Never Alone, Always Heard – spreading Christmas Cheer to the County

It has been busy week for our staff and volunteers at Age UK County Durham. As well as supporting older people with shopping deliveries and wellbeing calls, our Intergenerational Never Alone, Always Heard project has delivered over 170 seasonable gifts to care home residents this week.

Yesterday, George and Janet packed our van with lots of lovely goodies and set off to spread some Christmas Cheer around the County. The gifts were donated by local supermarkets and we included handmade Christmas cards from local primary school children. 

Their first port of call was to Chester View Care Home, where the children from St. Benet’s R.C.V.A. Primary School joined us in the care home’s garden to give a beautiful Christmas Carol concert for the residents as we handed over our gifts and cards.  The residents watched us from their rooms and lounge area – they loved seeing the children sing and enjoyed our visit very much.

Then it was off to Sycamore Lodge in Spennymoor and Craigarron Nursing Home in Trimdon to deliver more gifts and cards.  The staff said it was a real boost for the residents who were feeling down because of the current restrictions.

Meanwhile, in Barnard Castle, Robyn was delivering selection boxes and Christmas cards to Beaconsfield Court Care Home.

Today, George restocked our van with more generous donations and cards for Chilton Care Centre and next Tuesday he will do another similar delivery – taking 40 gifts to residents at Harbour Lodge in Seaham.

We’ve also delivered letters and Christmas cards from Bishop Auckland College and Durham University students and many have been posted to older people who receive regular wellbeing calls from our volunteers and staff.

We would like to say a huge thank you to the Asda, Sainsburys, Tesco, Morrisons stores who have donated to us, making it possible for us to show our older residents throughout the County that we are always thinking about them and how we can help them.

We’d also like to thank all the children and young people who have contributed to this project.  They have helped us to continue with our Intergenerational work during the lockdown; keeping our wonderful connections between the generations going and bring some much needed joy and happiness to older people living in County Durham.

Merry Christmas everyone, stay safe and stay well from everyone at Age UK County Durham.