Brownies and Scouts join Ashford care home for journey into Christmas past

Old festive traditions have come to life at a care home in Ashford, where residents welcomed local youth movements for a day of seasonal activities.

Montfort Manor, on Kennington Road in Willesborough, joined forces with young visitors from the Willesborough Scouts and South Willesborough Brownies to revisit customs from Christmases past.

The children treated residents to a special performance featuring Christmas carols through the generations, including O Little Town of Bethlehem and Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer.

Whilst they were at Montfort Manor, they made chocolate reindeer sachets for the residents to enjoy and also went to the Victoria Park Nursing suite to sing to those residents that are living in their rooms.

The event was part of Care UK’s ‘Step into Christmas’ initiative, which aims to revive residents’ festive traditions by encouraging them to share memories with the younger generation. 

By blending storytelling, crafts and carol singing, the sessions create a space for meaningful intergenerational connection. For further information on Step into Christmas, visit careuk.com/Step-into-Christmas.

Joanne Eaton, Home Manager at Montfort Manor, said: “Christmas is such a special time of year, and this event allowed us to honour those memories from residents’ childhoods of singing carols. 

“It was a wonderful opportunity to bring different generations from the community together for a day of festive cheer. It was truly heartwarming to watch residents reminisce and share stories from Christmases gone by. 

“We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Willesborough Scouts and South Willesborough Brownies for joining us and making the day so joyous for all involved! Their presence brought an extra sparkle to the day.”

Montfort Manor is a purpose-built care home that has been designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care, as well as short-term respite care, and incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities including its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub.