Old festive traditions came to life at two care homes in Sutton Coldfield, where residents welcomed local schools for a day of seasonal activities.
Care UK’s Bishops Manor, on Jockey Road, and Mercia Grange on Lichfield Road, both joined forces with young visitors to revisit customs from Christmas past. The events were part of Care UK’s ‘Step into Christmas’ initiative, which aims to revive residents’ festive traditions, encouraging them to share memories with the younger generation. By blending storytelling, crafts and carol singing, the events create a space for meaningful intergenerational connection.
After undergoing a 1950s-themed transformation, featuring vibrant vintage decorations, the team at Bishops Manor welcomed children from St Nicholas Catholic Primary School. When the children arrived, they filled the home with songs, singing much-loved Christmas carols. Following the magical performance, with a bit of help from the residents, the young children created colourful paper chains that they could take away.
To top the day off, everyone enjoyed traditional festive treats, including roasted chestnuts and freshly baked gingerbread. Bishops Manor resident, Sidney Knight, said: “Whenever the children visit, they bring such a vibrant energy into our home. It’s very uplifting, especially when they sing to us.
“Making paper chains with them took me straight back to being a boy when we used whatever we had to make the house feel festive. I have such fond memories of making paper chains and the smell of gingerbread baking.” Thomas Bampfield, Home Manager at Bishops Manor, said: “Christmas is such a special time of year, and this event allowed us to honour those memories by bringing the golden era back to life.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to bring the children and residents together for a day of festive cheer, and it was truly heartwarming to watch residents reminisce and share memories of festive celebrations from their youth.” At Mercia Grange, visitors from Little Sutton Primary School joined residents to create handmade Christmas cards. As part of the activity, residents shared their top tips for creating cards by hand and reminisced on their favourite festive traditions.
100-year-old Mercia Grange resident, Alan Beckley, said: “It was a lovely day. One of the best parts was seeing a little boy come in, especially to see me. He’s been making cards for me, and whenever he drives past with his family, he always waves and says hi.
“It’s important to celebrate Christmas traditions; they remind us why Christmas is special and help us create beautiful memories.” Michael McNelis, Home Manager at Mercia Grange, said: “We believe in the power of intergenerational connections, and inviting local schools to celebrate Christmas traditions with us is a great way to foster these relationships. The card making activity was a wonderful opportunity for creative sparks to fly.
“It was lovely to see residents' faces light up as they shared memories from Christmases celebrated in their youth while teaching the children crafts, they themselves learned decades ago. It’s activities like these that keep traditions alive and ensure they are celebrated for generations to come. I’d like to say a big thank you to Little Sutton Primary School for coming along and making the day one to remember!”
Bishops Manor and Mercia Grange have been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The homes have been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.
There is also plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.
