Badgers Wood Care Home in Drayton, near Norwich, has welcomed youngsters from a local intergenerational friendship charity for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Friend in Deed, a charity that aims to create friendships across generations and reduce loneliness, returned to visit residents at the care home near Norwich after forging connections prior to the first lockdown in March 2020.
Friend In Deed used to visit the home every Tuesday as part of its Little Visitors initiative, which promotes interaction with children aged 0-5 and care home residents.
One friendship blossomed as a result of the visits, with resident Nancy and four-year-old Macey bonding over a love of nature. On her return to the home, the youngster gifted 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. Adorably, she saved up her pocket money for weeks to buy the gift!
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.”
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