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We are continuing to grow, and by the end of 2025 this expansion will create exciting new opportunities across the care sector. On 18 December, we formally took over the management and care provision of all homes previously owned by Aria Care and Danforth Care Homes. This makes us the second largest care provider for older people in the UK, marking a significant milestone in our organisation’s journey. This expansion brings more than 12,000 additional beds into our portfolio and welcomes over 15,000 new colleagues into our teams. We are now operating more than 250 homes across England, Scotland and Wales, strengthening our ability to provide high-quality care to even more residents and families. We are delighted that Operations Directors Karl Dawson and Daren Dalmedo, along with many other talented colleagues from Aria Care, have joined us to continue supporting their homes and teams. As our Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Knight, said: “We have the utmost respect for everything Aria Care and Danforth Care Homes have achieved, and we are proud to support their ongoing journey. Our values and commitment to exceptional care align strongly, and our priority remains ensuring residents and families continue to receive outstanding care throughout this transition and beyond.”
We’re proud to have won the Care Home Group (Large) award at the National Care Awards in London for the second year running. This recognition celebrates care groups with 40+ homes that demonstrate exceptional care, strong staff development and impressive performance. For more than 40 years, we’ve been committed to delivering outstanding residential, dementia, nursing and respite care across our 170+ homes, enabling residents to live fulfilling lives. 2024 was an important year for us, marked by continued growth, unwavering focus on high-quality care and our commitment to helping colleagues develop and thrive. Our homes remain 100% compliant with care regulators in Scotland and Wales, and in England, 93% are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’, with more ‘Outstanding’ homes than any other provider. We continue to invest in training and development. Over 600 colleagues are currently completing apprenticeships, and our careers initiatives such as Open Doors, the Seacole Academy and our leadership pathways for Deputy Managers, Home Managers and Regional Directors are helping colleagues build rewarding careers. Andrew Knight, our CEO, said: “Being recognised again is an honour and reflects the outstanding care our teams deliver every day. I’m proud of how colleagues continue to learn, grow and prioritise compassionate care. Their dedication ensures residents live truly fulfilling lives.”
We’re delighted to share that Care UK won two awards at the 2025 Leaders in Care Awards in Birmingham on Tuesday 7th October. Our Wildlife Gardens initiative took home the Sustainability in Care Homes Award, with judges recognising our commitment to celebrating biodiversity and creating enriching outdoor spaces for residents. Across our homes, colleagues and residents built bird boxes, feeding stations and bug hotels, and planted wildflowers to attract pollinators. This award reflects not just our sustainability efforts but also the creativity and teamwork within our homes. At Invicta Court in Weavering, for example, local college carpentry students and a nearby primary school crafted handmade bird boxes and feeders for residents. At Tor-Na-Dee in Milltimber, relatives donated benches and plants, while residents researched flowers to attract bees and butterflies before visiting garden centres with colleagues to select them. We’re also proud that Valentin Catanescu, Operations Support Manager, was named Leader of the Future. Valentin was recognised for his visionary leadership, innovative approach, and dedication to supporting home teams to deliver outstanding care – including helping one home achieve two Outstanding CQC ratings. Valentin said: “Since joining Care UK, I’ve grown beyond my clinical skills through collaboration with colleagues who share my passion for excellence in care. Their guidance and commitment have shaped who I am today.”
We shifted into high gear at Long Stone Manor in Wilmslow to host a special Formula 1-themed dementia café, all in support of Race Against Dementia. Together with our residents, colleagues, and the local community, we raised an incredible £475.81 – which Care UK proudly matched, bringing the total to £951.62. Our catering team helped set the scene with delicious homemade cakes, light bites, and a glass or two of prosecco, making it a day to remember. To keep the excitement going, residents enjoyed an unforgettable trip to Oulton Park Race Track for the Historic Gold Cup event, celebrating the 75th anniversary of Britain’s first Formula 1 team, British Racing Motors. Resident Martin Dearden, 88, said: “It was a change of pace for some of us on our day out to Oulton Park – we all had a brilliant day!” The event was part of a national series of racing-themed fundraisers hosted across Care UK homes to support Race Against Dementia – the charity founded by F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart following his wife’s diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. Home Manager, Emma Tillyer, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our residents, team, and community for coming together to support such an important cause. A huge thank you to the team at Oulton Park and everyone who made the day such a success.”
We are delighted to welcome eight new care homes across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire into the Care UK family, following the transfer from Yorkare Homes on 1st October. The homes joining us are: Beverley Parklands (Beverley), Driffield Manor (Driffield), Louth Manor (Louth), Magdalen Park (Hedon), Mere Hall (Hornsea), Sleaford Manor (Sleaford), Tranby Park (Hessle), and Westfield Park (Goole). The agreement also includes two further homes currently under construction, which we will operate once they open. These modern, purpose-built homes provide residential, nursing and dementia care, adding 575 beds to our portfolio. We are also pleased to be welcoming around 700 new colleagues who will continue to deliver exceptional care to residents. Several of these homes already hold strong CQC ratings, with Beverley Parklands and Magdalen Park rated ‘Outstanding’ and five others rated ‘Good’. This expansion follows our successful integration of homes from Springfield Healthcare last year and The Hollies Care Centre last month. Together, these steps mark a significant period of growth for Care UK. We are proud to have been entrusted with the care of residents in these beautiful homes and warmly welcome our new colleagues to Care UK. We look forward to building on the excellent foundations already in place and continuing to deliver the high-quality care families can rely on.
