Local schools join Stansted care home for Christmas card competition

Residents at a care home in Stansted turned judges for a day of festive cheer with pupils from the local community.

Care UK’s Mountfitchet House, on Coltsfield, recently invited young visitors from nearby schools to revisit customs from Christmas past with a competition to create the best handmade Christmas card.

Local schools and groups who entered the competition included Elsenham Primary School, Magna Carta Primary Academy, Rainbow Pre-School, Forest Hall School and St Mary's CofE Foundation Primary School.

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

The winning cards were selected by Mountfitchet House residents Margaret Hill, Patricia Parslow, Valerie Oliver and Audrey Clewes-Garner. The coveted first place was awarded to Year 6 pupil Luella from Elsenham Primary School, with second place going to Marie from Magna Carta Primary Academy and third place to the Rainbow Pre-School.

Resident Valerie Oliver, 85, said: “We are so delighted to have received all the cards, and choosing a winner was difficult. Being a former teacher myself, I know how much effort goes into these things. Thank you to all the children for the beautiful cards.”

Joanna Duke, Home Manager at Mountfitchet House, said: “Christmas is such a special time of year, and this event allowed us to honour those memories from residents’ childhoods of making their own Christmas cards.

“It was truly heartwarming to watch residents reminisce and share stories from Christmases gone by as they picked the winning cards and delivered the prizes to each school.

“We’d like to extend a huge thank you to all the schools for joining us and making the day so joyous for all involved!”

Mountfitchet House is a state-of-the-art care home that provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. It incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, and includes its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub.