Redwalls Nursing Home wins festive decorations competition

Redwalls Nursing Home won top prize in a national competition to design a Christmas tree topper.
 
The home in Sandiway, Cheshire, led a clean sweep by North-West homes in the Kingsley Healthcare contest open to all its services across the country.
 
In equal second place came Sharston House Nursing Home, in Knutsford, and Four Oaks Nursing Home, in Partington, Manchester.
 
Ingenious Redwalls staff and residents used coat hangers to form the shape of a giant snowflake which they decorated with glitter, gold beads, tinsel and fairy lights.
 
Activities lead Jodie Solaiman, who oversaw the creation, said: “The topper was so humongous that I had to attach it to the stairs in order to get it to stay up!
 
“Residents had a lovely time chatting about Christmas traditions while working on this snowflake.”

Residents at Four Oaks decided to make a When Santa Got Stuck up the Chimney-themed tree topper.
 
They used old brick wallpaper over a carboard box to make the chimney, then wrapped some chocolate boxes in red tissue paper to create the legs.
 
Sharston House residents wanted their Christmas tree topper to reflect both their home at Christmas time and also the story of Christmas.
 
They began by choosing different things that represented Christmas to them – a tree, a present and a star. Along with painting and decorating these they also drew Sharston House.
 
Activities coordinator Sarah Jo Wild said: “They decided that the best way to display them was in a circle which they said would then make a crown, which represented the three wise men.”
 
The competition was judged by a head office panel led by Kingsley co-founder Sumi Thayan. Redwalls wins £100 for its residents’ fund for extra activities; Sharston House and Four Oaks each win £50.
 
Mrs Thayan said: “It’s so pleasing to see the artistic talent and creativity of our residents.”


Find out more about Redwalls nursing home

Author: Stephen Pullinger