Youngsters delight care home residents at Cards for Kindness festive fun session

Seven youngsters visited Nelson Manor Care Home on Monday, December 2, where they enjoyed a Christmas card making session with residents, while listening to festive songs.

Residents Rose, Hilary, Doug, Pam, Siobhan and Mary were joined by the Year Five and Year Six Great Marsden St Johns Church of England Primary School pupils aged nine to 11, as well as Year Six teacher Molly Thompson and Year 5 Teaching Assistant, Mrs Ali.

Rose (far left) was delighted to be given a homemade Christmas card

Roy makes a card with a young helper

Roy said: "It was so nice to meet the children and make the cards with them."

Siobhan, who jointly made one of the cards with one of the children, plans to send it to her relatives.

She said: "Every design was totally different and the children are so talented. It was such a treat to see them today."

Hilary said: "The children were so sweet and so good at drawing. It's been such a nice visit, something really different and lovely."

Hilary laughs at a joke during the card-making session

Molly Thompson said: "This is the second year that the school has teamed up with Nelson Manor for an in-person Cards for Kindness session and we love it.

"It's a real festive treat for the children to come along and make cards with the residents. It's a lovey way to reward some of our best-behaved children with a real reward and it's been so lovely seeing them interacting so happily with the residents."

The 'Cards for Kindness' project was launched in 2018 and has grown across Lancashire and South Cumbria, with almost 200 care homes in these areas now taking part.

Loneliness is a growing problem among older people, and in care homes, it can be a particularly difficult issue to resolve. The scheme encourages members of the public to take the time to pen a handwritten greeting, or for the more artistic, create a homemade cards, which will bring a smile to recipients' faces and prompt conversations.

Cllr Graham Gooch, cabinet member for Adult Social care, said: "I am so glad that the residents enjoyed this heart-warming visit from youngsters to create Cards for Kindness cards together.

"Schools, libraries, Scouts and Guides and local arts and crafts groups have thrown their support behind the scheme in recent years, creating amazing cards that have been a talking point for care home residents.

"Please get involved and take the time to create or write a card as part of the scheme. It could be the talking point that could make someone's day."

This year's theme, 'Sharing the joy of togetherness' celebrates connections made by taking part.

You can drop off your cards off at participating homes anytime between now and Christmas. These can be dropped off at libraries or you can check here for your nearest participating care home directly at  LSC Integrated Care Board :: Cards for Kindness (icb.nhs.uk)

Lancashire County Council employees can also write a card or drop one off between now and December 18 at the Cards for Kindness table and special postbox at the Meeting Point in CCP.

We'd love to see your Cards for Kindness creations so we can use them in the media and on social media to help promote the scheme. If you're happy to share these, send them to CardsforKindness@lancashire.gov.uk, stating you are happy for us to share your image.

If you or someone you know needs a little extra help this winter, whether they're a family member who struggles to live independently due to illness, age, or disability, or someone who would benefit from childcare to help juggle work and life, you can find advice, support and services at lancashire.gov.uk/winter.