Ross Court Care Home have recently started to invite young children to the care home to meet and make friends with the residents there.

Clare Lockley, the Activities Coordinator, told the Ross Gazette: “The idea sprang from the Channel 4 programme ‘Nursing Home for Four Year Olds’. My friend, Jo Morris, and I had a chat when she knew I was taking on the role of Activities Co-ordinator, and we decided to give it a go with her and a few of her childminder friends.

“They call themselves ‘Little Twinkles’ and it’s a network that has been locally set up to allow childminders to get together during the day and for the children to have other people to interact with.

Ross Court Care Home have set up fortnightly visits to allow the children and the residents to get to know each other.

Clare told the Gazette: “Already some firm friendships are starting to appear.”

On the children’s second visit, one little girl went straight over to Pam, a resident at the home who she had met before at the previous session.

Clare said: “We are also watching with interest a young boy, Arthur, who can be quite nervous and unsure but who soon sat with Ivor, who talked to him about the garden outside.”

The next session together is planned for Wednesday, November 14th, where they will be taking part in a shared activity with a group called Jitterbug Circus.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.