Tears Of Joy As Care Home Residents Receive Christmas Messages From Local School Children

Residents at Windsor Court care home on Sandbeck Way have been delighted to receive heart-warming letters from children at Bardsey Primary school. The messages contain festive well wishes, drawings and paintings along with poems and pictures as part of the intergenerational ‘Hearts for Homes’ project.

The project focuses on building friendships across generations and to give the children insights into the lives of others living in their community. Mary Porley, 87, who has lived at Windsor Court for nearly two years, was particularly touched by her message and even shed a tear of joy whilst reading the handwritten note.

Mary’s package also contained a keepsake heart with the message: ‘I hope you have a nice Christmas week; we are all hoping you are doing well. Merry Christmas, please remember to wear your mask if you need to go outside and I hope you get a vaccine soon’.

Mark Knight, Headteacher at Bardsey Primary school, said:
‘Our school welcomed the opportunity that 'Hearts for Homes' gave the pupils to spread a little happiness to the hearts of the residents at Windsor Court. It fitted in well with our current theme of ‘Generosity’ and we all enjoyed writing the Christmas messages. We see this as an opportunity to develop further links with our community which we will certainly look to continue in the New Year’.

Residents at Windsor Court were eager to return messages to the children, thanking them for their letters and wishing them a very Merry Christmas.

Lifestyle Manager, Kirsty Watson, said:
‘It has been absolutely brilliant to receive such beautiful letters and decorations. You can really tell how much time and thought the children have put into their notes and our residents were delighted to receive them. We are so pleased to be able to join in with our local community this Christmas and we really look forward to the day we can meet the students in person’.

Home Manager, Paula Mountjoy, said:
‘Each year at Christmas, our home is a hub of social activities including visits from pupils at our local schools for nativity plays and carol services. As we are unable to do that this year, it is fantastic to still be able to connect with our local community over the festive season in a safe and secure way – the messages were extremely touching, and I would like to wish all of the children a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!’.