Sunshine (Rain!), Sea, and Smiles – Our Annual Trip to St Ives

Over the course of two weeks in September, we had the pleasure of taking three groups of residents on our annual holiday to St Ives, Cornwall. This getaway is always one of the highlights of our year, and it was a joy to see everyone enjoying new experiences, favourite traditions, and plenty of laughter along the way.

St Ives welcomed us with its famous sandy beaches, where we spent time playing cricket, building sandcastles, and a few of us even braved the Cornish sea for a dip!

One of the most special moments was for Christopher. In years gone by, Christopher loved visiting Flambards in Cornwall for its epic death slide. Ever since Flambards closed, our team has been on the lookout for somewhere new with a slide to match it. This year, we found one – and Christopher was over the moon. Watching his excitement reminded us how important these adventures are.

Adam loved the visit to Bodmin Jail, and in particular the “hanging” room! He was much braver than some of us!

Our evenings were full of fun, with plenty of music, dancing, Cornish pasties, arcades, and even a hot tub to relax in. A game of Musical Bingo had everyone on the edge of their seats, and a big congratulations goes to Sarah’s team for taking the win!

We also made a trip to Healey’s Cyder Farm, where we sampled all of their delicious creations. The highlight for Richie was an unforgettable tractor ride, which he absolutely loved.

Another highlight was reuniting with our dear friends, Ken and Yvonne. To celebrate Ken’s birthday, we all surprised him with temporary tattoos of Stephen and Ken, which had everyone laughing and smiling. The bond we share with them is truly special – Andrew has been asking every day when he will get to see them again (and we can’t wait for Christmas!).

Looking back, this trip had everything that makes for a magnificent British holiday – beaches, arcades, Cornish food, music, laughter, and so many shared memories. Most of all, it was about being together, celebrating friendships old and new, and making sure everyone had the chance to enjoy the holiday in their own way.

We’re already counting down the days until our next adventure – but for now, we’ll treasure the smiles, stories, and sunshine that St Ives gave us this year.