NCS Participants And Everton Academy Players Reach Out To Care Home Residents

Local young people have been reaching out to residents in care homes through ‘pen pal’ letters in a bid to tackle social isolation in our community.

Youngsters have been writing to residents at Aaron Grange Care home, Simonsfield Care Home and Rowan Garth Care Home in an attempt to connect with the older generation in their community.

NCS participants and Everton Academy players, as well as other local young people, were encouraged to put pen to paper by Everton in the Community, and create puzzles and share personal stories about how they’ve coped throughout lockdown.

The intergenerational activity has been well received by residents and staff from Aaron Grange, who have been delighted with the impact, as Activities Coordinator Amy explains: 

“Residents were over the moon to have received lovely, thoughtful letters from young adults and children from the group at Everton in the Community.

“They loved hearing about how they have been getting on throughout lockdown and thoroughly enjoyed the crossword puzzles and word searches. Residents will be responding soon but we all want to say thanks so much for your kindness.”

 

 

Many lifelong Evertonians were recipients of the thoughtful letters from the activity, which was supported by the charity’s neighbourhood team, who work closely with the residents in the ‘Blue Mile’ and the surrounding areas to improve quality of life and act as a point of contact for any concerns or support.

Neighbourhood Manager Sarah Atherton said: “It’s been heart-warming to see our young people make a lasting impact on these residents.

“Activities such as this are pivotal in combatting social isolation – it’s important that we’re still there for all members of our community during these times.”

‘Social action’ is delivered in various forms at Everton in the Community, with its delivery associated with higher levels of wellbeing amongst participants, as well as improving people’s confidence and skills.

It is also considered a key part of the National Citizen Service programme, which is delivered by the charity for 15 to 17-year-olds and aims to develop participants’ personal and social skills through new challenges and new environments.

As a result of COVID-19 measures and the effects of the pandemic, its delivery will this year be centred on social action through a new countrywide campaign recently launched by NCS called ‘Keep Doing Good’.

‘Keep Doing Good’ is enabling teens to take an active role in helping the country recover from the effects of COVID-19, as lockdown continues to lift.

Young people across the North West can now register to take part in social action this July and August, and pledge 16 hours of activity as part of the national One Million Hours of Doing Good campaign.

Teens who volunteer will gain new skills, help rebuild their local communities and create positive and lasting change this summer.

Since opening registrations, NCS has had nearly 7,000 young people across the country pledging to get involved.

Get involved now at www.wearencs.com.