Schoolchildren have brought smiles to the faces of retirement home residents by sending them an array of home-made artwork.

Drawings, paintings and letters created by pupils at King’s Farm Primary School in Gravesend were delivered to Sanctuary Retirement Living’s Wimborne House in Gravesend.

A huge rainbow banner spelling out the inspirational phrase "This Won’t Be Forever” was also sent to the retirement community, which provides apartments with communal facilities for over 55s.

Links between Wimborne House and King’s Farm were forged earlier this year when the school’s deputy director Paul Jackson approached the home to arrange a visit.

He said: “Our School Council wanted to contribute to our local community and one of their ideas was to develop links with Wimborne House. We had planned for our children to visit so that they could read with and play games with some of the residents. Unfortunately, with COVID-19 we could not carry out these plans, so we wanted to do something to help to keep the spirits of the residents up at these difficult times for everybody.”

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Charlotte Smith, Wellbeing and Inclusion Assistant at Wimborne House, said: “It was such an amazing collection of items, which were all completed in just over a week.

“It brought a smile to our faces as we unpacked them and saw all the hard work that had been put into everything. It certainly brightened up our day as I am sure it will have done for the residents.

“The beautiful banner has taken pride of place in our car park and all of the other items have been placed around the building.”

Residents Peter and Lorna Field said: “It was really nice of the pupils and staff of Kings Farm Primary school to get involved in brightening up Wimborne House, and in the process, brightening up the lives of the residents. I hope they know it is appreciated.”

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