VE Day Celebration Brings Colchester Community Together

On 8 May, we were proud to bring people from across Colchester together for a special VE Day celebration to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe. The event took place at The Annexe in Stanway, where we hold our weekly Love to Move sessions, and gave everyone a chance to enjoy music, friendship and good food in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

The afternoon began with a two-minute silence at 12 noon to honour those who lived through the war years. It was a moment of reflection, shared by everyone in the room.

Afterwards, spirits were lifted by a live performance from local group The Entertainers. There was singing, dancing and plenty of smiles, with many of our guests joining in. Whether people were on their feet or simply tapping along to the beat, the room was full of energy and laughter.

Thanks to Nindy’s, a popular Colchester fish and chip shop, everyone enjoyed a tasty lunch of traditional fish and chips. The food went down a treat and helped keep the good chat flowing.

One of our CareGivers and her husband brought along two beautiful classic cars. They quickly became a talking point, with several guests sharing stories of cars they used to drive or admire. It was a lovely conversation starter and a real highlight of the day.

More Than Just Care

At Right at Home Colchester, we believe care should support every part of a person’s life. That includes staying active, making friends, and being part of the local community.

There isn’t always an activity co-ordinator in homecare, but we’ve taken on that role ourselves. Over the past year and a half, we’ve organised craft days, movement sessions and other events that help people feel connected and supported. We know that loneliness can have just as much impact on wellbeing as a health condition, and we’re committed to tackling it.

As Gina, our Registered Manager, said:

“We want to do more than provide care at home. We want to build a sense of belonging and show people they’re not on their own.”

What Our Guests Said

We were truly moved by the feedback we received from our VE Day event. For example, one attendee, whose nan lives with Alzheimer’s, said the following:

“My nan has Alzheimer’s and often gets anxious when we go out, but this was one of the rare occasions she wasn’t asking to go home. The atmosphere was amazing, and the music really lifted her spirits.”

And another said:

“I had the best time ever. The fish and chips were delightful and everyone was so lovely. It really cheered me up.”

We’d like to thank everyone who joined us on the day, as well as those who helped make it happen. Events like this are only possible because of the strong community we have here in Colchester.

If you’d like to join one of our upcoming activities, or find out more about the care we offer at home, we’re always happy to chat. Please get in touch with our friendly team.