CARE residents in Latchford are receiving touching messages and paintings from children to lift their spirits during the ongoing pandemic.

Budding artists at nurseries and schools have been busy creating letters, paintings and crafts to reassurance those in isolation at the Belong Care Village in Loushers Lane.

Ready Generations, a Liverpool-based charity, came up with the idea as as part of its Reasons to Stay Cheerful campaign.

The children’s work is being added into digital presentations so residents across the Belong organisation can look through virtual galleries on electronic devices.

Tracy Paine, deputy chief executive of Belong, said: "At Belong, working with our communities has always played a key role in the care for our residents, but it serves a vital role more than ever at this unique time.

"With visits to the village currently suspended, letters and artwork from young authors and artists are being gratefully received by residents, and they also provide the opportunity to generate life-long friendships between the generations."

Social interaction with younger generations can trigger reminiscence and happy memories in older individuals, improving wellbeing, delaying cognitive decline and promoting a sense of safety and comfort.

Creative communication can also reduced feelings of loneliness for both isolated children and older people.

Sue Egersdorff, spokesperson for Ready Generations, added: "There’s a lot in the news about food, but for older people, it’s also the lack of connection with others that they will really suffer from.

"We’re also finding that young children are worried about the news, so this positive initiative is a valuable distraction and supports the wellbeing and mental health of both age groups."

Children can contribute to this project by photographing or scanning letters, messages and artwork and sending to sue@readygenerations.co.uk.

The creations will be collated and proudly displayed within Belong’s care villages across the UK.