This week we’ve been marking Care Home Open Week 2022. This national event aims to connect care homes with their communities and help people find out more about the services they offer, and what it’s like to live and work in social care. Today we’re highligting the benefits of intergenerational relationships and our charity’s efforts to build closer links between our residents and the local schools, colleges and youth groups in our community.
Everyone at Ingram House was delighted by a recent visit from St George’s College students, who visited our residential care home to help brighten up garden flower boxes and entertain residents with a wonderful concert and quiz. “They were absolutely brilliant!” Lisa Sparrow, Registered Manager, said afterwards.
We’re excited to be able to welcome young people back to our care homes at Whiteley Village. Fostering intergenerational relationships is beneficial for all involved and our Community Team have been working hard over the last few years to build links between our charity and local schools, colleges, and youth groups. This visit was part of a joint initiative with St George’s College, and we hope its success will encourage more of these types of activities.
Lilian Meagher, Volunteer Coordinator for The Whiteley Homes Trust, said: “We are so grateful to the students, staff and volunteers of St George’s College. The students had clearly worked very hard preparing for the quiz and the concert. We had singing, musicians and a theatrical performance and the quiz was lots of fun too. The sun shone beautifully, and our care team made sure there were drinks and plenty of treats for everyone during the interval. It really was a perfect afternoon, and lots of residents and staff told us afterwards what a wonderful time they had!”
Tiffany Bicarregui, who organises community outreach projects for St George’s College and Junior School, said: “GO! or Georgian Outreach is an impactful volunteer program that offers students a unique opportunity to connect with their local community. During lockdown, students became very aware of how difficult it is to feel isolated. When we came out of lockdown, they were vocal about the need and interest to do more with care homes, so we did just that at Whiteley Village, and the students loved it!”
Lilian added: “Young people help to bring a lot of fun and vitality to a care home, and we know just how much our residents enjoy the visits and love chatting to the students. It’s great to hear how much they enjoyed visiting Ingram House too and we hope we’ll be able to welcome them back again soon.”
The College shared with us some lovely feedback from the students about their day: “It was so nice how the residents came out to watch us replant their garden. They were so happy”; “When the residents came outside to listen to our music, it was magical – and they just kept coming out”; and “We had so much fun. We hope the residents enjoyed our music and gardening – and don’t forget to water those plants!” Thank you, St George’s!
If your school, college, or youth group would like to visit our residents or volunteer with our charity we would love to hear from you. You can read more here or contact Lilian Meagher, Volunteer Coordinator, The Whiteley Homes Trust on 01932 823671 or email: lillian.meagher@whiteleyvillage.org.uk
