If you go down to the woods today… Sidcup care home residents delight local children with classic bedtime stories

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

Sidcup may seem a little quieter than usual after residents from Care UK’s Smyth Lodge, on Frognal Avenue, welcomed children from The Hospital Day Nursery, Sidcup into the home for a special retelling of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. 

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 Smyth Lodge, 100-year-old resident, Eileen said: “This activity was just wonderful! I really enjoyed seeing the children and reading to them.” 

Tracey Cheeseman, Home Manager at Smyth Lodge, said: “We’ve had a wonderful week of storytelling here at Smyth Lodge. 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 Hospital Day Nursery to Smyth Lodge. 

“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.

“Intergenerational relationships and initiatives, just like this one, can be incredibly beneficial to both younger and older people alike and can provide residents with a sense of wellbeing and purpose.

“It has been heart-warming to see the residents share stories from their own childhood and read a telling of We’re Going on a Bear hunt, with The Hospital Day Nursey. We look forward to welcoming the children back to Smyth Lodge 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

Smyth Lodge has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The state-of-the-art care home, which opened in 2019, provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, and features a cinema, hair salon and activities room.

For more information on Smyth Lodge, contact Customer Relations Manager, Rebecca Wheeler, on 0333 3053 474 or email rebecca.wheeler@careuk.com or visit careuk.com/smyth-lodge