Lewisham school children bring festive cheer to elderly care home residents

Primary school children in Lewisham have been spreading festive cheer by carol singing for residents of their local care home.

A group of year 5 pupils from St Matthew Academy sang a selection of Christmas carols from outside Rectory Court Care Home in Blackheath to cheer up the elderly residents.

The students were determined that everyone in their local community should be able to feel the festive spirit despite the difficulties faced this year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nine-year-old carol singer Caleb Arogundade said: “We love Christmas time and have really enjoyed practising our carols in school.

“No-one is allowed to come in to school to hear us this year so we wanted to take the songs to them. We thought they might like it.”

The children had asked if they could take their carol service, which is usually open to parents and the public, out of the school gates and into the community for people who needed cheering up during this difficult Christmas period.

Miss Joanna Chick, Head of the Primary school said: “The idea came purely from the children themselves.

“I was genuinely surprised and delighted when they approached me with the idea.

“Children really have the ability to bring Christmas alive for many people and I just hope that they could raise some festive smiles despite a slightly muted and unusual Christmas time this year.”