CHAWSON First School has teamed up with the town’s Ravenstone Nursing Home to bring young and old together for a special penpal project, writes Olivia Warburton.
School staff have also been overwhelmed by the children’s responses and the empathy they have shown to Ravenstone residents.
This year’s project was topped off by the school choir performing at the care home and getting the chance to meet their penpals.
Jay Bluck, activities coordinator at Ravenstone, said: “It’s a wonderful project and appears to have brought a great deal of joy to the residents.
“It provides an extra outlet for folk to tell their stories, talk about themselves and meet new people.
“Many of the residents have a long, interesting life history to tell and the letters provide someone extra to tell it to if they wish.
“It’s and absolute pleasure to see residents’ faces totally light up when they meet the children too.”
He added the letters helped residents maintain their identity and helped the staff shape the care of each resident.
The staff at Ravenstone have also learnt a lot about the residents’ lives when they wrote their letters.
