Fir Tree Primary School pupils read with Newbury Grove residents as part of National Storytelling Week

Residents at a Newbury care home have been reading classic fairytales with local schoolchildren as part of National Storytelling Week.

Pupils from Fir Tree Primary School recently sat and read with residents at Care UK’s Newbury Grove, practising their best character voices.

And the residents also got into character and regaled the children with some of their own fairytales.

Reflecting on the morning, Barbara McGill, 89, said: “It was wonderful to hear the children read aloud. They all read so perfectly. We were all very proud.”

“It was lovely to watch,” added 90-year-old resident Pat Lovell, a former librarian. “I was so happy to see the children enjoy a love of reading and really get into the characters.”

General manager at Newbury Grove Adarsh Kurian said: “Seeing the residents create their own fairytale and retell it to the children was wonderful to see, and the residents loved listening to the children read aloud.

“Children’s literature is often the first key to unlocking our imaginations and nurturing a lifelong love of reading.

“Intergenerational relationships can be incredibly beneficial for both younger and older people, and can provide residents with a sense of wellbeing and purpose, so we look forward to welcoming the children back to Newbury Grove very soon for more fun activities.”