Bringing a bit of sparkle and a lot of laughter to Sandwood
Behind every thriving care setting is someone who brings the energy, the laughter, and the ideas that turn a house into a community. At Sandwood Care Home, that person is Mel Spouge.
Mel recently sat down to share her journey, inspiration, and the unpredictable reality of her role.
Finding a purpose at Sandwood
“Before stepping into my current role, I worked as a Parent Liaison Worker at a local school. While the settings are entirely different, my core passion has always been the same, which involves engaging with families and creating meaningful activities.
“I was looking for a fresh chapter when I spotted an advertisement on Indeed. The local role fit perfectly around my own family commitments, but it was the unique ethos of the organisation that made me want to join.
“I still remember my very first day walking through the doors at Sandwood and the wonderful first impression the home made. Everyone was incredibly helpful and welcoming, and I could see right away that a varied range of activities were already on offer for the residents.
The daily life of an Activities Coordinator
“For those unfamiliar with what I do, I summarise my role as being creative every single day. The key thing for me is bringing a smile to people's faces and engaging with them in different ways, whether that is through group sessions or quiet, one-on-one time. Because of this variety, no two days are ever the same for me.
“A typical week always starts with personal connection, so every morning, I make my rounds to visit the residents, checking in and letting them know what is on the agenda for the day. To keep things fresh and engaging, each day features a distinct theme.
| Day | Theme | Typical activities |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness Mondays | Relaxation and creativity | Colouring, meditation outside with nature, crafts, and laughter therapy |
| Tuesday Trivia | Mental stimulation | Interactive quiz mornings |
| Wellbeing Wednesdays | Pampering and self-care | Hairdresser visits, hand massages, and nail care |
| Thriving Thursdays | Intergenerational and movement | Seedlings playgroup and keep fit classes |
| Fun Fridays | Resident choice | A free choice of favourite activities |
“Alongside these themed days, our regular activity schedule is packed with variety. Residents can always get involved with carpet bowls, balloon tennis, bird bingo, darts, or traditional crafts. We also host games afternoons featuring Scrabble, word games, jigsaws, and memory games.
“Balancing large, energetic events with quiet, personal moments is a vital part of my approach. I always ensure that everyone is included in some way. If a resident cannot or prefers not to come down to the large lounge, I go to their room to spend quality time with them there.
Humour, empathy and midnight inspiration
“When I am asked about the essential items I need to do my job, I do not point to a calendar or a craft box. Instead, I credit a sense of humour, empathy and an inner drive as the must-have tools in my toolkit.
“My inspiration for the big, bold ideas I bring to Sandwood often arrives at unusual hours, meaning I regularly wake up in the middle of the night with thoughts that I have to write down immediately. My own personality is naturally larger than life, and I love nothing more than mixing things up for the residents to keep life exciting.
“A lot of that energy comes from my own hobbies. Whether it is my love for arts, crafts, and attending mosaic workshops, hunting for unique charity shop finds to upcycle, or my interest in holistic therapies, I find that my personal passions constantly feed into my role. Even my love for fancy dress and event planning gets put to excellent use here.
“To tailor these ideas to our community, I spend dedicated one-on-one time chatting with residents to build genuine personal relationships. By learning about their past jobs, their families and their hobbies, I can make sure there is always something personal for everyone to enjoy.
Celebrations, milestones and a bit of mischief
“My role has been a wonderful journey so far, and I am incredibly proud to have been nominated for a Champion of Activities and Wellbeing Award in the coming year.
“Looking back at my achievements, my most ambitious project was a community mosaic, which successfully brought the residents and the local community together. Seeing the finished artwork and knowing the immense pride the residents felt from being involved from the very start, made the entire process unforgettable.
“Of course, the role brings plenty of laughter too. At Halloween, I fully got into character as a cackling witch, complete with bright green hair and a broomstick. Seeing a sea of witches' hats on all the residents as we joked around made me laugh so much. I am also never short of styling inspiration for themed days, and my favourite outfit so far has definitely been my flashing, light-up Christmas tree costume!
“If I were given an unlimited budget for one day, I would hire a river cruise boat complete with a swing band, beautiful food and full makeovers with new clothes and hair styling for every single resident.
“That sense of fun is shared directly with the people here. I frequently team up with a resident named Corbett to plan a bit of light-hearted mischief around the home. I also enjoy learning from the fascinating lives of the people living at Sandwood, such as Michael, who has travelled the world and taught children in Abu Dhabi. If I could swap lives with any resident for a single day, it would be him.
The greatest reward of the role
“The biggest lesson I have learned from the residents at Sandwood is that every single one of them is completely different, possessing their own unique personality and history.
“For anyone considering a career as an Activities Coordinator, my advice is to visit a home, view the setting and ask to shadow an Activities Coordinator for a day to see the reality of the role firsthand.
“No matter how busy the day gets, there is a highlight that never fails to bring a smile. It happens during Seedlings, our weekly intergenerational playgroup, when the residents all wave goodbye to the children and they blow kisses to each other. Seeing that connection just melts my heart every single time, and it makes me feel thankful to have such a rewarding job.”
Find your career with a charity dedicated to supporting older people across the UK. You can explore our latest vacancies, discover what makes working with us so rewarding, and find a position where your personal values can make a difference every day.
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