Activ8 winter 2021

Winter edition

Learn, have fun, and smile through the seasons!

CHALLENGE

Inside this pack..

Your three-month toolkit, jam-packed with ideas to help you keep active and have fun.

Create your own carnival Page 4 Host your own bonfire night Page 10 Make your own snow globe Page 14

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E G N E L L A CH

r e t Wi nback!

4ice1s took

serv he part in t Activ8 e challeng

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Our first Activ8 challenge for 2021 ran from May to July, and we loved seeing so many of you get involved and enjoy the activities! We're back with another winter toolkit to help you have some fun with activitybased challenges you can tackle at your service over the next three months.

Remember to send your photos to communications@voyagecare.com whenever you have finished an activity!

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Your activity pack Beginning in October, we start our winter fun with activities encouraging you to get into the Halloween spirit!

Whether you create your own eery exhibition or host your own carnival for Oktoberfest, we hope you have fun trying new things!

Remember to track your activities and complete the enclosed card – make sure you tell communications@voyagecare.com when you've completed the challenge as there are some great prizes on offer again!

In November, our focus shifts to the environment, with autumn in full swing, we have so many eco-friendly activities to help you get out and explore your planet!

Budget will be made available to help you buy the materials you need to host parties and events for the people we support. More information will be made available on Hive.

Finally, we get to celebrate our favourite month by spreading lots of Christmas cheer – the perfect opportunity to get festive and combine crafting, baking and partying!

ARE YOU UP TO THE

ACTIV8 CHALLENGE?

Rules • E very time you co mplete an activity or challenge, you mus t find the correct sticker and log it on your activity card.

This will help you to track your prog ress.

• To complete the Activ8 challenge, you need to collect 8 st ickers, but feel free to do more (o r all!) of them.

• L et us know when you’ve completed your ac tivity tracker by sending a phot ograph or scan to communication s@voyagecare .com!

We’d also like to se e your photos and videos to evidence that you’ve taken part. (Remember to send your consent forms.)

• E ntries will be re viewed on an ong oing basis and services who have comple ted the Activ8 challen ge will receive a confirmation emai l with details of how to claim thei r prize.

•A ll other competit ions will be judged after their respective closing dates and we’ll sh are details of the winners throug h our usual communications channels.

We wish you all th e very best of luck and hope you hav e lots of fun!

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n w o r u o y Create

! l a v i carn 1 stu m es! o c r u o y Create

berfest spirit to k O e th to in t ge A great way to own costumes. Here’s how r is to create you ur own German folk hat… yo you can make

ed: What you’ll ncaerd ✔ Glue

✔ A3 paper ohr ✔ Flower or feather ✔ Hole punc

Place the paper in front of you portrait. Take the left top of the paper and match it with the bottom half and fold.

2 Fold the left and right corners down in to make a triangle, leaving a base at the bottom.

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Fold up the paper at the bottom on both sides to make the brim of the hat.

5 Oktoberfest is a traditional German celebration and is a great theme for a party in service. From decorating the space, to playing some traditional games, it’s sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Here’s a great craft idea to help you get dressed up for your own Oktoberfest carnival…

Head to Hive for some fun Oktoberfest games and decoration ideas!

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Fold the edges and glue down. Then punch holes either side of the hat brim.

Pretzel preparation!

The pretzel is the perfect snack to prepare for your Oktoberfest! Here’s everything you’ll ‘knead’ to create some:

Ingredients: • 250ml warm water • 2tsp active dry yeast • 50g sugar • 1tsp salt • 500g strong flour • 1tbsp vegetable oil • 500ml hot water • 50g baking soda

Method:

5 Decorate your hat with a flower, a feather or one of each. Ta-da!

1. Mix together the warm water and yeast.

Once combined, add the sugar, salt and flour. If the dough is too dry add in 1tbsp of water.

2. Lightly dust a surface and knead the dough into a ball. Place the dough into a large bowl and add the oil on top. Cover and let rise until doubled.

3. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees/gas mark 9. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope and twist into a pretzel shape.

Remember to send photos and videos to communications@voyagecare.com

4. Line two trays with baking paper. Add the hot water and baking soda together in a bowl. Dip the pretzel into the bowl and place onto the tray. Sprinkle the top with the rock salt.

5. Bake for 20 minutes or until the tops are golden.

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Eery exhibition!

We know how many of the people we support love drawing, so the Big Draw Festival is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween.

This year, the theme of the Big Draw Festival is about the relationship between people and our living environments – to reconnect with each other and try to create a better world for future generations. This fits in perfectly with our environmental strategy as an organisation.

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So, how can you get involved? We’re challenging you to host your own eery exhibition, using recycled materials to create some Halloween masterpieces to display in service.

Looking for inspiration? David from The Granary hosted his own art exhibition for his fellow residents, check out Hive to find out more...

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t u a n o Astr

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i n actio n !

This October, we’re challenging you to get involved in World Space Week! Your mission, if you choose to accept it? To begin your astronaut training...

