LOVE was in the air this Valentine s Day for a special group of care home residents who have made new friends with youngsters at a school. What started as sending a few Christmas cards has now led to a lasting bond and friendship between a primary school and a care home. In December, Kirkbride Primary School youngsters were asked to send cards to the residents of Inglewood Residential Care Home in Wigton and the whole school got behind it, sending in dozens of cards, spreading festive cheer among residents. The relationship has been helped by Leanne Witherington, who is a community champion at the Asda store in Kingstown.
What started as a few Christmas cards has now led to a lasting relationship between a primary school and a care home. In December Kirkbride Primary School youngsters were tasked with sending cards to the residents of Inglewood Care home in Wigton – and the whole school got behind it, sending in dozens of cards. Now the school and home have started to exchange letters with residents, with children becoming penpals. Asda in Carlisle chose Inglewood to be its Christmas Community Charity and they involved Kirkbride School to join in and write personal cards to all the service users. Home manager Audrey McKay said: “The service users really enjoyed receiving the letters and we are over the moon to have been chosen by Asda to be their charity.”
A CARE home went over and above to make this Christmas just as magical as any other despite the coronavirus restrictions. The pandemic put a stop to a lot of plans care homes at this Christmas, however, Inglewood Residential Home in Wigton made the best out of a bad situation. From mid-December the festivities started to get the residents in the spirit of all things Christmas. On December 16 staff went round each of the four units to sing Christmas carols, this was followed with Christmas refreshments. Just two days later the dementia garden was visited by Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and a real donkey.