Teens tackle isolation among elderly with social action project

A GROUP of Chesterfield youths has been working with elderly care home residents to help reduce feelings of isolation.

The Future Foundations National Citizenship Service (NCS) has been visiting Springbank House Care Home as part of their social action project.

Almost a dozen 15 to 17 year olds hosted pamper sessions and coffee mornings at the home and plan to maintain contact with residents by becoming pen pals.

Adam Walker is a team leader at INGEUS, which operates the Future Foundations NCS Programme, based at West Studios, Sheffield Road.

He said: “It was brilliant for our volunteers to find a care home that welcomed them in to spend time with the residents.

“The residents’ faces lit up when they were reading them poetry, as they were going back through some of the things they remember from their earlier lives.

“The aim of their social action project was to reduce feelings of isolation among Chesterfield’s elderly, with both the volunteers and residents thoroughly enjoying it.”

Karen Busby, home manager at Springbank House Care Home, on Ashgate Road, said: “When the group came to the home we invited them in to hear more about their project and it sounded fantastic.

“The group spent two days with the residents, running a number of activities as well as keeping them company and reading to them.

“We’re glad they want to maintain the friendships they built by becoming pen pals, which we’re happy to facilitate with the residents and their relatives.”