Running simultaneously to the group's Walk For Wellbeing challenge is B&M Care's 'Memory Capsule Relay'.

Officiated at Templemore Care Home in Northampton, the relay has reached the half-way mark having now completed the second week of a month-long itinerary. Since leaving Chesham Bois Manor, the trunk has been delivered to Ryeview Manor (High Wycombe), then onto St Lukes (Caversham) and neighbouring sister home Lakeside (Reading), before heading to the group’s southern-most care home St Brendans (Crowthorne), and then back up to Bury Lodge (Beaconsfield).

With a simple aim of communicating the essence of living through a global pandemic to a future generation, this week items have included art, drawings, handwritten memoirs, and even knitting projects to reflect how time was spent during last year’s first lockdown.

“It was such a pleasure filling the trunk with items that reflect our experiences over the past year,” said Bury Lodge Care Home resident, Elizabeth.

She continued: “Although its been tough, especially not seeing my family and friends, our items celebrate us – the home – as one big family, and how we’ve pulled through together whilst making the most of the situation.”

The contents of the trunk will then later form part of a pandemic time capsule that will be buried at B&M Care’s forthcoming Memorial Garden at Ashlyns Care Home in Berkhamsted.

Steps To Reconnect

B&M Care’s Memory Capsule Relay, in conjunction with Walk For Wellbeing, forms part of a wider initiative, titled Steps To Reconnect. With an aim of tentatively reconnecting our family network of care homes, Steps To Reconnect looks at offsetting the “year like no other” with two challenges that continue to diminish distance and unite the group as a whole.