A group of schoolchildren from Sittingbourne have spread Christmas joy and tackle loneliness by becoming pen pals with care home residents.

Year 6 pupils from Milton Court Academy hand delivered festive cards to elderly people in the town, as well as promising to continue to write to those who may be feeling alone and isolated due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Children from the Brewery Road school visited Court Regis, Hanningfield and Blair Park care homes and Cartref Homes mental health facility last Monday. They sang some carols before handing over the handwritten cards with festive messages inside in the hope it will “lift their spirits”.

Head teacher Ben Clark said: “Milton Court’s festive community programme is a wonderful example of what we can do as a community; identify those in need, work together to provide a solution and spread much needed support and joy throughout our community.

“This is something the school has been doing for more than 170 years, and we are proud to continue this fine tradition.”

The school has agreed to set up a pen pal scheme between the youngsters and some residents who will be able to write back to the child who gave them a card.

“This will then continue throughout the following year and beyond,” Mr Clark added.

“This will not only help the children develop their English skills, but it will also provide much needed companionship for the residents during Christmas and beyond.”

The school has also been working with Asda Sittingbourne on making donations of cards and biscuits which can be taken and given to the care home residents.

Mr Clark explained the thought behind the gesture was to help lift spirits in and around the community, build awareness of loneliness and give others encouragement for helping those living in a care home.

Staff and residents at the care homes were delighted with the gifts and cards they received.

A spokesman for Blair Park in Crown Road said: “We couldn’t have been happier with the generosity of the children.

“The cards look amazing, we thank them for their kindness to the care home.”

The children have also been doing other things to raise money for charity as part of the school's festive community programme.

In November they raised just under £400 for the Kent Young Carers by holding a rulebreakers day where children were allowed to break as many rules as they wanted for £1.

The youngsters dressed up in their own clothes, crazy and colourful hair and not doing their homework.

The pupils also helped create more than a dozen hampers for Swale Foodbank, in return for an assembly on the good work the organisation does in the community.

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