Pupils put pen to paper for elderly during lockdown

For most children, writing a letter is something they only do for Santa at Christmas time. But for primary three pupils at St Clement’s RC Primary School in Dundee, it is a skill they are using to keep spirits up during lockdown.

This is because these pupils have been paired with a resident at the care home, Turriff House, and are writing to their new friends as a way of combating loneliness in these tough times.

The class was inspired to take on the project after seeing a news report about a school writing to residents during lockdown.

Teacher Kerry Don said: “The inspiration came from Newsround. We were watching it one afternoon and the children saw another school who were doing letters to a care home.

“One of our pupils, Skylar, said it would be a great idea if we could do it as a class so we ran with it.

“Luckily we have a contact. Oliver’s (Clark) mum is the manager of Turriff House, so we got in touch with her and she said it would be a great idea.”

The periods of lockdown have been hard for everyone but perhaps most so for those in care homes who may not have been able to see their loved ones for months.

And with video calls not always easily accessible to residents, receiving a letter can be something which they really look forward to.

Mrs Don said: “The care homes have been disproportionately affected by this, just like the schools, and we think it would be a lovely connection to send something nice.

“Oliver’s mum was saying that when the residents get something, it lights up their day. They treasure it.”

Working on the letters

also gives the pupils an opportunity to put their writing skills to the test and they have donned their thinking caps to come up with topics to discuss with their new friends.

Oliver Clark, who has also been tasked with delivering the letters to the residents, said: “Mrs Don

gave us out post-it notes with the person we are writing to.

“I drew a rainbow with a little crown on it and I put the care home in the middle of the rainbow.

“I’m taking them to my mum and I think I might have to hand it to one of the staff members.”

WRITE STUFF: Oliver Clark, whose mum is the manager at Turriff House, is just one of the pupils at St Clement’s RC Primary School who have been lifting the spirits of the care home residents. Pictures by Steve Brown.

Maya Ladniak busy writing her letter.