Artistic schoolchildren worked with care home residents to make sure their memories aren’t forgotten.
Wrexham, Pendine Park, Hillbury Care Home residents were delighted when year 6 pupils from Ysgol Bodhyfryd CP. visted the home help them create memory boards
Shirley Carrington with Emily Venning 11
Pupils from Ysgol Bodhyfryd have spent time chatting with residents of Pendine Park’s Hillbury House Care Home in Wrexham to find about what they liked and enjoyed doing when they were younger.
The youngsters then researched their findings and found appropriate pictures and art work that they took back to the care home and worked with residents to create individual memory boards.
The intergenerational project is the brainchild of the school’s former head of infants Heulwen Harris whose father was a Hillbury House resident.
Heulwen said: “I have always tried to involve children from Ysgol Bodhyfryd with Hillbury House residents. I believe it helps the children get a real understanding of older people and I know how much residents enjoy having children visit.
“We have done a few projects over the past few years including planting flowers and bulbs and we have painted benches for residents. I was thinking of a new project and came up with the idea of making memory boards that residents can hang in their rooms.”
She added: “It’s proved a popular project with both children and residents and it’s lovely to see them talking and working together.”
Pupil Grace Spragg, 11, worked with resident Nancy Povey on her memory board which included a ballerina, bank notes and butterflies.
Grace said: “I talked to Nancy and learnt that she was a dance teacher so I wanted to include a picture of a ballerina. Nancy also told me she raised a lot of money for charity so I included pictures of a £10 and £5 notes.
“She also told me her favourite colours were pink and blue so I made sure we had those colours too. I have really enjoyed talking to Nancy and learning about her life and the things she has done.
“I’ve also really enjoyed making the memory board with her too. It’s going to take a bit more work to finish it but I’m pleased so far.”
Nancy Povey, 90, said: “It’s great and I’ve enjoyed it. Grace has done a great job. I’m glad we have a dancer on the board. I started dancing when I was six and was still teaching dance right up into my 80s and before I came to Hillbury House.
“I even taught dance on a cruise ship. I was actually on holiday but the dance teacher was taken ill and I was asked if I could help!”
Pupil Emily Vening, 11, worked with resident Shirley Carrington to make her memory board.
Emily said: “I talked to Shirley and found out what she likes. She enjoys Coronation Street, roast dinners, dogs, butterflies and the colour purple. So I’ve made sure we have included pictures of all those things.
“It has been good fun and it’s good talking to residents and learning a bit about their lives and what they like.”
Shirley Carrington, 83, was delighted with the outcome.
She said: “It’s been really good. I like seeing and talking to the children and I like my memory board. It’s very nice. It’s good having pictures form Coronation Street and also Strictly. It’s a good way to remember.”
Hillbury manager Cindy Clutton said; “We are really privileged to have such a strong relationship with Ysgol Bodhyfryd. Heulwen’s dad was a resident here for a long time and Heulwen has always worked hard to involve pupils with the home.
“It’s a fantastic way of getting children and residents working and talking together. It means a lot to residents and I know they really look forward to the children’s visits. The atmosphere really lifts when the children come through the door.
“Enriching lives across the generations is integral to our ethos at Pendine Park as well as raising awareness about disabilities, including dementia, and in that regard this particular project ticks all the boxes.
She added; “The memory boards are a fantastic idea too. It’s clear how much fun and enjoyment the residents are having helping children design and make the boards. It’s such a simple idea but I have no doubt residents will enjoy having their own memory boards in their individual rooms.”
