Windsor care home residents and pupils unite for intergenerational environmental initiative

A care home in Windsor recently participated in a newly launched environmental initiative, bringing together local pupils and residents for a day of sustainable art activities.

Care UK’s Mountbatten Grange, on Helston Lane, recently invited pupils from Eton College to join residents as they took part in Generations of Change, an intergenerational initiative that has been launched 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 pupils 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, Mountbatten Grange hosted a craft workshop with pupils from the art department, and the residents and youngsters worked side by side to create artwork from recycled items such as dried flowers and magazines to create collages. 

93-year-old resident, Pauline Robinson, said: “What an enjoyable afternoon with the Eton boys!”

Pauline’s twin Patricia Friis, added: “We really enjoyed the workshop and would like to do them more often.”

Aligned with school curriculums, this will be the first of many Generations of Change projects at Mountbatten Grange, bringing a unique bidirectional learning model into the home that allows residents to mentor pupils on traditional conservation practices while pupils 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. 

Debbie Winwood, Home Manager at Mountbatten Grange, said: “We were thrilled to see the pupils and residents working together to create artwork from recycled items. 

“The Generations of Change initiative allows residents and pupils to learn from one another and share knowledge in a fulfilling way – and it’s great to see it coming to life. We can’t wait to work with the pupils from Eton College on more sustainability projects in the future, and we’d like to thank them for joining us in our mission!”

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. 

Mountbatten Grange is a luxury care home that provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. The home features 72 en-suite bedrooms and enables residents to live active and fulfilled lives while also promoting independence. Mountbatten Grange has its own café, hair and beauty salon and cinema.