Intergenerational project launched to limit lockdown loneliness of care home residents

The Together Project has launched a new campaign for the young and old to bridge the "divide" of lockdown loneliness which COVID-19 has created.

The Hand in Hand Together project is an intergenerational activity where children of all ages and residents of care homes can create handprints and send them to each other.

The organisers of The Together Project hope this initiative will reach out to people, connect with others in the local community and most importantly, help to tackle loneliness of people living in care homes at this difficult time.

’COVID-19 has exacerbated’ the feeling of being ‘cut off from their community’

Louise Goulden, founder of The Together Project, said: “Hand in Hand Together is symbolic of reaching across the divide that has been created between care homes and their local communities during this terrible time we’ve all been through.

“We don't know how long it will be before we can all get back together again, so we wanted to find a way to reach out to each other and show we care. Hand in Hand Together is an easy, fun way for people to connect and works across all ages and abilities.

“Many people living in care settings feel cut off from their local community at the best of times; COVID-19 has exacerbated this beyond belief.”

Ms Goulden set up an intergenerational music group called Songs and Smiles in July 2017 where she would take babies and toddlers into care homes but unfortunately this had to stop in March this year because of the pandemic.

Ms Goulden said: “So many of the older adults, children and parents who used to attend have told us how much they're desperately missing each other.

“It was really important to me that this activity was reciprocal. Care home residents have been the beneficiaries of some extraordinary kindness during this terrible time, but they want to be able to get involved and give back too. It's a simple but effective idea - you create something magical and get a little piece of magic back in return.”

Once all artwork has been received from both young and old, the handprints will be made into an incredible collage, forming a picture that represents the project.

The artwork will then be unveiled at Hallmark Bucklesham Grange on 24 September 2020 to celebrate National Day of Arts in Care Homes.

April Dobson, head of relationship centred care, of programme participant Hallmark Care Homes, said: “This is a truly heart-warming initiative and we can’t wait to be involved. It’s been an incredibly tough time for everyone, and this will really help to lift spirits.”

Ms Goulden added: “We have hundreds of care homes residents and children already signed up to get involved.

“We want to spread this as far across the country as possible to whoever would like to join in - we'd love hundreds more.”

Care homes, nurseries and parents/guardians can sign up at The Together Project website by clicking here

Please note: Handprints will need to be submitted no later than 28 August to feature in the final artwork.

click here for more details or to contact Hallmark Bucklesham Grange