Children’s creative work forges links with care home

Anchor’s Borrage House care home in Ripon, has received an array of imaginative poems and artwork created by local children to display for residents to lift spirits.

The Caring Stars project, led by the charity Intergenerational Music Making (IMM) and online platform Night Zookeeper, encouraged children to create a short rhyming poem themed around staying positive and spreading hope during lockdown, along with a piece of artwork to accompany their writing.

Winning poems and drawings were selected from hundreds of inventive entries.

Borrage House has displayed the poetry and artwork, receiving an overwhelmingly positive reaction from residents who have been touched by the work.

Sarah Aitken, Manager at Borrage House care home, said: “The arrival of the posters and displaying them on the walls has meant a great deal to the residents.

“It’s great to see such a wonderful example of inter-generational connection between the children and our residents.

“During this time, when residents and families cannot see each other, except by Skype or the Facebook portal, and no one knows how long this will go on for, it is lovely to have these positive and inspirational posters.

“Residents have commented that it is so lovely to be thought of. They are thrilled that the children have shared their beautiful poems.”

Gordon Dinsley, 89, resident at Borrage House care home, said: “It makes us feel wanted and they make everything look homely. They are bright and lovely and so thoughtful.”