Marten House is a retirement home in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. London Meed Primary School is located just a 15 minute walk away.

The residents and pupils have been meeting for almost two years, with their first workshop taking place in October 2022. During this time, they've gotten to know each other through conversations and games.

Scheme manager, Dee, told us that the visits from London Meed Primary pupils have become a highlight of the month. They are now one of the most popular communal activities, with up to 15 residents attending each time. A particular highlight for Dee is how the visits have helped quieter residents come out of their shells.

One resident is deaf and wouldn’t usually participate in such activities, Dee told us. The children were very understanding and the resident ended up teaching them how to spell out the alphabet in sign language. This interaction led the resident to run a sign language session for their fellow residents, helping drive further connection within the scheme.

Another resident lives far away from her grandchildren and loved speaking about her life and her grandchildren with the pupils. One of them even said it was like having another grandma.