Shrewsbury care home residents and schoolchildren unite to help the environment

A care home in Shrewsbury participated in a newly launched environmental initiative, bringing together local schoolchildren and residents for a day of craft activities.

Care UK’s Oxbow Manor, on Oteley Road, recently invited children from Prestfelde School to join residents as they took part in Generations of Change, an intergenerational initiative launched in line with Global Recycling Day to unite older and younger people in a shared mission of environmental stewardship.  

The new Care UK Generations of Change programme aims to harness the wisdom of older members of society and the fresh perspectives of children during hands-on activities linked to biodiversity, climate change and sustainable gardening, creating opportunities for a fulfilling knowledge exchange that will benefit the planet.   

To do their bit, Oxbow Manor residents worked with the youngsters for craft activities using recyclable materials that would normally otherwise have been thrown away.

The children and residents worked side by side to create their very own milk carton lamps, filled with fairy lights to brighten up the room.

90-year-old resident Audrey said: “What a lovely day spending time with the children. They were so interested in saving the plastic cartons and making them into lanterns they can use at home. 

“They were hoping to stay up late to use them in the garden!”

Aligned with school curriculums, this will be the first of many Generations of Change projects at Oxbow Manor, bringing a unique bidirectional learning model into the home that allows residents to mentor children on traditional conservation practices while children share modern perspectives on sustainable living during their shared environmental projects. 

Beyond environmental education, this initiative aims to combat loneliness in older people by fostering meaningful connections that promote a sense of purpose, enriching the lives of both generations as they work together towards a more sustainable future. 

Care UK has also created downloadable packs with resources for teachers and groups, including fun, interactive activities to help facilitate intergenerational lessons, with the educational packs covering topics from biodiversity to food sustainability, climate change and recycling. 

Donna Howard, Home Manager at Oxbow Manor, said: “It was amazing to see the children and residents working together on this unique project – their enthusiasm to do their bit for the planet was infectious and inspiring.

“The Generations of Change initiative allows residents and children to learn from one another and share knowledge – it is great seeing it come to life. Their wonderful milk carton lamp creations will hopefully brighten up the home for years to come.

“A huge thank you to Paula and the children for joining us and we look forward to working together on more environmental projects again soon!”

For more information about Care UK’s Generations of Change, and to download the free resources, visit careuk.com/generations-of-change

In 2024, Care UK secured official accreditation for the high standards it used to measure corporate greenhouse gas emissions, an important milestone in its journey of reducing carbon emissions and achieving net zero by 2040. Care UK continues to work towards having at least one Sustainability Champion in each of their 160+ homes and Generations of Change complements the organisation’s ESG values and dedication to sustainability, community and intergenerational relationships. 

More than 99% of Care UK’s general waste was diverted from landfill last year, alongside the reduction of unnecessary pharmaceutical waste, and investments continue to be made in home upgrades such as environmentally friendly LED lighting and salary sacrifice schemes to encourage team members to cycle or switch to electric vehicles. 

Oxbow Manor is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the home has its very own cinema, café and hair salon, and there is plenty of space – both indoors and out – for relaxation and recreation.