Schoolchildren join Whitstable care home for journey into Christmas past

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

Care UK’s Harrier Lodge, on Thanet Way, joined forces with young visitors from Joy Lane 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 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.

The children performed a carol concert, full of both old and new Christmas songs, all chosen by residents of the home. The residents were then able to share their memories of the songs and of singing carols themselves as children, which led to some lovely moments between the generations.

After the performance, the pupils took part in a vintage card-making crafting workshop. Led by Harrier Lodge’s lead lifestyle coordinator, Ella, the residents and children designed and crafted their own unique Christmas cards, sharing their creations with one another. 

The cards will be used to bring some festive cheer to the home’s activity rooms, with additional decorations suggested by residents and their loved ones.

Resident Jane, 77, said of the activity: “The vintage card workshop bought back so many lovely memories! I especially enjoyed choosing old fashioned papers and ribbons, the kind we use to decorate with when we were young when everything was handmade and heartfelt. I think it is important to celebrate past Christmas traditions because they remind us of who we are, where we have come from, and all the people and moments that shaped our lives. Keeping those traditions alive keeps our stories alive too.”

For further information on Step into Christmas, visit careuk.com/Step-into-Christmas.

Susan Simmonds, Home Manager at Harrier Lodge, said: “Christmas is such a special time of year, and this event allowed us to honour those memories from residents’ childhoods of 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 heartwarming to watch residents reminisce and share stories from Christmases gone by. 

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

Harrier Lodge is a purpose-built care home that has been designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The expert team provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care for up to 65 older people in Whitstable, and the building incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, including its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub.