From Bonfires to Bingo: Activities at Seven Rivers - Disabled living
By Rachel Hynard, Facilities Manager
I’ve worked at Seven Rivers for 21 years now, and I can honestly say no two days have ever been the same. I started out as a catering assistant, then became a support worker, and eventually found my way into the admin and management side of things. These days, I’m the Facilities Manager, which means I oversee activities, catering, domestics, and drivers. It’s a bit of everything, really! I spend my days troubleshooting, planning, and making sure things run smoothly behind the scenes.
What’s kept me here all these years are the people, both residents and staff. I’ve built such strong bonds, and I feel very lucky to work somewhere that always feels like home. There’s never a dull day at Seven Rivers.
Keeping activities fresh and fun
Our activities are such a big part of life here. We’re a rural service just outside Colchester, so we love getting people out and about whenever we can. Trips out are always popular, but we also run plenty of in-house activities things like bingo, live music, and entertainers.
We also have a lovely holistic therapy lady who comes in to offer massages, as well as sports therapy sessions for those who enjoy something a bit more active. Our activities team spend a lot of time getting to know residents’ hobbies and interests so we can tailor sessions to suit them personally. It’s those little touches that make all the difference.
This year, we really went all out for Halloween with dressing up, face painting, and even a horror movie marathon. We also hosted a Bonfire Night celebration and invited the local community to join us. The atmosphere was fantastic, fireworks, hot dogs, and hot chocolate made it a truly memorable evening.
Creativity, Innovation, and Listening
Keeping things fresh takes a bit of creativity! We make sure staff attend regular training sessions so we stay up to date with new ideas and best practices. But honestly, a lot of inspiration comes from listening to the residents themselves. They know what they like, and often, one person’s suggestion sparks an idea that everyone enjoys.
Building Community and Wellbeing
Activities are vital for residents’ wellbeing. Care staff often have limited time with each person, so these sessions give us a chance to offer something more, something meaningful. It’s about joy, connection, and belonging.
There’s a real sense of community, especially around key events. In the lead-up to Christmas, for example, we have the local school come in to sing carols, pantomime visits, fireworks nights that we open up to the wider community, and even Santa himself dropping by with gifts!
Rewarding Moments and What’s Next
The most rewarding part of my role is seeing residents light up during an activity, those moments when someone’s truly engaged, laughing, and having fun. It makes all the planning worth it.
Looking ahead, we’re always exploring new things to try. My advice to anyone running activities in a care setting is simple: listen to your residents. Explore what they like, because if it’s meaningful to one person, chances are it’ll interest others too. It’s all about creating moments that bring people together and make every day just a little brighter.