All the fun of the fair
Our care homes found inventive ways to fill the gap felt by the absence of Hull Fair this year.
As the Fair has been cancelled this year people have not been able to go on their much-enjoyed trips to the historic fair, however HICA homes haven’t let that stop them. Across our homes staff have been recreating the Hull Fair experience for residents. This has allowed them to experience ‘all the fun of the fair’ within a safe environment. With many indoor attractions, prizes and fair themed food the care homes have been a hub of activity over these few weeks. Homemade Hook A Duck, ring toss and tin can alley are among the attractions residents have been enjoying. The HICA Group Director of Operations Heather Joy said ‘We are so proud of our staff for making this available for residents and ensuring they did not miss out on a much-loved experience. The situation with Covid has been difficult for everyone, and especially so for people who live in a residential care setting, it has been fantastic to bring a little of the Hull Fair Experience into our homes.’
Residents had a great time and were delighted with all the wonderful Hull Fair themed food including popcorn, candy floss, donuts and of course… toffee apples!
One care home made creative use of their Virtual Reality equipment bringing a different dimension to their enjoyment with virtual rides and walks around the fair for residents. This was great as it brought back wonderful memories, particularly the memory of patty and chips at the fair. One resident exclaimed “Wow I can see everything!!” after taking a virtual ride on the Big Wheel.
At Isaac Robinson Court which is one of our five Learning Disability homes, residents would usually be enjoying a trip to the fair at this time of year. A staff member said ‘Unfortunately Hull Fair is cancelled this year! Hull Fair is one of our favourite times of the year where we walk around, take in the atmosphere and have a fantastic time! To keep the magic alive, we are celebrating Hull Fair by reminiscing and sharing stories!’
It has been a wonderful experience across our homes, with the sights, smells and sounds evoking strong childhood memories for our residents. Many of our residents have lived in Hull all their lives and loved to visit Hull Fair as children with their families, and then later with their friends.
Manager of Wilton Lodge, Mildred Olweny-Myers said ‘Hull Fair has always been a part of our lives and to be able to find a way to celebrate that history and look back on many happy memories has been a wonderful experience for staff and residents alike. Reminiscence is an important factor in helping the wellbeing of people living with a dementia. It can help give people a sense of confidence and competence in the skills that they still have. I would like to say how very proud I am to be part of my staff team and of how hard they have worked to make this a reality’.
