Residents at Godden Lodge Care Home in Benfleet, Essex, recently welcomed members of The Beacon Church and pupils from Cedar Hall School for a heartwarming community coffee morning.
The event was organised by the team at Godden Lodge to celebrate the strong and growing relationship between the home and The Beacon Church which is the local church of resident Margaret Hodson. Several church members recently visited the home to explore how they can volunteer in the future, discussing ideas for supporting residents through activities such as flower arranging, pottery, and arts and crafts sessions.
To say thank you and strengthen these connections even further, the home arranged a special coffee morning and invited pupils from Cedar Hall School, to help serve refreshments to church members and residents. The children played an important role in the event, helping to pour drinks, serve cakes and chat with guests, an experience that made them feel valued and very important.
The morning was filled with conversation, laughter and community spirit, as different generations came together under one roof. It was also a particularly special morning for resident artist Frank Reynolds. When one of the visiting church members, a gentleman who is an artist, was introduced to Frank, the team brought down several of his framed paintings to share. He was full of praise for Frank’s work and spent time talking with him about his style and inspiration.
Following the success of the event, Godden Lodge has now arranged for The Beacon Church to hold a monthly service at the home starting from 30th March. Each service will be followed by a coffee afternoon, giving residents the opportunity to socialise and build meaningful friendships with church members on a regular basis.
Lewis Chester, Home Manager at Godden Lodge Care Home said:
"It was wonderful to see residents, church members and pupils enjoying time together. Our community links are incredibly important to us, and bringing people of all ages together creates such a positive atmosphere in the home. We are delighted to be starting a monthly service and coffee afternoon so these special connections can continue to grow."
Godden Lodge Care Home remains committed to building strong community partnerships and creating enriching experiences that support residents’ wellbeing and sense of belonging.
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Godden Lodge - Care home in Benfleet, Essex | HC One