KS1 Young leaders forge links with local care home

Year 2 pupils from Christ Church C of E Primary School, Cheltenham took part in the KS1 Archbishops’ Young Leaders Award last academic year exploring the leadership qualities of kindness, perseverance, teamwork and action.

Inspired by a walk around their local community the pupils decided to contact a care home to arrange to visit the people living there. They wanted to show kindness, combat loneliness and build relationship with the residents.

They visited and shared their YLA work, schoolwork, sewing and sang with them. Then returned to school to design in groups and sew cushions to give as a gift to brighten up the care home cafe area.

Learning that many of the residents grandchildren lived too far away to visit often the pupils began referring to them as their ‘adopted grandparents’.

Their teacher shared how:

“The children were amazing, brave and so confident speaking to the elderly residents. It is lovely how all their skills build to this end goal and they can apply everything they have learned to make a difference to others.”

“The impact of this project has been invaluable. They know they brightened up the care home with their presence and the feedback from the residents and care workers was so positive – they can’t wait for the children to return again.”

These young leaders have built a legacy to continue their project in future years too and plan to visit the home for future projects.

“We loved the action project best and I loved how nice the old people were in the care home and I knew I had brightened up their day.” Year 2 Pupil

This project is a wonderful example of how ‘small steps can make big changes’!