It’s been a joyful and jam-packed few weeks at Manton Heights Care Centre in Bedford, with residents and staff coming together for a series of fantastic events that have celebrated community, raised awareness, and supported important causes.
We kicked things off with a delicious Time for a Cuppa fundraiser for Dementia UK, where homemade cakes, bakes, and cold refreshments
—lovingly prepared by our dedicated team—were served up to staff, relatives, and visitors. With a warm, friendly atmosphere and plenty of sweet treats, we were proud to raise just under £200 for the charity.
Next, residents and team members joined forces with the Tibbs Dementia Foundation to take part in their “Stride Out” charity walk around Priory Marina. During the event, we had the pleasure of meeting Lord Lieutenant Susan Lousada, who kindly accepted an invitation to visit Manton Heights for a special event in June. We also spoke with Tibbs co-founder Sarah Russell, who is now scheduled to attend our next Dementia Café.
To mark Dementia Action Week, we worked with Muriel, our inspiring dementia ambassador and friend of Tibbs, to create a heartfelt short video offering advice on living well with dementia. Her words, including “don’t be scared,” “don’t let it change who you are,” and “you’ll never be on your own,” struck a powerful chord and served as an important reminder of the resilience of those living with dementia.
We were also delighted to launch our first Dementia Café of the year, hosted by Muriel and Melissa. While small, the café was packed with meaningful conversation, and our visiting family members left with greater insight and new strategies for supporting loved ones.
Another exciting first for us was Blue Light Friday, where we packed up freshly made breakfast baps, condiments, and refreshments and paid a visit to Bedford’s local police headquarters. Residents, including Carolyn, who was a police officer in her younger years, enjoyed chatting with Police Constable Raj Mehmi, fondly reminiscing about the force. During the visit, we also met Mayor Tom Wotton, who is now set to join us at Manton Heights in June.
Reflecting on a month of meaningful moments, General Manager Vera said:
“I’m incredibly proud of the whole team for their energy, compassion, and creativity. Every event has brought joy to our residents and strengthened our ties with the Bedford community. We’re looking forward to welcoming our new visitors in June.”
Lifestyle Lead Sian added:
“It’s been a fantastic few weeks. Seeing residents connect with others, revisit fond memories, and feel part of something bigger is what makes everything worthwhile. There’s so much more to come this summer, and we can’t wait!”
