Cards of Kindness bringing Christmas cheer to care home residents

Maidstone primary school students deliver Christmas cheer to local care home residents

Children from Archbishop Courtenay Primary School have been delivering Christmas joy to residents at nearby Betsy Clara House in Maidstone with carol singing and handmade Christmas cards.

The personalised cards were hand crafted by the children at school as part of the Cards of Kindness programme by Blueleaf Care, designed to bring some Christmas cheer to elderly care home residents this festive season by connecting them with local school children.

For many, Christmas is a joyful time filled with fun and laughter, but not for everyone. Many elderly people living in care homes can often find Christmas to be one of the loneliest times of the year,  sparking memories of loved ones who have passed away. The initiative, set up by Blueleaf Care, a long-standing supplier to care homes like Betsy Clara House which is part of the Integrum Care Group, aims to bring the generations together to ease this loneliness.

Kiley Smith, Music Lead at Archbishop Courtenay Primary School, who visited Betsy Clara House with the students says their presence and their carol signing brought joy to the residents: “Our students embodied our school’s value of compassion by creating heartfelt cards and visiting elderly residents in our community. The resulting joy was abundant as the children loved singing and connecting, and the residents truly cherished the visits. The enthusiasm was infectious, with students dedicating their lunchtimes to perfect their cards. Moments like these, full of hugs and shared smiles,” Kiley says, “show the power of caring for others beyond the classroom. We can’t wait to do it again!”

Kevin Shaw, Lead Activities Coordinator at Betsy Clara House, knows the positive impact that intergenerational connections can have: “The children's visit brought so much joy to our residents, especially those without families, offering a heartfelt reminder that they are loved. Their presence created a warm, uplifting atmosphere that everyone - residents and staff alike - deeply appreciated. For those living with dementia, moments like these are especially meaningful, bringing light into their lives.

“The visit was so impactful that we'd love to see the children return, even for occasions like Easter,” Kevin says. “There's something magical about the way children connect with others, and it’s truly wonderful to witness.”

Ellen Brown of Blueleaf Care says it’s a ‘win-win’ for residents and children alike: “We want to reduce loneliness in the local community and know that the elderly can be cheered by the warm and infectious joy of children. Our Cards of Kindness programme encourages children to think about creating an uplifting message for others, fostering compassion and empathy,” Ellen explains. “We hope this initiative encourages primary schools across the country to build lasting connections with the elderly in their local communities.”

Blueleaf Care has been working with care homes and primary schools in the same area to create a sense of community. Blueleaf has provided the primary schools with card-making kits so that children could create their personalised, handmade Christmas cards which have been delivered to residents of the nearby care home.