Murray Park students spend the morning with residents of Kingsway View Care Home

Kind-hearted students from a Derby school have been spending time learning from their elders as they visited care home residents.

Murray Park Community School pupils headed to Kingsway View Care Home to spend some time with the residents while getting to hear their stories and learn from their experiences.

They played scrabble, completed puzzles, indulged in some arts and crafts and even had a game of golf as pupils and residents got to know each other.

It was something the school has previously done but this stopped due to Covid. Pupils have now told how pleased they are to be able to do it again.

Erin Baggaley said: “I think it’s really important as we don’t know if people are getting visitors. It’s a good way of socialising with other people. I feel it’s a good experience to do different things with different people.

“I think it’s really important.”

Evie Gaskill said: “It’s important because it’s making the residents happy. It’s fun for us and the residents. I would like to do more of these things.”

Chloe Goodwin said: “I think it’s good to help them connect with the younger generation. I think it helps those who have lost grandparents to connect with them as well.”

Residents also enjoyed getting to hear from the students and spending time with the younger generation.

June Patrick said: “It sharpens our brains and we learn from them. I’m used to being with my grandchildren and used to talking with the younger ones.”

Colin Bayley said: “Let them come and see it all. I enjoy it when the students come in and I can’t wait for them to come back.”

Kingsway View lifestyle co-ordinator Sam Steel hopes this will now become a regular occurrence for the residents.

She said: “A lot of the residents requested for the children to come in again as they enjoy the interaction. It makes them happy.

“It keeps them active and allows them to take charge and show the younger generation how it was done. We have a range of activities for them to pick from and they were really looking forward to it.”

Murray Park librarian Katia Makasis said: “We used to do these visits before Covid so it’s nice to be able to do this again to introduce the two generations to each other.

“It’s a different experience for the pupils and it’s nice for them to learn from the residents as well so they can have inspirations in life and build on their empathy.

“Most of our students never interact with the elderly people so this is introducing them to an unfamiliar environment. It teaches them to go into any challenging environment and thrive there.”

Headteacher Nicola Caley said: “It is important for the students to go and meet people in the community and spend time with the older generation. I’m pleased that this is something we are able to do again and I know the students get a lot out of it.”