Hampshire Primary School and Nursing Home Exchange Special Christmas Gifts

Children and teachers at Otterbourne Church of England Primary School near Winchester, Hampshire, decided do something extra special this Christmas so they contacted the nearby Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill nursing home, their idea being to exchange Christmas gifts.

Ideas for presents were soon flowing both at the school and nursing home, and on Wednesday (7th December), children and teachers visited Otterbourne Hill’s residents and staff to exchange their Christmas treats.

School headteacher Martin Geraghty presented their gifts to Charlotte Chuitare, Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill’s general manager. They were accompanied by class teacher Zoe Simpson, and children, Bethany and Steffan, both aged nine and residents Roy, Tom and Carol.

The Year 5 children had worked very hard to create some spectacular gifts such as an Advent calendar, hand painted tree decorations made from salt dough, and a box filled with other home-made goodies such as snow globes and joke books. Children aged four to 11 from across the school also made festive pictures to brighten the walls of the nursing home over the Christmas period.

Steffan had made a jolly Father Christmas, much of it in his spare time, which he gave to Roy. The school also handed over two hampers donated by Carabella Gifts which was full of edible Christmas delights.

In exchange, the residents made the children a “forest” of twinkly Christmas trees to decorate the school and a frieze of hand painted turkeys.

Martin Geraghty said of the exchange:
“What a wonderful thing to be part of at this time of the year. Hopefully, this will be the start of a continuing relationship between the school and Otterbourne Hill.”

Charlotte Chuitare added: “We are all very grateful to the school for coming up with this fantastic idea. It was an absolute delight for our residents and colleagues to meet the children and their teachers. We cannot wait to see them back here again for more joint activities.”