Activities play a key part in the wellbeing of residents at The Millings and in Amanda Coates and Jan Bland we have the perfect double act to deliver them.
Two years ago, Amanda and Jan were strangers but through their work and other shared experiences they are now best of friends, messaging each other on a day basis and even going on holiday together.
This means they really complement each other when it comes to devising activities, individually and as pair, which benefit our residents.
Both though were doing something completely different before they became our Wellbeing Partners at The Millings.
Jan used to work in the pub trade before becoming a legal secretary and came out of retirement to take up her two days week role after being approached by our Manager Christine, with whom she had worked previously.
Amanda worked in education for the majority of her career before coming to The Millings and she is well known in the local area through her volunteering and work on Bedale Town Council (she recently finished her term as Mayor).
Amanda and Jan plan activities on a fortnightly basis. This can include everything from chair-based exercises and musical entertainment, through to knitting, current affairs and even growing butterflies!
They explain: “It all starts with the residents because we are guided about what they like and what they wish to do.
“There are certain things they all enjoy, such as sing a long Sundays, but we often find that when we introduce something new and different it encourages those who perhaps haven’t taken part in activities before.
“There’s always a tremendous sense of achievement when you see someone at an activity for the first time but generally the best part of the job is going home at the end of the day knowing you have put a smile on people’s faces.”
Even though they generally only come together for the bigger events, Amanda and Jan speak or message each other on a daily basis to see how their days went.
Jan says: “Even when we are on holiday, we look at the WhatsApp group to see what’s happening; that’s what it means to us working here!”
