If you go down to the woods today…Newbury care home residents joined by local youngsters for National Storytelling Week

Residents at a care home in Newbury have been reading classic fairytales to celebrate National Storytelling Week with local school children. 

Newbury may seem a little quieter than usual after residents from Care UK’s Newbury Grove, on London Road, welcomed children from Firtree Primary School into the home to read classic fairytales as part of National Storytelling Week.

The children, who had been practising their best character voices, sat with the residents and read to them, so that they could enjoy a retelling of famous childhood stories. The residents also got into character to read to the children and tell their own fairytales. 

Commenting on the morning, 89-year-old resident Barbara said: “It was wonderful to hear the children read aloud. They all read so perfectly – we were all very proud!” 

Resident, Pat Lovell, 90, a former librarian, added: “I was so happy to see the children enjoy a love of reading and really get into the characters – it was lovely to watch.” 

Adarsh Kurian, General Manager at Newbury Grove, said: “We’ve had a wonderful week of storytelling here at Newbury Grove. Seeing the residents create their own fairy tale and retell it to the children was wonderful to see, and the residents loved listening to the children read aloud. Children’s literature is often the first key to unlocking our imaginations and nurturing a lifelong love of reading – so it was great to welcome Firtree Primary School to Newbury Grove. 

“Intergenerational relationships can be incredibly beneficial for both younger and older people, and can provide residents with a sense of wellbeing and purpose—so we look forward to welcoming the children back to Newbury Grove very soon for more fun activities.”

Newbury Grove has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care, and incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, including its own cinema, hair salon and café.