There’s reason to celebrate in Gateshead as Extra Care scheme, Winton Court was nominated for an award at the Great British Care Awards.
The scheme owned and operated by Housing 21 was shortlisted for the Co-Production Award for their Intergenerational Project with Childsplay Nursery.
The project started three years ago with 12 children visiting Housing 21’s scheme twice a month. Since then, the project has developed and the children visited every week, and firm friendships have been formed between the children and residents.
The project consists of studying the interactions between generations as part of a wider study to show the impact that can be made when older adults and younger children work together.
Some of the interactions have included residents reading with the children, while the children have been teaching residents how to take selfies on an iPad.
Carole Foster, Housing and Care Manager at Winton Court, said: “After their first, visit we knew we were involved in something special. Our residents and the young children showed nothing but compassion and kindness.
“They were able to see past the mobility walkers, wheelchairs and walking sticks and began to engage with the wonderfully knowledgeable older people.
“The North-East regional winners were announced at the awards ceremony, and sadly the project group didn’t take home the win this time, but we’re excited to keep building on this project and what’s ahead."
The project is also part of research study with Newcastle University which has identified that the interactions between the young and the old bring massive benefits to both generations. This work will help form a UK-wide toolkit to show the impact the work has on children and residents.
Winton Court is located in the heart of Winlaton village near Gateshead, within its own picturesque grounds.
The Extra Care scheme features a communal lounge, a quiet lounge used as a library, and landscaped gardens.
