Wednesday 8th April 2026
A joyful return to Spring Harvest
Tyler Sewell-Nicholas
Our team had another brilliant time at this year’s Spring Harvest, Minehead, returning once again to our stand in the Skyline Exhibition. It was a joy to be back, meeting so many people and sharing more about the work that we do in such a lively and encouraging Christian environment
Throughout the week, our stand was full of energy as we spoke with visitors about our care homes, housing schemes, and resources, while also giving out goody bags containing a copy of our magazine and information about our partner charities, Faith in Later Life and Christians in Care. Whether people were discovering us for the first time or already familiar with our work, each conversation provided a valuable opportunity to connect and reflect on the importance of care, community, and later life.
One of our most popular activities was the ever-growing “pin on the map.” Visitors were invited to mark where they were from, and it quickly became a colourful display of connections from across the UK. It was a great way to start conversations and helped many people discover just how close we might be to them or their loved ones.
Alongside this, our games brought plenty of fun and friendly competition to the stand. From classic rounds of Connect Four to our engaging challenges, there was always something happening. Our “Beat the Clock” game invited participants to build a puzzle while wearing gloves, an eye patch, or distortion goggles - highlighting in a simple but powerful way some of the challenges that can come with ageing. Our maze challenge, where participants had to carefully balance a ball all the way to the end, proved especially tricky - but all the more satisfying when completed. Successful players were rewarded with sweets, which kept the competition going.
We also had some lovely conversations with people who were already familiar with our work. One visitor shared, “My aunt lives in Milward House and is cared for really well,” reminding us just how meaningful our homes are to families and communities.
Another visitor said, “It’s so great what you do as a charity. Six Key Steps to Making a Dementia Inclusive Church will be really useful to my congregation."
A special highlight was welcoming Ana, who manages The Harvest Coffee Shop, to our stand on Wednesday. She brought such a brilliant, warm atmosphere, jumping straight into conversations with visitors. As she put it, “I wanted to get stuck in straight away and talk to people about us.” Her enthusiasm was infectious and made a real difference to the day.
We look forward to seeing you all again next year!
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