Caring Homes Christmas Wreath Competition Winners Announced

Last month we launched a competition calling on all our homes to create their own fabulous Christmas wreath, with prizes awarded for the top three. The entries revealed outstanding levels of resourcefulness and creativity which meant that choosing the winners was a tough decision!

A Free Rein on Design and Style

The competition was designed to involve residents in a project where they could have input on different levels – the inspiration or story behind the theme; acquiring the materials, many with a nod to sustainability and the natural world; painting, cutting, glueing and crafting the various elements and finally, putting everything together so the wreath could be hung in pride of place.

Winning Wreaths Showcase Sustainability, Creativity and Humour

The results are in and we're delighted to announce that the winning wreath was created by residents and the Wellbeing Team at Guysfield Residential Care Home in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.

Guysfield Home Manager, Emily Douglass said, “I am very proud of the wreath that the residents and the Wellbeing team made. The residents were inspired by the lovely landscape that surrounds our home. Everything apart from the apples, the bird (obviously) and the lights are real and the residents picked the foliage from our grounds. The base of the wreath is made out of recycled cushion filling, so our wreath is mostly ecofriendly. Our resident Rose was one of a group of residents who thoroughly enjoyed making the wreath."

Second place was awarded to Brooklyn House Care Home in Attleborough, Norfolk, whose inventive, multi-layered wreath started with an upcycled Christmas tree. The Wellbeing Team described it as being “covered in items representing the events, activities and people involved in our busy, but fabulous year at Brooklyn House, brought together in a ‘ring of 2024’. It was a labour of love."

And in third place, Homefield Grange's ‘Elf Upside Down on the Shelf’, was a light-hearted creation which revealed a mischievous sense of humour in many of Homefield’s residents. Resident Peggy is 104 years young and proudly serves as Homefield’s Resident Representative. She loves participating in all kinds of activities, and this included some key interactions with the cheeky elf on the wreath, which can now be seen hanging proudly on the front door.

Teamwork Between Residents and Our Teams the Magic Ingredient

Care Services and Operations Director, Julie Mason, cast the deciding vote and was hugely impressed, remarking, “The entries were fantastic and really reflected the individuality and personality of each of the homes. It was clear to see how much thought, effort and enjoyment had gone into creating the wreaths and the teamwork between our residents and teams was outstanding. The wreaths look beautiful now they are in place and I especially love the fact that each one was inspired by something unique to that particular home.”