A five-figure grant is helping residents at Broughton House Veteran Care Village to enjoy more active and fulfilling lives, with boxing, gym workouts, arts and crafts, a cookery club and a choir among a growing leisure programme.
The Salford care home has been awarded £75,000 over three years by the Veterans’ Foundation to support the running costs of its wellbeing and activities team.
The grant has enabled Broughton House to employ Niamh Chebouli as a full-time activities team coordinator, working alongside specialist activity instructors and volunteers from the community to expand the range of sessions available at the care home.
As a result, residents can now take part in gym sessions three times a week, boxing, gentle chair aerobics and stretch-and-strengthen classes.
Creative and social options include arts and crafts, cookery, nature and walking clubs, a choir, meditation, bingo, quizzes, pamper sessions, medal-polishing, dog therapy and dementia-friendly games.
Jane Green, director of care at Broughton House, said:
“It’s hard to overstate the positive impact that our wellbeing and activities team is having on our residents’ quality of life.
“The sessions are proving hugely popular and help residents across the care home and independent living apartments to stay physically active and socially connected, while supporting cognitive wellbeing for those living with dementia.
“The breadth of activities made possible by this grant allows our residents to continue living life well, irrespective of the challenges that come with age.
“This grant builds on previous support from the Veterans’ Foundation, and we’re extremely grateful for the opportunities this latest funding has created.”
Broughton House resident Jean Mack, 93, who served in the Royal Navy and the Fleet Air Arm, has taken up boxing as part of her keep-fit routine.
Jean said:
“I’d never previously put on a pair of boxing gloves in my life, but now I really look forward to putting them on and doing pad work. I really enjoy having a laugh and the interaction in the gym.”
Fellow resident Peter Hickson, 90, who served in the Royal Navy and later in the Territorial Army, also enjoys boxing alongside lifting weights and using the exercise machines.
“I’d never done boxing before but I can really feel myself getting stronger as time goes by,” he said.
“It’s given me a new challenge and keeps me motivated to stay active.”
The Veterans’ Foundation supports charities and organisations that assist serving and former members of the Armed Forces, and their dependants, who are in need. It raises money through the Veterans’ Lottery and donations.
Chief executive Jane Gurney said:
“We’re delighted to support Broughton House with a grant of £75,000 over three years to fund the wellbeing and activities team for residents.
“Wellbeing is at the heart of supporting veterans and their families, and Broughton House is leading the way in providing not just exceptional residential care, but also a vibrant, supportive environment through its pioneering village model.
“It’s inspiring to see such innovation in care for the Armed Forces community, and we’re proud to help them continue this vital work.”
Broughton House has cared for more than 8,000 veterans since it opened its doors to the ex-service community in 1916. It is the only home offering veteran-specific residential, nursing, specialist dementia and respite care in the north west.
Following redevelopment, it is now a 64-bed care home, with two 16-bed households dedicated to veterans with dementia and six independent living apartments.
