Assisting elderly lonely people in the Community

The Link Visiting Scheme is a local charity that supports older people who are struggling with loneliness and isolation. Holme Grange has worked in partnership with the scheme over several years to help make older people's lives fun and enjoyable again with friendship a key priority.

Aims

Holme Grange invited around 20 Link Friends to enjoy special music concerts, providing delicious refreshments for all. Holme Grange enabled guests to use the school's facilities for Christmas Day lunch for anyone in the community on their own and more than 80 people come along. 

The school has fundraised for the scheme, raising its profile among the parent community.
 
 

Background

One of our former staff members heard of the Scheme and thought it would be a wonderful way to support them by giivng them our time and sharing our facilities with them. 

Resources

A restaurant in which to accomodate all levels of mobility and the staff to assist and the children to come and sing and talk to the elderly visitors. 

With the lunch being hosted on Christmas Day the headteacher is always on hand to assist. 

Impact

As a charity (The Link Visiting Scheme) we have been holding a lunch once a month on most months of the year for the past two years. Having it at Holme Grange School makes a difference in several ways:

Firstly it is a change of venue and a beautiful venue at that. 
Secondly, the school provides the food free of charge so this saves our charity money and gives our volunteers a break from cooking. 
Thirdly, there are different people present for our Link friends to interact with, namely the staff and pupils. 
Having the animals on site is an added bonus. 

Pupil Involvement

Pupils from across Prep and Eaton Grange assist and entertain the guests.

Frequency

Ongoing.