A novel idea – Mobberley care home residents read bedtime stories to local children

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

Mobberley may seem a little quieter than usual after residents from Care UK’s Cranford Grange, on Hall Lane, welcomed their grandchildren into the home for a retelling of The Mr Men Book by English author Charles Roger Hargreaves. 

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 Cranford Grange, 91-year-old resident, Margaret McKinlay, a former English teacher, read Mr Happy to two-year-old, George Daine, a grandson of one of the Cranford Grange team. 

Commenting on the afternoon, Margaret said: “Reading from a young age has astonishing benefits for children, particularly in early years where reading helps stimulate the imagination. My passion has always been English literature, and having not taught for a number of years, it brought back so many fond memories of my time spent teaching. It also reiterated the importance of parents or grandparents sharing their interest of books at an early age with their children.”

Lisa Burrows, General Manager at Cranford Grange, said: “We see many of the residents’ grandchildren and team members’ grandchildren when they visit their loved ones, so these reading sessions were a wonderful way to spend time with familiar faces.

“Reading stories aloud to their audience of young listeners required the residents to use skills they might not have utilised for some time. By using a variety of voices and different sounds they really brought the characters to life and were able to hold the attention of the children. Not only was the session heart-warming for everyone involved, but it was fantastic for boosting the residents’ confidence. 

“It was wonderful to spend quality time with the younger generation of visitors who come to the home on a regular basis and we know we will be seeing them again 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.

Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Cranford Grange, is open to potential residents, and incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The home has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.

For more information on Cranford Grange, please call Director of Community Relations, Dawn Williams on 01565 817553, or email dawn.williams@careuk.com.

For more general information, please go to careuk.com/cranford-grange.