INSPIRED by Channel 4’s documentary Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds in which a group of men and women from a retirement village enjoyed visits from the local preschool, which were shown to be hugely beneficial to both generations, Chulmleigh Primary School has launched a community project of its own.

The idea for this project is that each Friday morning, a group of older residents will visit the school for a couple of hours to play, read and take part in activities with the children.

The activities will include playing board games, building cardboard box dens, Lego, playdough and painting etc.

A number of community volunteers have also stepped forward to help with the logistics of the project, which is wonderful.

The visitors will not be required to take responsibility for the children – it is simply an invitation to build relationships and interweave the young and the old in the community. The sessions will run for half-a-term each and, if there is enough interest, different groups will rotate so as many participants can be invited as possible.

The first session was held on Friday, February 8, and staff and pupils were delighted to welcome six residents to play with the Preschool and Reception children.

The pilot session went better than expected, and the children absolutely loved showing the visitors their favourite games and activities. Strong bonds were forged between the young and the old in a very short space of time, and the visitors threw themselves wholeheartedly into every activity.

The children are really looking forward to welcoming their new friends back for the next session.

The first session went so well that more spaces were made available and nine visitors attended the second session.

Chulmleigh Primary School would like to invite anyone who would be interested in joining the project, and encourage any elderly residents – particularly those feeling a bit isolated or lonely – to contact Lully Newman or Gina Randall on 01769 580535 or email: [email protected] or [email protected] .

Comments from the attendees included: “It was lovely visiting the school with all the children, participating in activities with them and seeing all the amazing equipment,” Mary.

“Wonderful! I enjoyed it very much and will come again,” Enid.

“It went very well indeed. It’s good to see how much the children got involved with us, they soon got over any shyness,” Derek.

“I thought it was a lovely morning and thoroughly enjoyed playing with the children. It was well-organised and all the children were very well behaved,” Richard.