Chief Scout celebrates Beavers’ festive visit to Birchwood Heights Care Home

Birchwood Heights Care Home’s relationship with a Dartford Beaver pack is being celebrated by the UK’s Chief Scout.

The Care Home hosted youngsters from the 3^rd Dartford Mississippi Beaver Colony.  The six to eight-year-olds do festive crafts, sing carols and share Christmas cards with the home’s 77 residents.

And the end of last year, their visit was broadcasted to the nation by UK Chief Scout Dwayne Fields, who featured the group’s community work in a special edition of BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme.

“We love having the children in to visit and the residents have a great time with them, chatting, singing and sharing memories both of Christmases past and their own time as Scouts, Beavers or Brownies,” said Lifestyles Manager, Theresa Doody.

“Having the radio here to speak to the residents and the children has made it an extra special event this Christmas.  The residents really feel significant and have been keen to share their views about how important the children’s visits are to them.”

Iris Gutteridge, 87, loved seeing the children.  It reminded her of when her daughter was a Brownie.

“I was never fortunate enough to be a Brownie but having the Beavers visit has brought back so many lovely memories of my daughter being a Brownie.  I crocheted her a Brownie Doll 50 years ago, and I still have it now!  I thought the children were so well behaved, it was a wonderful evening.”

Resident Roz Dyer was among those interviewed.  She was delighted by the whole experience. “I thoroughly enjoyed it!” she said. “The children coming were so confident, it was a marvellous evening.”

During the visit, the children decorated gingerbread figures with their older friends and gave out hand-made Christmas cards.  They visited residents in their rooms to sing carols as well as performing in the home’s lounge.

“The children love coming here,” said Emily Gibson, section lead volunteer with the Beavers.  “They really enjoy talking to the residents, especially those who used to be in the Scouts as there’s lots they share.  Some of the children have grandparents who live in a care home, so there’s plenty they can relate to, and for others, coming to Birchwood Heights means they know that care homes are not scary places.”

One of the youngsters commented; “We love coming to visit the care home and talking to the residents.  We can’t wait to come back in the spring when they’re going to help us with our gardener’s badge.”

The guest editor edition of The Today Programme by Dwayne Fields was broadcast from 7.00am – 9.00pm on BBC Radio Four on Boxing Day.

Find out more about Birchwood Heights Care Home