A PROGRAMME that brings reception children into care homes could be rolled out to ten more schools on the Isle of Wight.

Independent Arts first piloted its programme, School Ties, last April. Ten reception children from Dover Park Primary School, Ryde, visited Cornelia Heights once a week for ten weeks.

They spent time with the residents, learning about music and art with a creative programme of activities.

After a morning of activities, the children sat down to eat with the ten residents — even eating vegetables they had grown in the garden themselves.

Programme manager, Kerry Tindall, said: “Sitting down for a meal, that is often something that does not happen at home anymore because there is not time, or the space.”

She said the programme could become the basis for a new model of adult social care on the Isle of Wight.

The project aims to build connections with a ‘particularly invisible’ group in society — care home residents.

Ms Tindall said: “This could be a very creative solution to two very demanding social issues.”

One success story saw a young child paired with a resident at the home who was particularly keen on gardening.

Ms Tindall said: “There was an area out the back which the home said we could use to grow and plant some flowers.

“He used a walker but we found with the responsibility of maintaining the garden, he was getting increased mobility. It really gave him a sense of purpose.

“He worked really closely with a little boy who struggled academically but this was an area where he could shine.

“At the end of the project, he was given the gardening award by the resident who had helped him. It was a really special moment for them to share.”

Now the programme could be rolled out to more schools and homes, thanks to just under £80,000 in funding from the Big Lottery’s ‘reaching communities’ fund.

Schools will be matched with a nearby home to enable pupils to walk to visit them each week.

Ms Tindall said there had already been a lot of interest from local schools and homes.

She said: “We will try to distribute the programme as evenly across the Island as we can.”

Once the partnership has ended, the schools are encouraged to keep up the connection with the care home.

Independent Arts will also be working with Barnardo’s family centres on the Island and the Alzheimer Cafes to offer free parent and child workshops during the school holidays.

Any schools or care homes interested in taking part can contact Independent Arts on 01983 822437 or send an email to kerry@independentarts.org.uk.