YOUNGSTERS from a Dorchester playgroup are brightening up the lives of care home residents.

Maiden Castle House care home, also in Dorchester, has re-established its pre-Covid link with The Grove Pre-School Playgroup.

Children are once again regularly visiting the home and participating in activities with residents.

Residents are set to enjoy a teddy bears' picnic and further activities with the youngsters.

Maiden Castle House had strong links with the pre-school prior to Covid, which was a wonderful relationship for the Care South home and the pre-school - and something both parties were keen to re-establish.

Each week, several children visit Maiden Castle House with their teachers and engage in a range of activities with the residents including arts and crafts, food, fun, exercise and games.

The activities that the children get involved with are planned in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and are designed to be engaging for all, but free flowing so that the children and residents can participate as much or as little as they wish.

Emma Norman, activities lead at Maiden Castle House, said: “It is wonderful to have re-established this relationship with The Grove Pre-School Playgroup.

"Watching the relationships develop between the different generations is wonderful and both the residents and children look forward to their visits.

"We have some lovely upcoming plans which include a teddy bears picnic before the end of term and further activities are in the pipeline from September.

"We cannot wait to continue watching this relationship go from strength to strength.”

Claire Bowen, manager at The Grove Pre-School Playgroup, added: “Thank you to Emma and the team at Maiden Castle House for reaching out to us to start our visits to the home again.

"The children are already enjoying their weekly visits to the home and love interacting with the residents.”

One resident at Maiden Castle House said: “I love the visits from The Grove Pre-School Playgroup.

"It is truly wonderful being able to learn new things from them and to be able to teach them new things too. It brings a smile to my face.”