Nursery children deliver special gift to Cowplain care home friends after missing each other's weekly visits

CHILDREN missing their elderly friends paid a special visit to drop off presents and meet through the window before the second lockdown.
Belinda Dickins
By Belinda Dickins
Published 13th Nov 2020, 07:00 BST
Children from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Wendy Fenn and Hope Goodson saying hello to LesChildren from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Wendy Fenn and Hope Goodson saying hello to Les
Children from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Wendy Fenn and Hope Goodson saying hello to Les

Friendships between generations have been struck up between youngsters in Growing Places childcare settings in Waterlooville, Fareham and Havant and older people in local care homes.

Throughout the lockdown, the children were able to say hello to their friends via Zoom calls instead of weekly visits.

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Just before the recent measures came in, Growing Places arranged a socially distanced visit to Woodlands Care Home in Cowplain so a few children could deliver a special gift.

Children from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Les from Woodlands Care Home with one of the cushions created by the kidsChildren from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Les from Woodlands Care Home with one of the cushions created by the kids
Children from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Les from Woodlands Care Home with one of the cushions created by the kids
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Wendy Fenn, who has been behind the care home visits, had the idea of designing cushions featuring fun photographs of their time spent with the children.

Wendy said: ‘I had the cushions made with photos depicting the relationships between the residents and the children, to keep the memories alive through these difficult times.’

The three children who visited, Hope Goodson, Payton Marshall and Caleb Tier, took part in a chocolate hunt in the garden, led by volunteer Ian Connors and activity coordinator Donna Fallis.

Children from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Young visitors Payton Marshall, Hope Goodson and Caleb TierChildren from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Young visitors Payton Marshall, Hope Goodson and Caleb Tier
Children from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Young visitors Payton Marshall, Hope Goodson and Caleb Tier
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Les, 98, was a particular favourite resident who made them laugh, and became known as 'troublemaker' to the children.

He was so pleased to see them through the window and said the cushion made his day.

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The visit was so well received by the residents. Jean, aged 89, said: ‘We have really missed their faces and mischief!’

Children from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Irene from Woodlands Care Home with one of the cushions created by the kidsChildren from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Irene from Woodlands Care Home with one of the cushions created by the kids
Children from Growing Places nurseries visited their friends at local nursing homes to give them gifts just before lockdown. Pictured: Irene from Woodlands Care Home with one of the cushions created by the kids

Irene, 85, added: ‘It was so nice to have them here, even though they couldn't come in it brightened my day just seeing their faces.’

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The intergenerational initiative has been such a success and had such a lasting impact on both the residents and children.

Jackie Warren, director of Growing Places, said: ‘For them to meet again, albeit, through the windows, was just delightful, watching the faces of the residents and children was such a joy and a reminder of the importance of staying connected at times like this, for everyone's well-being.’

Nicole Robinson, Woodlands manager, added: ‘I cannot express in words the joy and happiness that was shown on all the residents' faces.’

Donations of cards and care packages to lift residents’ spirits at Woodlands would be greatly appreciated, including items like toiletries, word searches, quiz books, sweets and arts and crafts supplies.

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Related topics:WaterloovilleFareham