The Christmas lights go on at Castlemead Court Care Home
Residents at Castlemead Court Care Home in Newport Pagnell together with their friends and families, were joined by VIP guests from MK Dons FC to celebrate the swithching on of the Christmas lights
On Friday 21st November, care homes across the Excelcare Group lit up their festive displays in celebration of their annual Christmas Light switch-on.
Members of the care home communities, their friends, family members and local people were invited to join the festivities and celebrate the countdown to Christmas.
Residents at Castlemead Court Care Home in Newport Pagnell were also joined by VIP guests from MK Dons FC to celebrate the special occasion with them. Amongst the guests included team members from the football club, players and their mascots, which made the festive celebrations even more exciting for the people living and working at Castlemead – especially the MK Dons football fans!
This wonderful partnership between the care home and the football club began following the launch of the MK Dons Community Trust. They began to host physical activity sessions every Wednesday for people living with dementia, brain injuries, and other neurological conditions. “I know how challenging it can be for care home residents to attend activities off-site, so I reached out to local care homes to offer our support directly,” explains community development officer, Mark Johnson.
“I started with Castlemead Court, where my mum, who lives with vascular dementia, is a resident. Walking through those doors, knowingthat she could be part of something that brings comfort and happiness, made this partnership deeply personal to me.
“From our first visit, the relationship between the Community Trust and Castlemead Court blossomed. The staff saw, almost instantly, the difference the sessions made. Residents who are often quiet began to engage; smiles appeared, and moments of connection filled the room. It was clear that these sessions weren’t just activities; they were lifelines of joy, movement, and human warmth.
“At MK Dons Community Trust, we will always go above and beyond for our community. Seeing residents and participants smile, laugh, and feel included is what inspires us every single day. Those moments, no matter how small, are incredibly meaningful, and they remind us why we do what we do.”
During the evening of the Christmas Light Switch-On, the care home residents and the members of the Community Trust leaned on the relationships they had developed, sang Christmas songs together, enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies, and counted down to the moment the lights were illuminated. A special performance from Push Button B also got the crowd into the Christmas spirit as they sang and danced along.
“I was delighted to see our community turn up in their numbers to celebrate our Christmas Light Switch-on with us, as well as our friends from MK DONS FC who brought the festive spirit and raised many smiles,” says home manager, Grace Madenyika. “Occasions like this remind me how lucky we are to have the community behind us and support the work we do, it has a big impact on the people who live and work in our home and I am eternally grateful.”
It was a wonderful occasion to celebrate the start of the festive period in collaboration with friends, family, and the local community.
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