Schoolchildren have interviewed veterans living at a care home they visit, ahead of Global Intergenerational Week.

The boys from Southborough High School quizzed residents at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton and asked them what they gained from the weekly visits to the Home. They also filmed selfies where they revealed the reasons they enjoy their regular visits to the Home.

The Years 8 and 9 students are part of the school’s Young Leaders Award pathway, promoting leadership through supporting others within their school and local community.

They were speaking ahead of Global Intergenerational Week, which runs from 24-30 April. Its aim is to celebrate and promote intergenerational connections and practices and to inspire individuals groups and organisations to embrace relationships across age groups.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, from Homes in Solihull, Surbiton, High Wycombe and Worthing. It has also launched new services reaching out into the community and beyond.

The Surbiton Home receives many young visitors from schools, pre-school groups, cadets, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Youngsters from nearby Child’s Play Nursery enjoy story-time at the Home, sing songs and spend time with residents during their weekly visits.

Such visits are known to bring a raft of physical and mental health benefits to older generations.

Southborough pupils help with activities during their visits, joining in with arts and crafts sessions, bingo and games. In their videos they talk about their bonds with residents. It also features residents telling students the benefits they gain from the visits.

‘Helping to shape our students’

Dan Edwards, Senior Assistant Head Teacher at the school, said: “Both the Royal Star & Garter and Southborough High School share the same fundamental values in life. By upholding these common values through our weekly visits, inspiring new friendships have grown between the younger and older generations within our community. The influence and impact of the incredible residents and staff at Royal Star & Garter is undoubtedly helping to shape our students into becoming admirable young men of the future.”

‘Part of the Royal Star & Garter family’

And Mel Fynn, the Child’s Play manager said: “As much as the residents enjoy our visits, they are just as powerful for our children. Many have moved into the area without their extended family, so these visits allow them to build meaningful relationships with a generation who are missing from their everyday life. The children have formed particular friendships with a group of residents, and no visit is complete without seeing them, their welcoming smiles, and sharing a big hug. We feel so lucky to be welcomed and included as part of the Royal Star & Garter family.”

Resident Vera, an RAF veteran, said: “I really enjoy the visits from schools and nurseries. It makes my day!”

Helena Maher is the Home Manager at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton. She said: “These intergenerational visits have such a big impact on the residents. It brings so much positivity and happiness into the Home, and you can see the lift it provides residents.”

Students from Southborough High School helped raise £2,850 for Royal Star & Garter when they took part in the sponsored Winter Walk in January. And resident Michael, an RAF veteran who is among those interviewed by the students, visits the school to talk to Year 7 classes.

Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton is welcoming new residents. For more information on this, its new services, or to work at the home, go to www.starandgarter.org/surbiton