Reach for the stars!

Top Tips: 1

Why not set a spooky dress code and get everyone to dress up for your eery exhibition?

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Get everyone involved in designing some tickets to give out to guests to invite them to your gallery.

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If you’re feeling particularly creative, why not use pumpkins to create your art? From carving, to pumpkin printing there’s lots of ways you can put a twist on your art piece!

For this activity, you’ll need marshmallows, chocolate sticks (Mikado work great for this) and some pictures of star constellations.

The marshmallows act as stars and you can connect each one with the chocolate sticks to form your constellation.

Pssst… the ‘constellations’ taste great to eat afterwards!

Why not try stargazing the night before this activity? You can draw the constellations you see and recreate them with your marshmallows the next day!

Head to Hive for more activities to complete your astronaut training!

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n w o d k l A wa

y r o s n se lane

Sensory walks are a great way to seek out and experience a range of different sensory textures, and autumn is the perfect season to get wrapped up and see what you can find outdoors!

You don’t have to wander far to find lots of items with different textures for you to touch, here are some common items that you can find on your walk:

Leaves

Feathers

Pine cones

Berries

Bark or sticks

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Remember to take a bag or a container with you so that you can take some of the items home with you – especially the leaves as we have an autumn-themed craft for you to have a go at on the next page!

Write down what items you find and how they felt!

What was your favourite item?

Let us know by emailing communications@voyagecare.com

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Make an

autumn wreath

So, you’ve collected some leaves on your autumn walk, now what do you do with them?

Firstly, you need to press and preserve them, you can do this by lying them flat between two books for a couple of days and then covering them with watered-down PVA or white glue.

Once the leaves are dry, you’re ready to turn them into a colourful autumn wreath!

You will need: ✔ Autumn leaves ✔ Paint (ideally metallic) ✔ Wooden embroidery hoop (10 inches) ✔ Glue ✔ String or ribbon for hanging

Method: 1. Paint your leaves in any style you want – the brighter the better!

2. Let the paint dry and separate the inner and outer hoops of the embroidery hoop.

3. Run a line of glue around a small section of the embroidery hoop and quickly press a leaf over the glue, holding it in place for a moment as the glue dries.

4. Continue doing this all around the hoop until your wreath is completely full of leaves.

5. Tie a loop of ribbon or string to the hoop and hang it up by a window or on a door and then you’re all done!

We’d love to see how your autumn wreaths turn out!

Send your photos to communications@voyagecare.com

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e r i f bon night own Host your

rite blanket u o v fa r u o y b Gra s and snuggle and fluffy sock nfire night o b r fo y d a re p u r! on 5 Novembe

First things first: the bonfire. You can paint, draw or use materials you have lying around to create your fire. It’s then time to gather round and have some fun.

Here’s some ideas to get you started:

Grab the snacks It wouldn’t be a bonfire night without hot dogs and corn on the cob! And those of you with a sweet tooth, why not bring marshmallows and toffee apples to your bonfire night! Head over to Hive to view our yummy recipe for toffee apples!

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Head over to Hive for more ideas on what to eat, play and do at your bonfire night!

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Game time!

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Bonfire night isn’t complete without a few games!

Here’s a fun game that you can play together:

Finish the sentence game

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Depending on the size of the group, each person may have four goes each.

1

Gather around your bonfire in a circle.

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One person starts off the story (this could be about anything).

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Once everyone has finished their turns, the last person will complete the story.

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The next person continues the story by saying the next sentence.

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Why not have another go and see how wacky you can make your next story!

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Continue doing this until every person in the circle has added a sentence.

e Cut out and ke

p recipe

n w o r u o y e k Ma tasty hedgehog!

This hedgehog recipe is simple, easy to make and perfect for your bonfire night!

Ingredients: Did you know?

Hedgehogs hibernate from October to April and really like hiding under the sticks and leaves in bonfires where they can keep nice and warm! So, it’s always a good idea to make sure there are no hedgehogs hiding under a bonfire before it is lit.

✔ A melon ✔ Cubed cheeses ✔ Pickled onions ✔ Foil ✔ Cocktail sticks

Method:

Top Tip: You can switch out your savoury food for something sweet!

1. Cut your melon in half and wrap foil around both halves – make sure it’s tight!

2. Grab a cocktail stick and poke through one cheese cube and one pickled onion.

Remember to send your photos and videos to communications@voyagecare.com

3. Then poke your cocktail stick into your melon.

Repeat this process until your melon looks like a hedgehog!

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t How toouhroosw n y

s a m t Chris ball

There is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with a party! But why stop there?

Go all out this festive season and throw a Christmas ball! Here’s how:

Decorating time!

Planning is key!

Think about when you want to throw your Christmas ball. It could be when you’re decorating the service for Christmas or on the winter solstice (21 December) when it’s the longest night.

Just make sure you have decorations, food and entertainment ready to go!

