News
Belong celebrates decade-and-a- half supporting Crewe community
Dementia specialist care village Belong has celebrated 15 years’ supporting the community in Crewe, Cheshire. Live entertainment and a special guest visit
from Mayor of Crewe, Cllr Sally Graham, marked the milestone occasion. Belong Crewe’s opening in 2010 marked
the arrival of the not-for-profit operator’s trailblazing approach to the care of older people, with its ‘village living’ model having enabled hundreds of residents to enjoy an active later life as part of a caring community. In turn, local people have benefited from its open-door policy, joining events and making use of onsite facilities, including the bistro, gym, and salon. Over the years, the village has built
a reputation as a prominent hub in the area, thanks to its involvement in town events, fostering close relations with organisations, schools, and charities, and launching initiatives in support of the whole community. In 2018, it introduced Silver Pride,
celebrating the older LGBT+ community, in conjunction with sexual health charities, and Cheshire East Council. The event has since become an annual staple in its events calendar. More recently, the launch of B’s Cafe
with support from Crewe Town Council sees the monthly dementia cafe offering complimentary coffee, with access to its Admiral Nurse service. The initiative offers an invaluable network for local people with loved one with a dementia diagnosis. Caroline Anthony, general manager at
Belong Crewe, said: “It’s been a truly fabulous celebration, full of laughter, fun, and beyond!”
Hampshire home collaborates with local youth hub
Portsdown View care home in Bedhampton has welcomed a group of young people from Havant Youth Hub as part of a new partnership with Havant Borough Council. The visit was structured to offer participants
an insight into working in the social care sector, while helping them gain valuable employability skills including interpersonal communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and empathy for people at all stages of life. The experience also supported the aims of the Empower You programme – Havant Young Hub’s 14-week development initiative designed to build confidence, self-esteem, and essential life skills. This marks the first step in what
Portsdown View hopes will be a long-term collaboration with Havant Borough Council. Discussions are already underway around further schemes – including arranging mock job interviews, guest speaker sessions, employability workshops, work experience and volunteering opportunities, and even fast-track interviews for members of Havant Youth Hub. Encouragingly, the experience has already led to two of the participants to apply for roles
at Connaught Care – one looking for work experience within the management team, and another applying for a full-time carer position at Portsdown View. Pippa Mafunga, general manager at
Portsdown View, said: “It was truly wonderful to see our residents connect so easily and naturally with some local youngsters. It goes to show that when generational barriers are overcome and people are given a chance to connect, the results are always meaningful, uplifting and memorable for everyone involved. We’re also incredibly proud to be the first care home in the borough to take part in this brilliant scheme!” A representative from Havant Youth Hub
added: “It was genuinely heartwarming to see how a single day at Portsdown View inspired so much growth and optimism among the participants. Sometimes, all young people need is to see how many exciting and fruitful career opportunities are out there; which is why collaborations like this are so crucial. We are very excited for the young people and all that lies ahead for them, and we very much look forward to continuing our collaboration throughout 2026!”
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www.thecarehomeenvironment February 2026
Abbotsleigh Care Centre opens dementia café
Abbotsleigh Care Centre in Kent has opened a new dementia café to offer support, guidance, and community connection for those affected by dementia.
The home – part of the Nellsar group – is positioning the café as a relaxed, informal hub where individuals, family members, and carers can come together to share experiences, access helpful resources, and enjoy meaningful conversations.
The café will be overseen by Abbotsleigh Care Centre’s home manager Alina Abagiu alongside retired nurses Anne Holroyd and Margaret Twort and will run on the second Tuesday of every month.
Anne Holroyd, café founder and co-host, said: “Living with or caring for someone with dementia can feel isolating at times, but you’re not alone. This space is about bringing people together to talk, listen and learn from each other in a friendly and supportive space. Sometimes just having a cup of tea and knowing someone understands can make all the difference.” Glenda Osmotherly, director of operations, commented: “We are incredibly proud to open our dementia café. Together with our home’s therapy and nutrition teams we’re building a stronger, healthier community. This initiative reflects our commitment to creating stronger connections, better support and a shared commitment to excellence. Together, we hope to build a space that will make a lasting difference for the people we care for. This will not just be a place to learn more about dementia - it will be a place to feel seen, heard, and understood.”
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