Residents of sheltered scheme receive heart-warming pictures from local school children

LocalSalford school children havehelped to raisethespiritsoftheirelderly neighbours by drawingand sending thempictures.

With most of the residents of the QueenAlexandra sheltered scheme inSalfordself-isolating since March,children from acrossthe areawanted to do their part to cheer them upafter receiving a call to action from a local councillor.

CouncillorTanya Burchwho represents theOrdsallarea of Salfordsaid: “My friend posted on social media a pictureher child drewfor an elderly resident in their local care home.Itinspired metoput the word out acrossOrdsallto seeif we could do something similarfor thethreecare homesand sheltered schemesin thearea.

“Aswell as local primary schools, I alsocontactedhigh schoolOasis Academy,local churches and children’s charity Sovereign Houseto seeif they would like to get involved with this lovely project,which theyalldid.

“The response was really heart-warming.My inboxwasfullofemailsfrom parents,teachers andchurchescontaining theirchildren’s beautiful drawings, which I then passed on to the older residents.”

Councillor Burch added:“It’s a great opportunity to teach our children about respect for the elderly and how important it is to think about others during the lockdownand doing theirpart to lift their spirits.”

Liam Turner, neighbourhood managerforSalix Homes’ sheltered schemes said,“The response from the residents has been great, it’s been lovely to see how these small gestures have made a big impact on them.Even before the coronavirus lockdownrestrictions, many of our older residentshadfeltquite isolated.Receivingthesepicturesfrom the local childrenhaslet them knowthat they’re considered to be part of the community.”

If you would like to share your child’s drawings with the older residents of Salford, please email them toCouncillor Tanya Burch oncouncillor.burch@salford.gov.uk