Birchwhood Heights Continues Its Commitment To Young Readers With Book Donation

Team members from Birchwood Heights care home were delighted to see books they’d donated to Horizon Primary Academy as its new library was formally opened.

The town’s mayor, Cllr Keith Marshall, and Member of Parliament for Sevenoaks & Swanley, Laura Trott, cut the ribbon on the newly refurbished space, which team members from Birchwood Heights also helped to paint.

The care home, has supported children at the school with their reading for the past two years.  Youngsters from Year 4 visit the residents who listen to and encourage them, to help develop their skills and confidence.  Maureen Benson, 87, said it’s something they all enjoy.

“We love reading with the children,” she said.  “It’s wonderful to know that we’re helping them and we’re all thrilled to know we’ve added to their library and they have more books to enjoy.”

Birchwood Heights offers residential, nursing, memory and respite care for 77 people.  Funding was made available through its parent company’s Support a School initiative, which has seen seven schools close to Oakland Care homes receive up to £1,000 for impactful projects, together with volunteer support from staff.

Lifestyles Manager, Theresa Doody, said they knew straight away how they would spend it.

“Supporting the children in their reading gives the residents joy and a sense of purpose and achievement, and we wanted to reflect how much our young friends mean to us with this donation,” she said.

Theresa was delighted to attend the grand re-opening of the library along with business administrator, Jacqui Wallbank, and the home’s head chef, Luke Heasman. The relationship with Birchwood Heights has seen the children’s reading abilities improve significantly and a love of books develop.

“Since beginning our reading project with the care home, the children’s enthusiasm for reading has grown and grown,” said Year 4 teacher, Michelle Sutherland.  “Building a library has been the next evolution in our vision for Horizon.  The positivity around reading is a massive change for us and children are really beginning to see themselves as readers.

“We’re so grateful to Birchwood Heights for their donation and the time they have volunteered.  The library looks so beautiful, and our children are tremendously excited!  It will be lovely to visit the residents with our new books in hand and to share our love of reading with them.  Having the support and encouragement from the older generation, who see the value and pleasure in it, has been a fantastic boon – what wonderful role models they are!”

The Support a School campaign comes ahead of the launch of Oakland Care’s Caring for the Community initiative which will launch in 2026. This will see Oakland Care extend grant funding and volunteer support to other groups and businesses in its local communities.

Find out more about Birchwood Heights