Teens get stuck into work at care home
A group of teenagers have been breaking down barriers between generations by lending a hand at a care home. Seventeen pupils from Notre Dame and Framlingham Earl High Schools are spending the week at Brooke House in Brooke as one part of their National Citizen Service scheme.
The project allows youngsters to take part in residential activities, learn new skills and work in the community. Anna Peddle, 16, said: “We started off this week doing a charity car wash in aid of the care home. “We’ve done cleaning, we’ve painted some of the outside furniture and we’ve been doing activities with the residents.” And manager Laura Crowley says the home has got more out of the scheme than just clean windows. “The key thing for us has been breaking down barriers between the elderly and young people,” she said.
“We’ve benefited a lot they’ve painted our outdoor furniture, they’ve spent time with the residents and helped serving drinks. “But the biggest thing is that they’ve seen care homes aren’t scary places, there are lots of fun things for our residents to do, and life doesn’t stop once you hit 70.”
The group has also taken part in a residential activities week in Essex, a week of activities at Eastern and Otley College and a week at Carrow Road, home of the Canaries, planning their community work.