As you plan your Christmas ball, think about whether you want to go down the traditional route of reds, greens and whites or a more modern look with gold, silver and lots of glitter! Either way, use craft time to make homemade decorations that fit perfectly with your Christmas theme. Bonus points if you can create some decorations from recycled materials!

Yummy festive food!

No Christmas ball would be complete without some delicious food and drinks!

Have a go at making a Christmas punch with festive spices, or head to pages 14-15 and make some tasty gingerbread men!

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See Hive for some more Christmas ball ideas!

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Christmas is a Clause for some fun!

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Are you looking for some fun, festive games to play at your Christmas ball?

Look no further – here are some games to help you spread Christmas cheer!

Christmas Karaoke!

Get the service together and sing some of your favourite Christmas carols – why not try ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ or ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’. You could even have a Christmas song karaoke battle where the winner receives a prize!

All you need to do is grab either a microphone or something similar like a hairbrush and sing your heart out this Christmas!

Pin the nose on the

Snowman!

Here is a festive version of the traditional game, Pin the Tail on the Donkey – perfect for some Christmas fun!

You will need: ✔ Large sheet of white card ✔ A large plate, or something circular to draw around ✔ Orange card ✔ Black felt tip or marker ✔ Blu Tack

How to: 1

Place the large plate on the white sheet of card and draw around it.

2

Cut out the circle shape.

3

Draw on the circle some eyes, a smile and put a small cross where the nose should go.

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Cut out multiple carrot shapes on the orange card (for the nose) and stick blu tack on them.

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Now spin around three times and try to pin the nose on the snowman!

14 n e your ow k a m o t How

snow globe!

Give a gift with an eco twist and upcycle an old jar to make a glittery snow globe for someone special!

This is a great winter craft to do together at your service to give you the feeling of a white Christmas!

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u ll need: What yo

✔ Old mason jar or jam jar ✔ White or coloured glitter ✔W aterproof figurine, like a miniature Christmas tree ✔ Strong clear glue ✔ Water

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1

Peel off any stickers on your jar and take the lid off.

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Glue the bottom of your figurine and stick it to the centre of the inside of the lid to your jar.

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Leave to dry. Once dry and firm, fill your jar ¾ of the way with water and add your glitter.

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Put your lid on with your figurine inside, tightly.

Got room for more water?

Carefully add more water until your jar is full.

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Turn the jar upside down, and you now have a snow globe!

Gingerbread men recipe!

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Follow this simple recipe to bake some yummy gingerbread men for a perfect Christmas day activity!

Ingredients:

Instructions:

✔ 225g plain flour ✔ ½ tsp salt ✔ 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda ✔ 1 heaped tsp ground ginger ✔ ½ tsp cinnamon ✔ 50g butter ✔ 100g brown sugar ✔ 100g golden syrup ✔ Gingerbread man cutter ✔ Icing pens for decorating

1.

Preheat the oven to 170C or gas mark 3 and line a baking tray with baking paper.

2.

Sieve the flour, salt, bicarb, ginger and cinnamon into a large bowl.

3.

Get a pan and heat the butter, sugar and syrup until dissolved.

4.

Leave to cool slightly, then mix in the dry ingredients to form a dough.

5.

Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes.

6.

Lightly dust the surface with flour, roll out the dough to a 5mm thickness.

7.

Stamp out the gingerbread shapes with a cutter, then re-roll any off-cuts and repeat.

8.

Place your gingerbread men on the baking tray.

9.

Cook for 10-15 minutes, then remove and leave to cool.

10. Once cooled, grab your icing pens and decorate your gingerbread men!

Enjoyed this recipe?

Then head to Hive to bake a gingerbread house!

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Christmas card competition!

You guessed it – it’s time for the annual Christmas card competition! We can’t wait to see what amazing designs you come up with.

We had a record 170 entries last year, and we hope to see even more this year!

How to enter:

David from Oak Lodge was last year’s winner with his NHS and key workers inspired card!

Send a photo or a scan of your handmade designs to communications@voyagecare.com by 30 November, and we will announce the winner shortly after. Good Luck!

New Year’s

Eco-resolution

As we head into the new year, our environmental committee would like your help to start 2022 positively! We have an ambitious target to become carbon positive by 2025 and there's no time like the present.

We’d love every service to set an environmentally-friendly New Year’s resolution! It can be big or small, but it must be something you can commit to that you aren’t already doing.

Last year, so many of you set and achieved your eco-resolutions. From switching to roll-on deodorant instead of spray deodorant, to recycling all plastics.

We can’t wait to see what your service has planned for 2022!

There are lots of ideas on Hive but to help you get started, we’ve shared some ideas below that some of our services have been doing:

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Recycle more regularly: use our Eco Warrior of the Week poster from Hive to give to those recycling champions!

Add a ‘Meat-free Monday’ recipe to your weekly menu. There’s a template on Hive for you to use!

Remember to turn off lights when you leave a room and turn off appliances completely, rather than leaving them on standby.

Head over to the environmental strategy page on Hive for some inspiration!

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