Eothen Summer Highlights 2026
Summer highlights from across Eothen Care Homes
It has been another busy and joyful few months across Eothen Care Homes, with residents making the most of the summer through days out, garden activities, special visitors, games, music and plenty of time together.
Across our homes in Gosforth, Whitley Bay and Wallsend, there have been lots of opportunities to try something new, revisit favourite places and simply enjoy good company. We have also been celebrating some remarkable milestones within the Eothen team, welcoming new faces and continuing our work with Newcastle University to explore and share best practice in care.
Here are some of our summer highlights.
Summer fun at Eothen Wallsend
Residents at Wallsend have certainly been keeping busy.
The home’s beautiful gardens have been the perfect place to make the most of the warmer weather, whether relaxing in the sunshine, spotting wildlife, playing games or simply enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
There has been plenty of friendly competition indoors too. Residents put their hand-eye coordination to the test with a balls-in-cups challenge and tackled a giant game of Kerplunk, creating lots of laughter as everyone tried to remove the sticks without sending the balls tumbling.
Pamper sessions have also proved popular, with residents enjoying having their nails painted and even returning the favour by painting staff members’ nails too.
One of the summer’s musical highlights came when Tom Jones visited Wallsend or at least the next best thing! Superfan Mary and friends danced the afternoon away to some favourite songs at a special concert made possible by Wish Upon a Tyne.
We have also been delighted to welcome Kayleigh, our new Activity Co-ordinator at Wallsend. Full of enthusiasm and fresh ideas, Kayleigh is already looking forward to getting to know everyone and planning plenty more enjoyable activities for residents.
Special visitors and outings at Gosforth & Eothen Whitley Bay
There have been some particularly heartwarming moments at Whitley Bay & Gosforth this summer.
Residents welcomed Humphrey the PAT dog, who brought plenty of affection and companionship during his visit. Humphrey was certainly not short of attention and quickly made himself at home.
Residents also enjoyed a visit to the Memory Café at St Paul’s Church, where they joined in with activities designed to encourage conversation, reminiscence and mental stimulation.
Back at the home, residents helped everyone stay refreshed by making their own colourful fruit kebabs. There were some interesting reactions to dragon fruit along the way, but trying something new was all part of the fun.
Whitley Bay residents joined friends from Gosforth for a very special Peter Rabbit trail, hunting for Peter Rabbit statues around Newcastle and North Tyneside. The sculptures were created to support St Oswald’s Hospice, making the outing both enjoyable and meaningful.
Travelling in style at Eothen Gosforth
Gosforth residents enjoyed an outing with a difference this summer when they travelled by limousine to Pets Corner in Jesmond.
The journey itself was part of the fun, with residents enjoying the novelty of travelling in style before spending time at one of Newcastle’s best-loved local attractions.
Gosforth residents also joined Whitley Bay for the Peter Rabbit trail, bringing residents from the two homes together for another memorable day out.
These shared experiences are an important part of life at Eothen. Whether it is visiting somewhere new, returning to a familiar place or simply enjoying the journey together, outings provide opportunities for conversation, friendship and new memories.
Celebrating our incredible Eothen team
This summer has also given us plenty of reasons to celebrate the people who make Eothen such a special place.
After an incredible 27 years of dedicated service, our Finance Manager Barbara has retired. Over nearly three decades, Barbara became a trusted and hugely valued member of the Eothen family, sharing her experience, knowledge and support with colleagues throughout the organisation. We wish her a very happy and healthy retirement.
At Gosforth, Kelly celebrated an amazing 30 years of service. Kelly began her Eothen journey as a Carer and, through her dedication to residents and colleagues, progressed to become a Team Leader.
At Whitley Bay, Karen marked 25 years with Eothen, having spent those years helping residents enjoy a high-quality mealtime service as part of the kitchen team.
We have also celebrated 10 years of service for Andrea at Gosforth and Sandra in our Head Office team, while at Wallsend, Lola, Sissy and Julie have each reached five years with Eothen.
Every milestone represents years of care, friendship and commitment to our residents, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone celebrating an anniversary.
Learning and developing care together
Eothen’s partnership with Newcastle University continues through Care & Research NE, helping us to research, promote and share best practice with the aim of enhancing people’s experiences of care.
As part of this work, some of our care home managers joined Dawn, our Training and Development Manager, and academics from Newcastle University on a visit to Maastricht in the Netherlands.
The trip provided an opportunity to learn more about innovative approaches to care and collaborative working, including the work of the Limburg Living Lab. It was an inspiring experience and provided valuable ideas that can help inform the continued development of care at Eothen.
Supporting our residents, staff and community
We are also delighted to welcome John and Sue as our new Pastoral Workers.
Pastoral support is an important part of life at Eothen, offering residents and staff encouragement, companionship and a listening ear whenever it is needed.
Our volunteers continue to play an equally valued role within our homes. Whether spending time chatting with residents, supporting activities or simply being there to listen, the time and kindness they give can make a genuine difference to someone’s day.
We are always pleased to hear from people who may be interested in volunteering and becoming part of the Eothen community.
Looking forward to autumn
As summer gives way to autumn, there is already plenty to look forward to across our homes, from visits and days out to music, memory café sessions, animal visits, seasonal activities and harvest celebrations.
Work is also continuing on improvements across our homes, including refurbishment projects and updates to furnishings, helping us make sure our environments remain comfortable, welcoming and homely.
After another summer filled with laughter, friendship and memorable moments, we are excited to see what the new season brings.
At Eothen, it is the everyday moments sharing an activity, enjoying a trip out, spending time in the garden or simply having a conversation with a friend that help make our homes genuine communities.
