Key Points

• Staff, residents, relatives and community members came together at MHA Ryelands in South London for the home’s third annual cultural day.
• The event formed part of Care Home Open Week and MHA’s Music Festival.
• The celebration highlighted the cultural diversity of the home’s team through music, dance, traditional dress and cuisine.
• The Mayor of Sutton, Councillor Muhammad Sadiq, and the Mayoress, Aasia, attended the event.
• Food served at the gathering included jerk chicken, jollof rice, sadza, plantain puff puff and sausage rolls.
• Tina Carey, activities co-ordinator at MHA Ryelands, said the day was the home’s “best one yet”.
• MHA Ryelands provides residential and residential dementia care for 50 residents.

MHA Ryelands (South London News) June 30, 2026. Staff, residents, relatives and members of the community came together at a South London care home to celebrate its third annual cultural day, an event designed to showcase the different backgrounds represented within the home and to bring people together through music, food and shared activities. The gathering at MHA Ryelands formed part of Care Home Open Week and MHA’s Music Festival, with the home reporting a lively atmosphere that included songs, dancing, traditional dress and an international feast.

As reported by the home, colleagues selected songs from their home countries and shared them with residents and guests, creating a day centred on participation as well as performance.

The event also drew civic attention, with the Mayor of Sutton, Councillor Muhammad Sadiq, and the Mayoress, Aasia, among those attending.

According to the report, the cultural day gave everyone at the home the chance to learn more about the nationalities, languages and traditions represented among staff.

What happened at the South London care home?

The cultural day at MHA Ryelands included music, dance and dress that reflected the international make-up of the home’s workforce. Staff members shared songs from their home countries, and those gathered at the event joined in with singing and dancing during the celebrations.

The report said the atmosphere was lively, with the event serving both as a social occasion and as a showcase of cultural identity.

The home also offered an international food spread, with staff bringing dishes from their own backgrounds. Among the foods mentioned were jerk chicken, jollof rice, sadza, plantain puff puff and sausage rolls.

The event was presented as part of a wider effort to celebrate diversity within the home and to help residents and visitors engage with cultures from around the world.

Why was the event held?

The cultural day took place as part of Care Home Open Week and MHA’s Music Festival, both of which gave the home a broader framework for its activities.

MHA Ryelands used the day to highlight the mix of cultures among its team, while also encouraging residents, relatives and community guests to take part in the celebration.

The event was described as the home’s third annual cultural day, showing that it has become a regular fixture rather than a one-off gathering.

The report said the day was intended to create a welcoming environment in which people could learn from one another.

It also gave staff the opportunity to share traditions from their own countries in a public setting. In practical terms, this meant the event combined entertainment, food and cultural exchange in a single programme.

What did Tina Carey say?

Tina Carey, activities co-ordinator at MHA Ryelands, said the latest event was the home’s best yet. She said:

“This was our latest cultural day and I think our best one yet. It was fantastic to see everyone enjoying themselves and celebrating the cultural diversity we have here at Ryelands.”

Carey added that the home’s international character made it a special place to live and work. She said:

“Having so many different nationalities, languages and cultures make our home a very special place to live and work, and I feel proud to be part of this amazing international community. I’m already looking forward to next year’s Cultural Day.”

Her remarks placed emphasis on inclusion, participation and the sense of community inside the home.

Who attended the celebration?

The report said the Mayor of Sutton, Councillor Muhammad Sadiq, and the Mayoress, Aasia, were among the attendees.

Their presence added an official dimension to the event and underlined its community significance.

The attendance of civic figures also reflected the wider local interest in activities that bring residents, staff and families together.

The story did not suggest the event had any policy or political purpose beyond community engagement. Instead, it presented the cultural day as a social and celebratory occasion within the care home setting.

The involvement of local dignitaries reinforced the event’s role as part of the borough’s community life.

What is MHA Ryelands?

MHA Ryelands provides residential and residential dementia care for 50 residents. The care home’s cultural day therefore took place within a setting where daily life involves long-term support, routine care and community interaction.

Events of this kind are often used in care environments to support wellbeing, reduce isolation and encourage resident engagement.

In this case, the home used the event to bring together residents, relatives, staff and members of the public. The report indicates that this approach is part of how the home marks special occasions and strengthens the sense of shared identity among people connected to the service.

The cultural day also appears to fit into a wider programme of activities linked to music and open week celebrations.

How does this fit the wider community?

The event reflects a broader pattern seen in care settings where cultural awareness and community participation are used to support daily life.

By inviting residents, relatives and community members to take part, the home created an occasion that was not limited to staff or management.

The report emphasised shared enjoyment, learning and appreciation of different cultures rather than ceremony alone.

The inclusion of music, food and dress from multiple backgrounds helped the day become both practical and symbolic.

It was practical because it gave people a chance to interact and enjoy the activities. It was symbolic because it acknowledged that the home’s diversity is part of its identity rather than a side note.

Background of the development

MHA Ryelands’ cultural day is the third annual version of an event that has become part of the home’s calendar.

The report said it formed part of Care Home Open Week and MHA’s Music Festival, which suggests the celebration sits within a wider network of themed activities organised by the provider.

Care homes often use these events to build connections between residents, staff and families, particularly in settings where community involvement can help enrich everyday life.

The home’s emphasis on diversity was central to the event. Staff shared songs and dishes from their home countries, and the celebration brought together people with different backgrounds under one roof.

In that sense, the development was not a sudden change but a continuation of how the home presents itself as an inclusive environment.

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What could this mean for residents?

For residents, events like this can create a break from routine and offer a more social atmosphere. The day gave them a chance to experience music, food and traditions that may be familiar or new, depending on their own backgrounds.

It also allowed relatives and community visitors to take part in an activity that is both entertaining and personal.

For a care home with 50 residents, the impact is likely to be strongest in terms of morale, engagement and shared experience. The report suggests the event helped residents interact with staff in a different setting, which can strengthen relationships within the home.

The next cultural day is already being anticipated by staff, indicating that the event may continue to play a regular role in the home’s activities.