Working Without a Budget as a Care Home Activity Coordinator
- Bright Copper Kettles CIC
- Sep 11
- 4 min read
Hands up if you've ever bought something for your planned activities with your own money!
Yes, it's all too easy isn't it?
For many care home activity coordinators, the phrase "no budget " is all too familiar. You’re expected to provide a full, engaging programme of activities, but the money simply isn’t
there. It can feel frustrating, especially when you’re passionate about delivering the best for your residents.
But here’s the truth: some of the most meaningful activities don’t always need funding.
With creativity, community support, and clear communication, you can run a strong programme without dipping into your own pocket.
And that last point is important - because every time you spend your own money, you’re effectively reducing your wage.
When activity coordinators are already among the lowest-paid roles in social care, there’s little sense in working for even less.
What free activities can you try in your care home?
It’s easy to feel limited without funds, but some of the richest activities cost nothing at all. Try starting with:
Rediscover existing resources. Forgotten cupboards often hide puzzles, games, or art materials that can be refreshed with a new spin.
Everyday life as activity. Folding laundry, polishing cutlery, arranging flowers, or helping prepare vegetables - these are purposeful, familiar, and inclusive.
Nature as your ally. Walks in the garden, birdwatching, pressing autumn leaves, or enjoying seasonal flowers indoors.
Community connections. I nvite local schools, choirs, or volunteer groups to visit. Many are delighted to engage for free.
Resident-led sessions. Encourage residents to share hobbies, skills, or memories. A storytelling circle or singalong needs nothing more than a listening ear.
These types of activities focus on connection and purpose rather than cost - exactly what residents value most.
Should care home activity coordinators spend their own money?
It’s tempting, but here’s why it’s important to set boundaries::
Don’t fund the programme yourself. Spending your own wages sets a precedent and undervalues the need for a proper activities budget.
Be transparent. Keep records of activities, what resources are used, and where they came from. This highlights your creativity and shows what’s missing.
Focus on wellbeing. Activities are about engagement and meaning, not expensive materials.
Balance passion with self-care. Your enthusiasm is a strength, but don’t let it cost you financially or emotionally.
Every time you buy resources yourself, you’re effectively lowering your wage. Protect your income and your role - both are worth more than that.
How do you ask your care home manager for a budget?
When residents’ needs can’t be met without a budget, it’s important to raise this professionally. Here are a few tips:
Frame it around residents’ wellbeing. Instead of “I need money for crafts,” say “Residents have shown a strong interest in painting - a small budget for brushes and paints would directly support their wellbeing.”
Be specific and costed. Managers are more likely to agree if you present a clear figure, e.g., “£25 a month for materials.”
Show your impact. Demonstrate the creativity and no-cost activities you’ve already delivered. This makes your case stronger.
Suggest alternatives. If money simply isn’t available, propose donation drives, linking with local groups, or creating a small petty cash fund.
What personal resources can residents use for activities?
Your care home is first and foremost the home of your residents.
Many still have their own resources - from books, craft materials, knitting needles, and playing cards to favourite music collections or photo albums.
Some may also choose to spend their own money on activities, hobbies, or entertainment, just as they would have done before moving into care.
With their permission, these personal belongings or purchases can be incorporated into group or individual activities.
Bring your own music sessions: These can be a great source of entertainment, enabling you to peak into individual preferences, and sometime sense of humour.
Theatre visits: Residents shouldn't feel restricted because your budget won't stretch to cover the cost of a local theatre ticket that they'd be quite happy to pay for themselves.
This not only helps stretch the home’s activity provision but also makes sessions more meaningful, because they are rooted in what matters most to each resident.
The key is always to respect ownership and choice, involving residents in deciding how their items or spending are used supports dignity and autonomy.
Can you really run activities without a budget?
Working without a budget isn’t easy, but it doesn’t mean your residents have to miss out. Creativity, resourcefulness, and community links can deliver a varied, engaging programme. And when you raise the subject with your manager professionally, you increase the chances of securing the support you need.
Above all, remember: every pound you spend personally is a pound off your wage. Protect your income, protect your energy, and protect the value of your role.
Meaningful activities are built on connection, joy, and purpose - not the size of your budget. 🖐️💚
If you plan to speak to your care home manager this week - try putting in a request for membership to Activity Coordinators Toolbox - lifetime access for the care home.
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