Thackeray House Care Home Entertainment
BELS organises groups of young people to provide an afternoon’s entertainment, once a month, for residents at Thackeray House Care Home, Croydon. Activities range from ‘Bingo’ to a 1940’s music quiz, ‘Catchphrase’, a play, ‘Guess the Famous Person’, afternoon tea, ‘Pass the Parcel’ and ‘Hoopla’.
The primary aims of this event are to enable young people to experience working with another generation, to promote intergenerational workplace skills and to remove preconceptions, so that the young people involved can transfer this experience into the workplace. The secondary aim is to build skills around planning, organisation and implementation.
Reaction from BELS’ learners, when hearing about the tasks associated with organising the activities, is always one of resistance - at first.
Jack Farlow told us: ‘At first I didn’t really want to do it because it might be depressing. I organised a word search for the residents to do. When I arrived at the home I didn’t feel as awkward. I especially like Violet, who was a good laugh. I didn’t think they were going to be as friendly and as lively as they were.’
Charlie Guy added, ‘I had mixed feelings about going too. As soon as we started playing games I felt OK. The residents were more with it than I thought! Violet was really funny and cheeky and was making me laugh. I felt really emotional after the event. It made me think of my relationship with my own granddad.’
Sean Lynch told us he was nervous too, but added: ‘When the music quiz started and they were singing and trying to guess who the artist was, I relaxed and I have a new-found respect for the care workers. I felt more confident to randomly chat to the residents.’
Roland Kurina told us: ‘It was funny that when I walked in they thought I looked like a film star!’
Sue Murkin, from BELS, who facilitates young people’s organisation of the event, said: ‘It’s always a rewarding afternoon, humbling for the young people, fun for the residents and emotional for me, as I feel proud to see the different generations connect ‘.
25th Aug 2011
