A story that’s plot on – Banbury care home residents read bedtime stories to local children

Residents at a care home in Banbury have been reading well-known bedtime stories to local nursery children as part of a nationwide initiative to celebrate National Storytelling Week. 

Banbury may seem a little quieter than usual after residents from Care UK’s Highmarket House, on North Bar Place, welcomed youngsters from Child First Nursery into the home for a retelling of a number popular children’s books.

 

The stories were selected from a choice of Ladybird First Favourite Tales and included The Gingerbread Man, The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Cinderella.

To celebrate National Storytelling Week, Care UK has created the Bedtime Stories initiative which sees residents across the UK read classic bedtime stories to young children. The campaign, which includes the launch of four free videos of residents reading famous stories, ensures children who may not have a grandparent do not miss out on a magical tale before bedtime.

At Highmarket House, 67-year-old resident, Christine, read The Gingerbread Man to the children. Christine said: “It was lovely to interact with and read to the children – it reminded me of reading to my own son when he was young. 

“I’ve been fortunate that reading has always been part of my life – my dad used to read to me every night to encourage me to go to bed on time, I read to my son and now my son reads to his children too.”

Francesca Cowley, Home Manager at Highmarket House, said: “We’ve had a wonderful week of storytelling here at Highmarket House. Whether it’s Peter Pan flying us to Neverland or Alice taking us down the rabbit hole, children’s literature is often the first key to unlocking our imaginations and nurturing a lifelong love of reading – so it was great to welcome the youngsters from Child First Nursery to Highmarket House. 

“We all remember stories told to us as children, often before bedtime, and find comfort in adulthood in these nostalgic memories. We’re thrilled Care UK has launched the Bedtime Stories initiative – it’s wonderful to have children benefiting from residents reading them stories both in our home and right across the UK with the fantastic videos.

“It has been heart-warming to see the residents share stories from their own childhood and read some classic books with the children. We look forward to welcoming the children back to Highmarket House very soon.”

To watch four Bedtime Stories read by Care UK residents, or for more information about the Bedtime Stories initiative, visit: careuk.com/bedtime-stories

Highmarket House is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia and short-term respite care. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.

For more information on Highmarket House please call Customer Relations Manager, Daniel Worley, on 01295 297596, or email daniel.worley@careuk.com

For more general information, please go to careuk.com/highmarket-house