Wakefield students spread Christmas cheer with festive gift boxes for care home residents

Children at a primary academy in Wakefield have been getting into the festive spirit by making Christmas cheer boxes for residents at Ashby Lodge Residential Home.
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The school kids at Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate, who usually would have spent December practicing nativities and Christmas performances, have had to spread cheer in different creative ways because of Covid-19 restrictions.

And the youngers, aged from 3 to 11, have now crafted different items to put in the gift boxes for each resident and staff member at Ashby Lodge.

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Principal of the academy, Lynsey Hadfield, said: “This year has been a tough one for everyone and sadly because of the social restrictions in place we have been unable to put on our usual nativity and festive performances.

Pupils at Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate, who usually would have spent December practicing nativities and Christmas performances, have had to spread cheer in different creative ways because of Covid-19 restrictions.Pupils at Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate, who usually would have spent December practicing nativities and Christmas performances, have had to spread cheer in different creative ways because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Pupils at Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate, who usually would have spent December practicing nativities and Christmas performances, have had to spread cheer in different creative ways because of Covid-19 restrictions.

“As we had time freed up by this, the children wanted to help spread some Christmas cheer in a different way this year.

“Judging by the looks on the staffs' faces when we delivered the boxes, it certainly seems the children were successful in spreading Christmas cheer.”

Once all the items were completed by each year group, one of each different item was put into a special personalised Christmas cheer box for each Ashby Lodge resident.

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The items created by the children ranged from hand sewn tree decorations, paper streamers, to calendars and cards.

Pupils at Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate crafted hundreds of decorations for the residents.Pupils at Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate crafted hundreds of decorations for the residents.
Pupils at Outwood Primary Academy Lofthouse Gate crafted hundreds of decorations for the residents.

Paula Mathery, Manager of Ashby Lodge, said: “What an outstanding lot of work that has been put into our boxes, sent not only for the residents but for the staff too.

“The residents have been so overjoyed going through the boxes and seeing what the children have handmade, a lot of which have been added to our Christmas trees and part of our Christmas decor.

“It is such a joy knowing that at this very difficult time we are thought about from our community and children. The staff were also overjoyed with the gifts that were brought in for us.

“Thank you and well done to all the children and staff at Lofthouse Gate Outwood Primary academy.”

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