Check, mate! Thame care home residents team up with youth group for friendly competition

Residents at a care home in Thame enjoyed an afternoon of fun and friendly competition as a local youth group joined them to celebrate the simple joys of traditional games.

Care UK’s Cuttlebrook Hall, on Stock Road, teamed up with visitors from the Rowallan Scouts to take part in an intergenerational games afternoon, bringing different generations together to rediscover the simple pleasure of playing traditional board games together.

Throughout the afternoon, residents and their competing rivals took part in a host of games, including chess, dominoes, Monopoly, and Scrabble, with plenty of friendly rivalry and laughter along the way.

Margaret Rayner, resident at Cuttlebrook Hall, said: “It was nice to play games with the youngsters, I enjoy playing Scrabble and it was lovely to play with the boys. I don’t think they had ever played Scrabble before, but they certainly got stuck in and gave it a good go.

For me, I loved the day because life is for living! When I was younger, we made up a lot of our games, but I’ll always remember playing Conkers with my friends, we also loved playing Snakes and Ladders back then.”

The event was part of Care UK’s ‘Bored Games’ initiative – a nationwide campaign intended to revive the magic of family and community games nights. At a time when social media and online gaming have transformed how people spend their leisure time, the initiative is celebrating the simple joys of spending time together playing traditional board games and the memories they can create.

From community events and intergenerational activities, Care UK care homes across the UK are celebrating togetherness and reconnecting residents with the games that shaped their younger years.

Alana Corr, Home Manager at Cuttlebrook Hall, said: “Board games are a brilliant way to encourage conversation, creativity and plenty of laughter, while creating a shared experience that people of all ages can enjoy.

“It has been wonderful to see the Rowallan Scouts pairing up with residents, getting to know one another and enjoying some friendly competition along the way – all while enjoying some classic games that have been loved for decades.

“Bringing together residents and local children has created a real sense of community and connection between generations and shown just how much different ages can learn from and enjoy spending time with one another. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who took part!”

Cuttlebrook Hall is a state-of-the-art care home that provides full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The home incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies and includes its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub.

For more information on Cuttlebrook Hall, please call Customer Relations Manager Zak Herring on 01844 700 183, email [email protected] or visit careuk.com/cuttlebrook-hall

For more information about Bored Games, please visit careuk.com/bored-games