Local schoolchildren join Slough care home for a journey into Christmases past

Old festive traditions came to life at a care home in Slough, where residents welcomed a local primary school for a day of seasonal activities. 

Care UK’s Oak House, on Forest Close, joined forces with young visitors from Wexham Park Primary School to revisit customs from Christmases past.

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

By blending storytelling, crafts and carol singing, the events create a space for meaningful intergenerational connection. 

On the day, residents at Oak House were joined by children from Wexham Park Primary School, who treated the residents to a carol concert. The set list was a journey through the ages, from classic carols all the way through to modern day Christmas hits, which had everyone dancing and singing along. 

Following the carol concert, the young guests enjoyed an afternoon of crafting with the residents, making their own vintage Christmas cards and decorations.

Oak House resident Terese, 97, said of the day: “I loved the Christmas caroling, especially the children singing Silent Night as it is one of my favorite Christmas songs! It always fills my heart with warmth and brings back such lovely memories of singing it with my family in my own younger years.” 

Bozena Szczepaniak, Home Manager at Oak House, said: “Christmas is such a special time of year, and this event allowed us to honour those memories from residents’ childhoods of singing carols and making Christmas cards with their loved ones. 

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

“We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Wexham Park Primary School for joining us and making the festive activities so joyous for all involved! Their presence brought an extra sparkle to the day.”

For more information about Step into Christmas, visit https://www.careuk.com/Step-into-Christmas  

Oak House provides residential, nursing and short-term respite care, as well as specialist dementia care. The home, which has its very own café, hair salon and cinema room, enables residents to live active and fulfilled lives while also promoting independence.