Magazine November 2018

Northgate House
Nursery inspired
by television
documentary
A special bond is forming between the young
children of Northgate House Nursery and the
elderly residents of Bradbury House as they
enjoy weekly get togethers, inspired by a
television documentary.
Nursery, remembers the
exhilaration of the young
children: “When the
children returned after
the first visit I asked them
did they have fun, they all
spoke at once and were
so excited about meeting
a man who was the “same
age nearly”. I asked how
that could be so and they
replied: “well, we are 4
and he is 104 so it’s nearly
the same!”
In modern times, where
families are often
scattered hundreds
of miles apart, the
opportunity to spend time
with different generations
is not always possible.
Paul Bosson reflects, “It
is important that elderly
people can meaningfully
engage with the young,
and vice versa, for the
benefit of society as a
whole. We are delighted
with this intergenerational
partnership and the
pleasure it brings to both
the children of Northgate
House and our residents.”
This wonderful
collaboration has proved
so successful that both
parties are looking at
increasing the visits
and thinking of other
ways to strengthen their
relationship.
After watching “The
Old People’s Home”
for Four-Year-Olds, the
heart-warming Channel
4 documentary, the
trustees and managers
at Bradbury House, in
Beaconsfield Old Town,
relished the opportunity
to provide their residents
with a similar experience.
Manager of the home,
Wendy Stallwood explains:
“Many of us watched the
Channel 4 documentary
and we were inspired to
see the positive impact
this had, particularly the
improvement in happiness
and health of the
residents. We now have
the opportunity to do the
same for our residents.”
Paul Bosson, Chairman
of Trustees for Bradbury
House, contacted
Northgate House
Nursery, also based in
Beaconsfield. They didn’t
hesitate to get involved in
this wonderful initiative.
Sarah Fahey, director of
the nursery explains: “We
are always looking to
provide our children with
enriching experiences and
recognised how beneficial
this partnership could be
for everyone involved.”
A small group of children
from the nursery visit
the Activity Centre in
Bradbury House every
Thursday morning and
Tuesday afternoon to
engage in speciallychosen
activities that the
different generations are
able to enjoy together.
Beverly Nash, social carer
for Bradbury House,
devises a variety of crafts,
games, imaginative play
and singing activities
for everybody to share.
She explains: “We are
so pleased to see how
involved our residents are
when the children arrive, it
makes them smile; seeing
them all together reading,
singing, reciting nursery
rhymes, brings back fond
memories for us all. You
can really feel the warmth
in the room.”
On the children’s first
visit to the home, they
encountered Ken Medlock,
a gentleman aged 104
years. The children were
four years old, so to
meet somebody a whole
hundred years older than
themselves was hugely
exciting and memorable.
Nadine Higley, manager
of Northgate House
4 Parenta.com November 2018 5