to our incredible housekeeping team! Their hard work, dedication and attention to detail doesn't go unnoticed, making every space shine and every resident and guest feel truly cared for. We surprised our team with gifts to show our appreciation. To our amazing housekeepers: thank you for everything you do, every single day!

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Our Macmillan Coffee Morning was a success!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We were thrilled to host our coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support to support the life-changing work they do for people affected by cancer. There were plenty of wonderful conversations, many hot drinks, and lots of delicious homemade cakes! Every donation for a slice of cake really helped make a difference raising funds for this great cause. Thank you to everyone who attended and joined our fundraising efforts.

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We enjoyed a fantastic musical afternoon!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We were treated to a visit from the amazing JB Steelpan Music group who brought steel drums in for our residents to listen to and even try to play too! There was a lively and uplifting atmosphere throughout our home. The bright, rhythmic sounds had everyone smiling and tapping along, creating a wonderful experience for residents and team members. It was a brilliant afternoon of entertainment!

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We enjoyed celebrating Arts in Care Homes Day!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

In honour of this national day, we were treated to a visit from Potterarti who joined us for a wonderful pottery painting session. Our talented residents created some lovely pieces, each with its own unique design and personal touch. The finished masterpieces were then fired and glazed to display around our home.

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A great day out for a special celebration!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We took a trip out to the Pelican Pub, a firm favourite of our residents, for a birthday celebration. Our resident Howard invited his loved ones along to enjoy great food and make special memories together. We were honoured to help Howard feel special on his birthday. It is important that residents who like to celebrate are given the opportunity to, in their own way.

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Our Macmillan Coffee Morning was a success!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our event in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. We had a busy morning serving cake and coffee to our residents and all of our visitors, with over £150 raised for a brilliant cause!

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Our Macmillan Coffee Morning was a success!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We had such a lovely morning in our warm and welcoming Bistro, enjoying plenty of tea, coffee, delicious cakes and freshly made scones, all lovingly prepared by our incredible kitchen team. A huge thank you to everyone who popped by, enjoyed a hot drink and helped us raise money for such an important cause. Your kindness and generosity mean so much to us, and especially Macmillan Cancer Support, who we were delighted to raise over £50 for!

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We celebrated International Housekeepers’ Week!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

In honour of this national week, we thanked our housekeeping team for their hard work and dedication every day. They keep our home looking beautiful for our residents, our whole team and all of our visitors. We surprised our housekeepers with well-deserved flowers and chocolates to show our appreciation.

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We celebrated Professional Care Workers’ Week!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

In honour of Professional Care Workers' Week, we treated our fabulous care team to a lovely variety of treats. We surprised them with all sorts or treats, from fresh fruit to chocolates and doughnuts. To each and every one of our fabulous carers, thank you for all you do. Your hard work, kindness and professionalism are greatly appreciated and at the heart of everything we do.

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We thoroughly enjoyed Arts in Care Homes Day!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We had such a lovely time enjoying creativity, connection and plenty of smiles throughout our event. Our local nursery, The Learning Experience, visited us and brought their joy and energy with them for wonderful intergenerational moments, sharing the beauty of art and creativity. Thank you to the children and nursery staff members for spending time with us and making our day so memorable – we’re already looking forward to your next visit!

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A memorable minibus trip.

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We enjoyed a day out to The Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham. We visited the reedbed nature reserve to feed the ducks where we were able to share some sweet and funny moments together. We then connected over hot drinks and cake in the Lakeside Café to reflect on our wonderful day. It is great that our residents are able to experience a change of scenery together, making special memories and enjoying the activities and offerings of our local area.

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Our wonderful Macmillan Coffee Morning!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We were delighted to host a Macmillan Coffee Morning, bringing everyone together for an important cause. It was lovely to see so many of our community friends, relatives and residents joining us, enjoying delicious cakes, good coffee and great company. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, and a special thank you to our Chefs and fantastic Kitchen Team, who did an amazing job baking cakes and treats to enjoy in the morning, as well as lots of lovely cakes to take home and enjoy later!

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We celebrated a very special 100th birthday!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We celebrated one of our wonderful resident’s birthdays – Jeanette turned 100! To celebrate, Jeanette and her family enjoyed a private dining experience and a delicious meal together to mark the special occasion. Thank you to our team for always making sure our residents enjoy their special day!

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Our fantastic Macmillan Coffee Morning!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

Thank you to everyone who helped make our Macmillan Coffee Morning such a wonderful success. The morning was filled with fun, laughter and community spirit. Guests enjoyed browsing our book sale, taking part in Music Bingo, trying their luck in the raffle and showing off their creativity in our Cupcake Decorating Competition.

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We celebrated Professional Care Workers’ Week!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

In honour of Professional Care Workers' Week, our residents and team members showed our appreciation for our carers who provide excellent support every day. Our residents made lovely cards with heartfelt messages. One of our residents, Vee, made a kind speech to express her gratitude to our carers at Lea Grange.

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We were treated to some beautiful hand-knitted hand warmers.

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We would like to thank Alison from Harpur Hill WI for bringing her amazing hand-knitted hand warmers in to enjoy. Everyone was amazed with Alison’s craftsmanship. The hand warmers are so colourful and full of lovely embellishments, and you can see how much time and care went into making them. With autumn around the corner, when the cold winds will start to blow, I am sure our residents and team members will all benefit from these beautiful gifts from Alison.

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Our Macmillan Coffee Morning was a great success!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

Our team was overwhelmed by the amount of people that came to support us at our Macmillan Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Loughton and Great Holm Parish Council joined us and welcomed our community from far and wide. We would like to thank Jay from Community Action: MK for attending as a cancer support representative, and Milton Keynes Council who came to support our fundraising efforts for such a wonderful cause. We raised over £170 in just 2 hours!

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Our annual summer BBQ was a success!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We had an amazing time at our wonderful home. The sun was shining as we enjoyed refreshing drinks, tasty ice cream and the best company. A heartfelt thank you goes to all of our residents, their loved ones and our fantastic team for making this day so special – here’s to more wonderful moments together!

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30 miles for Dementia UK!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

Our incredible Home Manager, Emma, took on a special challenge throughout September: walking 30 miles to raise vital funds for a great cause at Dementia UK. Emma has dedicated the past 30 years to supporting individuals living with dementia and caring for people and their loved ones. This challenge aimed to raise awareness, support families and help make sure nobody has to face dementia alone.

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We celebrated International Housekeepers’ Week!

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We thanked our wonderful housekeeping team this month with gifts for their hard work, care and dedication. They help make our home feel clean, comfortable and welcoming every day. We appreciate everything they do for our residents and their loved ones, as well as our whole team.

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Introducing autumn with a garden centre trip.

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We enjoyed a lovely trip to our local garden centre, taking in all of the beautiful autumn colours and seeing the seasonal displays beginning to change. It was a lovely outing filled with colour, conversation and plenty of plants to look at.

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Our themed Friendship Café was enjoyed by all.

Date posted: 1st October 2026

We had a very productive session at our Friendship Café. Our lovely residents created artwork for World Alzheimer’s Day to display around our home and show our support for such a wonderful cause. We appreciate our residents’ hard work and dedication creating knitted forget-me-nots.

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Staying hydrated this summer.

Date posted: 28th August 2026

August has undoubtedly been another month of hot weather! To keep our residents and team members properly hydrated in the heat, Elizabeth Gardens was treated to Tallulah’s regular rounds of our home with her refreshments trolley. We were able to enjoy many afternoons full of fresh fruit salads, juicy watermelon slices and some delicious mocktails. […]

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