Our Performing Arts students work closely with local care homes, regularly visiting residents to share music, poetry, and performances. This week, their visits to Oaklands Nursing Home and Grosvenor Manor Care Home created some truly memorable moments. One parent shared how her child had been inspired by a resident who spoke about her childhood, including going to school with gas masks and being evacuated during the war.

“He feels so lucky to have met someone who lived through this and he said he’ll never forget her all his life. He also described how she mimed during the singing which he thought was really sweet and that’s why he chose her to talk to. He now wants to do some voluntary work in a care home because of her! I’m sure she’d never have expected to make such an impression on a 12 year old boy. Thanks so much for giving him this experience, it’s clearly made quite an impression on him and it’s not something he’d ever have gained from the classroom.”

The visits clearly left a lasting impression, with Oaklands sharing:

“I would like to thank you all so much for coming yesterday to sing and perform poetry to our residents. When I got in this afternoon, they were still talking about the children. I look forward to seeing you all next week. Thank you again – your children are an absolute pleasure to come and visit us, and we cannot wait for the new year to see what you have planned for us.”

It’s wonderful to see how these connections between generations can inspire and delight both our students and the residents alike.