Imagination, storytelling and new friendships at Perry Manor

Home news

Jun 27, 2018

Residents at Perry Manor have sparked new friendships with nursery children thanks to a series of interactive workshops. 

The team at Perry Manor have welcomed children from Fairfield Day Nursery to the home as part of an intergenerational project with local group, Debutots. 

Debutots uses a combination of interactive story-telling and dramatic play to facilitate children’s literacy and communication development. Since May this year, the group has been visiting Perry Manor on a fortnightly basis for sessions with the residents. 

Residents are joined by three and four-year-olds from the nursery to participate in activities to suit all ages including singing, parachute games, role play and dance. 

Perry Manor home manager, Katherine Matthews, said: “We were delighted when Debutots chose us to launch their new workshops – seeing the smiles on the residents’ faces when the children enter the room is just priceless. They bring so much excitement and warmth to the place, it really does create a fantastic buzz around the home which everyone wants to be a part of! 

“Meaningful activity is an essential part of the care we provide at Perry Manor, and projects like these are a brilliant way of encouraging social interaction and reducing isolation. It’s fantastic to see the same faces week after week, as it’s lovely to watch genuine friendships blossom between the residents and the children. We look forward to welcoming the children back to the home again in a couple of weeks.” 

Kirsten Reeves, business owner and drama teacher at Debutots Worcestershire, said: “I am absolutely thrilled with how the project has taken off and the positive impact it is having on both the residents and children. 

“Intergenerational activities are incredibly powerful and beneficial for all involved and I am so grateful to Perry Manor for being supportive and enthusiastic while I have launched the ‘Joining Generations with Imagination’ Project. They were keen to get involved from the start and have fully embraced all aspects of it. I can’t wait to further develop the activities we do and continue looking at short and longer-term benefits of these type of programmes.”