Kind-hearted Cowfold children help bring Christmas cheer to Henfield care home residents

To celebrate the festive period, Country Mice Nursery staff and children have started a class project to help combat loneliness in their community during the Covid 19 pandemic, and will be sending cards, decorations and pictures to Red Oaks Care Home.

Nursery manager Kerry Bentley said: “We have been talking to the children about helping people and how lots of people may not be able to see their family at the moment due to the virus.

“We have spoken about how some of the people in the home may be grandparents like they have, so the children are able to relate. The children have understood the big impact the virus has had and what we can and can’t do at the moment.”

The nursery has made more than 50 cards, enough for every resident in the home, as well as wreaths, salt dough decorations and paper plate decorations.

Kerry said the children had really enjoyed making the things as, in their words, it made them feel ‘kind, happy and very clever.’

Kerry originally came up with the idea after being unable to see her own grandparents and reading many news reports of increased loneliness among care home residents due to Covid,

She said: “For us it is something that is quite easy to do and doesn’t cost anything. However, we hope that it will bring the residents some happiness and every time they look at the items, they will know there is someone out there that cares and has thought of them.”

The thoughtful initiative has also inspired other members of the local community to help with Tesco at Broadbridge Heath donating Christmas biscuits and mince pies to be sent to the home alongside the cards and decorations.

Red Oaks manager Linda Ryan said: “Intergenerational work is so important, residents always react so positively to children and what Country Mice are doing is making it so personal.

“It will mean so much to the residents here, they love Christmas so this will just top that off for them.”

The items are due to be sent in a ‘no contact’ way to Red Oaks this weekend and will not be opened for 72 hours, ensuring Covid safety for residents.