Care home residents welcome Longridge choir

LONGRIDGE’S Junior Nativity Choir made inter-generational connections this week when they headed to the Turret Villa Retirement Home in Berwick to sing songs with the residents.

Year Five teacher Mrs Skeen had arranged the trip for the first time three years ago after her own grandmother, who lives at the Turret Villa, remarked on how much the older people enjoyed seeing children at Christmas time.

She explained: “We took our nativity choir along to sing some festive Christmas songs and really to strengthen our school links with the community and build the relationship there.

“But it was also because our choir is so keen and eager to perform, and this gave them another experience of that. We like to get them out and about and show what they can do, and they came in this morning absolutely buzzing and very excited about going.

“It was interesting this year because a number of them have done this in previous years and they had more confidence to go and chat to the residents, and stand beside them and sing with them.”

The choir sang a range of Christmas favourites and shared word-sheets with the residents, and they all finished off singing ‘We Wish you a Merry Christmas’ together.

“That was really special actually,” added Mrs Skeen, “quite heartwarming. The pupils sang really well and it was great to see the residents joining in and having fun.

“I can obviously see it from my own grandmother’s side too, which gives a glimpse into what the children coming in to visit and sing means for the residents. One of the carers said to a resident at the end ‘well, that’s made your day, hasn’t it?’ and the resident replied ‘that’s made my Christmas!’

“That’s magical, as an experience for all the children, but also for the residents, and it’s a great way for our pupils to learn about the value of engaging with different generations.”