Students send Christmas package to elderly Teesside residents

CHRISTMAS cards and decorations came flying into a Teesside care home from students completing their National Citizen Service (NCS).

Three groups of teenagers – all aged 15 to 17 – from the Flying Futures NCS programme put together a Christmas package for residents at The Beeches Care Home, on Green Lane, Stockton-on-Tees.

A group of young adults with learning difficulties, who are on a supported internship course with Middlesbrough College, handmade Christmas cards.

A second group, who are studying construction with training provider Learning Curve, made wooden decorations for the care home’s Christmas tree.

And this year’s summer NCS graduates also took part – making cards and decorations for the home’s elderly residents.

Rose Cannon, 86, a resident at The Beeches Care Home, said: “It is so kind of the young people to make these lovely cards.”

Fellow resident Janet Wren, 88, added: “I love the Christmas tree ornaments made from wood.”

Nicky Durham, home manager at The Beeches Care Home, said: “The residents were thrilled to receive the beautiful handmade Christmas cards and decorations for our tree.

“Our thanks go to the students on the Flying Futures NCS programme. We hope to see them sometime in the new year, when we are able to lift visitation restrictions.”

Becky Porter, NCS manager for Flying Futures, said: “Flying Futures is delighted to do a project for The Beeches again. This time we had three separate NCS groups who contributed towards a Christmas package for the residents and staff.

“We had our supported internship course from Middlesbrough College, members of our Construction course from Learning Curve and our summer NCS graduates.

“The young people were really happy to be involved with making Christmas cards and wooden decorations for the residents.

“All being well, we hope to work with The Beeches again in 2021 and hopefully in person this time.”