More than 50 students from Irlam Primary School have written to over 50 older people at a local care home, spreading some goodwill and cheer, this Easter. As part of a Rotary Club of Irlam Project to encourage the young and older people in our community to write to each other and share a few moments of time and understanding, the year five students wrote Easter Cards, letters, and drawings to the residents at Heartly Green Care Home on Cutnook Lane in Irlam. Irlam Rotary Club Community Chair Bill said, “We have launched this scheme and provided the Easter cards, made the initial contact, and provided information for the students to write to a resident at Heartly Green Care Home. If successful we hope to support other schools and residential homes and sheltered housing, to correspond with each other around the area. All part of an Intergenerational initiative to promote handwriting and communication skills and help to share friendship and understanding between the young and older residents in our community.” It is hoped that that the idea will lead to continued communication between the two groups that could lead to the school choir singing and visiting Heartly Green and exchanging Christmas cards later in the year. Headteacher at Irlam Primary School Elaine Darwin added, “What a wonderful idea to encourage our students to write and correspond with the residents, improving their writing skills and understanding of older people in the community and bringing some cheers to them at Easter. I am sure this will be a real success!”
