Brisley Primary School children befriend care home residents

The innovative initiative from Woodstock Care Home at Gressenhall, near Dereham, in collaboration with Brisley Primary School, encourages children to interact with residents of the home through shared activities, embracing mutual respect.

Recently, several children from Brisley Primary School spent an afternoon with Woodstock's residents.

They brought various engaging games, while the older residents relished in sharing their loved pastimes.

Prior to the visit, the children were educated on the importance of being respectful to the elderly residents (Image: Submitted)

Prior to their visit, children were taught about the importance of respect and cheerfulness.

There were many raw moments, highlighted by a young boy named Hugo forming a strong friendship with one resident.

The ‘GrandFriends’ project is set to continue, with another group of pupils (Image: Submitted)

Naomi Daglish, the wellbeing coordinator at Woodstock, expressed her delight at the interaction's success.

She said: “The smiles and happy responses from the residents were a testament to the success of the session.

There were many activities for children and residents to bond over (Image: Submitted)

“It felt like a very caring and positive experience for everyone involved.”

The 'GrandFriends' sessions are set to continue, with the 'Snowy Owls' pupil group due for a visit in June.

Furthermore, the 'Barn Owls' choir, who serenaded the residents last Christmas, will get another chance to participate in the Autumn term.

The initiative aims to foster connections between young children and care home residents through shared activities and mutual respect (Image: Submitted)

Both Woodstock Care Home and Brisley Primary School are hopeful about the continuing influence of the 'GrandFriends' project.

The initiative, besides invigorating the lives of the elderly, instils important values in the youngsters by teaching empathy, reverence, and the thrill of bonding with those of different generations.

Intergenerational events offer many benefits, as supported by research, such as promoting skill exchange, reducing ageism, improving mental health, reducing isolation, fostering friendships, and making everyone feel valued and essential in their community.