A care home in Surbiton and a nearby school have held a week of activities together to celebrate Global Intergenerational Week (24-30 April).

Pupils from Southborough High School visited Royal Star & Garter during the week, helping with gardening, cookery and art activities. They also unveiled artwork created especially for the Home.

Global Intergenerational Week aims to celebrate and promote connections and practices and to inspire individuals, groups and organisations to embrace relationships across age groups.

During the week, pupils planned, prepared and served pizzas for residents, worked in the gardens and balcony to plant flowers ahead of summer, and took part in arts activities. There was also a magic show from talented student Year 11 student Alfie.

Kingston Mayor Noel Hadjimichael visited the Home on Thursday 30 April to see pupils unveil their mural of a Kitwood flower – which illustrates what loving, person-centred care looks like – in the reception area.

Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their families living with disability or dementia, from Homes in Solihull, Surbiton, High Wycombe and Worthing. It also runs services reaching out into the community including Day Care, Lunch Club and a national Telephone Friendship Service.

The close friendship between Royal Star & Garter and Southborough High sees residents visit the school to give talks to pupils. It also led to the Home nominating the school’s four Young Leaders Award pupils – Ryen Trabelsi, Luca Martin, James Hall and William Harrison – for a Mayor’s Community Award, which they received in April. They assist with activities in the Home, hosting boccia, helping with bingo, and joining in with various arts & crafts on the dementia care floor.

Promoting intergenerational friendships for its residents is part of the holistic care Royal Star & Garter provides. Research has shown it improves mental health and boosts wellbeing in older people, reducing feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety. It also improves physical health and cognitive function, and can tackle ageism by helping build stronger communities and breaking down barriers.

‘Bonds form across generations’

Yasmin Rogers, Deputy Home Manager at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton, said: “Residents always look forward to the time they spend with Southborough High, so they were especially delighted by the extra visits during Global Intergenerational Week. It’s wonderful to see friendships between pupils and residents develop and grow. These connections mean so much to our residents, and it’s especially touching to see such genuine bonds form across generations, despite the age gap. It’s also lovely to watch them connect through shared activities, finding common ground in things they can all enjoy together.”

‘A strong and meaningful relationship with the residents’

Dan Edwards is Senior Assistant Headteacher at the school. He said: “Our pupils love their weekly visits to Royal Star & Garter, and were especially proud to attend daily during Global Intergenerational Week. We see a clear impact on the boys – growing confidence, stronger self-esteem, and a deeper sense of empathy. We’re delighted that Southborough High School continues to build such a strong and meaningful relationship with the residents. To see two generations show such warmth and respect for one another – and genuinely learn from each other – is truly moving. The empathy and compassion our students develop through these weekly visits are helping them build lasting memories and essential life skills that just can’t be taught in a classroom.”

Other schools and nurseries are also regular visitors to Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton, and at the charity’s Homes in Solihull, High Wycombe and Worthing.

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