Boulters Lock Care Home in Maidenhead welcomed a group of eight teenage volunteers onto a new project to interact and learn about careers.
A partnership between Boulters Lock and social integration charity The Challenge, organised the teens to visit, meet and talk to the elderly residents. The aim was to develop their confidence and skills that help them understand, trust and connect with other people and their communities.
The project aimed to share common ground and stimulate interest in previous careers for the residents and future aspirations for the teenagers. The stimulating project took place on three separate visits in October and November that ended with an exciting ‘Volunteer Event Day’.
Seva Hashimova, registered manager of Boulters Lock, says: "Our residents love to meet and talk to the teenage volunteers because they bring fun and allow the residents to learn new information.
"Our residents really enjoy sharing their stories and ideas with the visitors which is great for interaction and communication skills. I understand that the teenagers do not normally have the chance to visit care homes, so this programme is valuable to bring both generations together in a unique way and we really value the time they spend with us."
The first visit allowed the teen volunteers to become acquainted with the care home environment and meet the residents and staff members to help brainstorm ideas.
During visit two, the volunteers shared their ideas with the residents and staff to receive feedback, gather additional information for research and interview residents about their past careers.
The residents all have memories of their previous professions and careers, which include a school teacher, an assistant pharmacist, a typist, the head of German languages at a school and working at Lloyds Bank in London.
Betty Cokerill was a pharmaceutical librarian who remembers her administration duties and talks fondly about different medicines and her former work colleagues.
The final visit is called ‘Volunteer Event Day’ to allow the teenagers to deliver their planned activities. The day of feelgood fun included a special ‘Guess Who’ game tailored to the residents at Boulters lock using information about their lives. Entertainment included karaoke, makeovers and pamper sessions with manicures and hair styling to provide a social get together.
Music also provided entertainment as a storytelling device with a 'now and then' theme to stimulate conversations, asking, "What music did you listen to when you were our age compared to songs we hear nowadays".
Edward Hulme, assistant programme manager from The Challenge says: "The NCS project opens doors for these young people and partners alike and we are grateful for the opportunity to spend time with the residents.
"Boulters Lock has been very welcoming and understanding of the purpose of NCS and the activities team have been fantastic to create something memorable for both the residents and the young people. I heard a resident say: 'It feels amazing that someone so young actually cares enough to take time out of their day to talk to me. It truly makes me so happy.'"
I believe that the long-lasting effects mean that young people in the local community have a greater understanding of a different generation and their lives which is the sole purpose of the NCS programme.