At Foxland Grange in Wolverhampton, we recently had the privilege of helping one of our residents, 94-year-old Dennis Winning, tick off a lifelong ambition – flying in a helicopter. Dennis has always dreamed of taking to the skies, so with the support of his daughter and our team, we arranged a scenic flight over Bridgnorth and the Severn Valley Railway. On a bright, clear day, Dennis finally saw the world from above. He described the experience as “exhilarating” and said the views were “beautiful from above with clear blue skies.” The flight has also inspired him to continue working through his bucket list with renewed confidence. Born and raised in Smethwick, Dennis spent 25 years as a lecturer in accountancy at Wulfrun College. Married to his wife Beryl for 66 years, he is a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. This special day was made possible through our Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to share their dreams – whether revisiting old hobbies or trying something new. From helicopter flights to simple pleasures like fish and chips, we aim to make every wish count. We’d like to thank Halfpenny Green Airport for helping us bring Dennis’s dream to life. Supporting residents to live fulfilling, meaningful lives is at the heart of what we do – and seeing Dennis take to the skies was a moment we’ll all remember.
At Care UK’s Bourley Grange in Fleet, we were thrilled to help lifelong Chelsea FC fan, Peter Swan, 92, return to Stamford Bridge for the first time in over 60 years. Peter, one of the club’s oldest and most dedicated supporters, shared with our team that his biggest wish was to revisit the stadium where he has so many fond memories. Through our Wishing Tree initiative, which gives residents the chance to revisit old hobbies or try new experiences, we worked with Chelsea FC to organise a very special day. Peter enjoyed the full VIP treatment, exploring the dressing room, press room, players’ tunnel and pitch. Reflecting on the day, Peter said: “When I walked onto the steps and looked out at the pitch, it all came back to me – the cheering and the singing. It really was a dream come true.” He later wrote a heartfelt letter to our team, thanking colleagues Chelsea, Sajal and Paul for making the day so memorable. Home Manager, Racquel Merdegia, said: “Peter is a huge Chelsea fan, and it was wonderful to see him reconnect with something he truly loves. I’m so proud of the team for making this happen and grateful to Chelsea FC for helping us create such a special experience.” At Bourley Grange, moments like these remind us that supporting residents to live fulfilling lives is at the heart of everything we do.
At Cavell Court in Norwich, we’ve added a splash of colour to our garden wall thanks to a wonderful mural project created with art students from City College Norwich and local street artist Knapple. Together with our residents, the students designed and painted a vibrant seascape that has brought real joy to our outdoor space. The group included learners from a mix of backgrounds, including English Language students and home-schooled artists, who all worked side by side with residents to share ideas and creativity. Pedro Campos, our Home Manager, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the finished mural. It’s brought so much life to our garden and sparked meaningful conversations between residents and students. The whole experience has been a joy.” Charlotte Hiom, Creative Arts Course Leader at City College Norwich, added: “This project gave our students a brilliant opportunity to work in a new environment and connect with a different generation. Watching everyone paint together was incredibly inspiring.” We invited the students’ families and friends to come along and celebrate the mural with us – the atmosphere was full of pride, laughter and connection. This project has not only brightened up our garden but reminded us of the power of community, creativity and the bonds that can form when generations come together
Love was truly in the air here at Prince George House as we celebrated a heart-warming wedding blessing for our 91-year-old resident, Ron, and his partner of 20 years, Viv. We were thrilled to pull out all the stops for Ron and Viv’s special day, bringing together family, friends, and colleagues to mark the occasion. Our Head Chef baked a beautiful cake, and the home was decorated to reflect the joy and love between them. Viv told us it was such an unforgettable day” and said the framed photo and matching glasses she received brought her to tears. Ron joined us at Prince George House after the loss of his wife. He met Viv through an online community for over-60s back in 2005. Viv had recently divorced, and the two instantly connected – falling in love and building a life together. They moved to Ipswich in 2019 to be closer to family and were recently engaged on VE Day. Some of their most cherished memories are of sunny days spent in Ramsgate with Ron’s daughter, who has sadly passed away. For them, this blessing was a chance to celebrate not just their love, but the many memories they’ve created together. It was our absolute honour to host such a special occasion. These are the moments that make our home so special – full of love, laughter, and the connections that continue to grow at every stage of life.
We were thrilled to help 76-year-old Lynn Glanville, one of our residents at Abney Court in Cheadle, take to the skies once again – completing her second indoor skydive at iFLY Manchester. Lynn, who describes herself as “always up for a challenge,” was all smiles as she donned her flight suit and helmet before stepping into the wind tunnel. With the cheers of our team and instructors behind her, she soared with confidence, proving once again that age is no barrier to adventure. This wasn’t Lynn’s first flight – her return to indoor skydiving was inspired by a lifelong love of extraordinary experiences. In her words: “I thoroughly enjoyed it. It made me feel free and reminded me of when I did a real skydive.” Lynn’s fearless attitude has seen her featured on the documentary Growing Old Disgracefully and even travelling around Europe “in a fancy car with no real plans.” So, we weren’t surprised when she asked to skydive again through our Wishing Tree initiative. At Care UK, we believe in helping residents live meaningful, connected, and fulfilling lives. Supporting Lynn’s wish – and seeing the joy it brought – is what makes the Wishing Tree so special. Thank you to iFLY Manchester and our amazing team at Abney Court for helping bring another unforgettable moment to life.
