Wirral Life July 2019 | Page 23

W L FRENCH LESSONS BRING ELDERLY AND CHILDREN TOGETHER AT ABBEYFIELD Talking to people banishes loneliness – but what about talking in a different language? That’s one of the activities happening at Abbeyfield Hoylake and West Kirby Society's Lear House care home this month seeing children and the elderly come together to learn a new language in a bid to end loneliness. It’s the brainchild of Barbara Gleave at Chouette French for Children, who is bringing nursery aged children and their parents come together at the home to learn French with older residents. Barbara said: "There’s so many benefits for both young and old, the children just relaxed into it and of course the older ladies are delighted. The parents are really supportive too.” Activities co-ordinator at Abbeyfield Hoylake and West Kirby Society Helen Nile said: "It’s something a bit different. The residents enjoy the music and working on craft things together. Primarily though, what they love is the contact with the children. They all enjoy that." The aim is to learn French through singing songs and doing arts and crafts. Last week people were aged between 2 and 102. There was a 100-year age gap between the youngest and oldest person at Lear House's intergenerational French lesson. The children even sang Happy Birthday to Trudy! Brenda has also celebrated her 99th Birthday in style, and our long serving trustee and chairperson of Lear House Lesley, has been enjoying a very special and well deserved invitation to the garden party at Buckingham Palace. To find out more about Abbeyfield, call 0151 625 1092 or visit www.abbeyfieldwestkirby.co.uk wirrallife.com 23