Member Article

Activity coordinator appointed at Buckshaw Retirement Village

A new expert coordinator has been appointed to oversee the specialist activity programme for residents at an award-winning Chorley retirement village.

Buckshaw Retirement Village, which includes three separate communities to support a variety of needs and lifestyles, has appointed Michelle Mayson as its activities coordinator.

Buckshaw, which is operated by Hull-based not for profit organisation Hica Group, comprises of three facilities including; The Lodge, a specialist dementia care facility, The Grange, which provides assisted living, alongside apartments in The Court which allow for independent living.

Michelle is based at The Grange, and will plan activities which will also include the other communities within the village. Her new programme will include special exercise, creative and community based activities which will support the variety of needs for the residents, including supporting physical and mental wellbeing.

Michelle, who is 44 and from Clayton Brook, has over 10 years’ experience in events. After working at a local community centre, she worked her way up from events coordinator to events manager.

Michelle said: “I am really pleased to have been appointed as the activity coordinator for The Grange. It is a very important role which has a lot of responsibilities and I am looking forward to the challenge and building up a rapport with the residents.

“It isn’t just about entertainment though, I want to give the residents activities that keep their minds active, that are also fun. I’m keen to get residents input too, so that a lot more can come forward and get involved.”

Lisa Barnes, regional director of the Hica group, said: “With Michelle’s wealth of experience in events and activities, she will make a great addition to Buckshaw. She has some great ideas to increase participation among residents. “It will be fantastic to see more residents engaging with the activities Michelle has planned. Her approach has been well received with the residents so far, and I look forward to seeing her build up community links, and implement some great activities for our residents.”

The role of activities coordinator includes planning events and activities for The Grange residents, overseeing the day-to-day running of activities, and increasing resident involvement.

Buckshaw is part of The Hica Group, a not for profit organisation, which operates a portfolio of 17 residential care homes, five of which are for people with a learning disability, along with two retirement villages. The company also runs a care at home service providing approximately 11,500 hours of support and care from four regional offices in the North of England.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Buckshaw Retirement Village .