Great British Bake Off inspires Inverness care home residents
Fans of the Great British Bake Off at an Inverness care home brought the show to life for residents thanks to the help of a professional Highland baker.
For when the residents at Highview House recently expressed an interest in recreating the popular TV show, the activities team at the care home knew precisely who to contact to make things happen.
Resident Bunty Dunbar’s granddaughter, Niamh Martin, just happens to be a professional baker in the Inverness and Nairn area, and she volunteered to take on the Prue Leith role, leading her grandmother and other residents through a weekly series of baking challenges.
Each showstopping bake is directly inspired by Bunty’s decades-old collection of baking recipes.
Aiden Wylie, lead activities coordinator at Highview House Care Home said: “Activities inside a care home can be aspirational, as well as being a continuation of lifelong hobbies.
“When residents told me that they enjoyed watching Paul Hollywood, Noel Fielding and Prue Leith on the television, and wanted to try their hand at a bake-off, we knew Niamh had all the skills and personality to lead the baking club. The residents, especially Bunty, love getting involved in these challenges lead by a professional baker. It’s an absolute treat to watch!”
Now, the Highview baking club has spread to around a (baker’s) dozen members, and meet every Friday to weigh out ingredients, prepare the equipment and carry out the baking process. Niamh performs the role of Prue Leith, instructing and praising residents on their showstoppers, while the activities team offer their own versions of Hollywood handshakes after each successful bake.
Niamh, who is a regular visitor to the Scorguie home, said she was delighted to help out as head baker.
“It’s an absolute hoot,” she said. “Our baking sessions are so full of fun and laughter – the ladies help me more than I help them, and the male residents are starting to take an interest as well. The baking club is so much fun, and they produce genuinely fantastic showstoppers!”
Highview House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers. Highview provides residential, nursing and respite care for more than 70 residents.
