Evenings in care homes can be quiet and lonely, so every week Magic Me volunteers host cocktail parties – an occasion for volunteers and residents to socialise together.

Due to ill health, frailty and diminished energy, care home residents can’t pop down the pub or out to socialise with friends. Those whose families live far away might not have any visitors or even see anyone from outside the home for weeks at a time. We set up Cocktails in Care Homes in 2010 to change this. Now thanks to our growing team of volunteers, we run monthly parties in eighteen London care homes.

What I love about the parties is they make me feel that people think about you.

Hetty, Resident

Whether you are a volunteer, a care home, a local authority or a business looking to develop volunteering for your staff, there are all kinds of ways to get involved.

How it works

We aim for each party to be a fabulous social event that just happens to be held in a care home, which anyone, regardless of age, would like to attend. Our parties are attended by residents, their relatives and care staff.

Each party needs a team of around 10 volunteers whose role is to socialise, serve drinks and chat with residents. Parties are on a Wednesday or Thursday evening from 6pm – 7.30pm and volunteers simply choose the party dates and locations that suit them.

To find out more about each party, and to meet our volunteer Party Managers…
visit our Party Info page here.

For family members, care homes can be stressful places to visit especially if your relative lives with a dementia, so a party provides a relaxed way to spend time together. Staff tell us that after a party, the mood and atmosphere in homes is brighter and lighter for days afterwards.

The project is currently running in 9 London boroughs – Tower Hamlets, Islington, Camden, Southwark, Hammersmith & Fulham, Waltham Forest, Westminster, Brent and Lambeth. Click here to see a map of care home locations.

We work with creative partners to enhance the party experience for participants. Current creative partners include the Royal Academy of Music, Frou Frou Days, Cocktails resident magician David, aka The Delusionist and DJ Care Home aka Martin Aston. Past partners include Central School of Speech and Drama. 

Cocktails in Care Homes is funded primarily by donations from individuals and corporate partners, grants from trusts and foundations and support from individual donors.

Demand continues to grow and we are always looking for new volunteers, as well as partnerships and supporters to get involved and enable us to increase our reach across London and beyond.

Get Involved

Sign up to volunteer here

Find out more about how businesses and organisations can support us here

Become a sponsor – find out more here

Do some fundraising through challenge events, bake sales, and anything else that takes your fancy! Our easy guide is here

We are always keen to hear from care home providers and local authorities interested in partnering with us to bring Cocktails to their area.

To explore this further, contact Phoebe Grudzinskas, Project Manager-
tel 0203 222 6064 email cocktails@magicme.co.uk

To learn more about Cocktails in Care Homes, why not listen to our podcast?