Charity Shares Some Youthful Energy With Norwich Care Home Residents

Badgers Wood Care Home has welcomed youngsters from a local intergenerational friendship charity for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

A group of children from Friend in Deed, a charity that aims to create friendships across generations and reduce loneliness, returned to visit residents at the Norwich care home.

The youngsters were excited to be back at the care home, singing and playing with residents at a safe distance in an outside courtyard. Up until the start of the pandemic, the charity would bring a group of children to the home every

Tuesday as part of its Little Visitors initiative, which promotes interaction with children aged 0-5 and care home residents.

A friendship which has developed as a result of the partnership between the home and charity, is that of Nancy and Macey. Four-year-old Macey saved her pocket money to gift resident Nancy a butterfly kit, having received one herself at the beginning of the summer holidays and being amazed by the transformation of a dowdy caterpillar into its colourful final form

Anne Riches, manager at Badgers Wood care home, said: “It was delightful to welcome the children back to the home, they always have such great, uplifting energy and are guaranteed to put a smile on the face of all the residents.

“Because it’s been so long since we were able to have them back, they’ve all grown so much. The last time we saw some of them they were only babies, and now they are walking and talking!”

Kelly Lindsay, founder of Friends in Deed, said: “It’s been great to see how much enjoyment both generations got from the visit to Badgers Wood. The heart-warming friendship that’s developed between Nancy and Macey is so lovely to see.

“Intergenerational visits have been proven to not only benefit older people, but also help youngsters. Interacting with older people can help young children with their development and encouraging them to communicate effectively. For older children, these visits can help with their ability to empathise with others and often friendships can develop which offer a means of support during difficult adolescent years.”