Sutton Coldfield care home residents read stories to local children

Residents at a care home in Sutton Coldfield have been reading a collection of popular stories to a local nursery. 

Children from Duckling Nursery visited residents at Care UK’s Mercia Grange, on Lichfield Road, for a reading session to mark World Book Day.  

On the day, residents Ghislaine Evans, Joyce ‘Joy’ McCliskie and Jennifer Brooks read popular stories to children, including “The Gruffalo’s Child”, “If you’re happy and you know it” and “Penguin” to the children and discussed their favourite stories and characters. Children also wore costumes for the occasion. 

Ghislaine Evans said: “It’s one of my favourite times in the week when the children come in to spend time with us. Really puts a smile on my face.”

Michael McNelis, Home Manager at Mercia Grange, said: “We always enjoy opening our doors to the local community, so it was fantastic to be joined by children from Ducklings Nursery. 

“Intergenerational activities are incredibly enriching for all ages and provide a fantastic opportunity for residents and children to interact with one another. The youngsters were able to soak up a wonderful story and the residents benefited from gaining a different perspective from the children on a popular story. It’s fantastic to host this session to allow the two generations to spend time with one another.

“We thoroughly enjoyed hosting the World Book Day reading session with the children and hope that we have helped them to continue building a love of reading.”

Mercia Grange is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia, and short-term respite care. The three-storey care home, which features 67 ensuite bedrooms, has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.