Firm friendships between a group of toddlers and care home residents in Arnold have been formed following the launch of a pioneering new project.

The Golden Eagles project, which launched recently in the town, aims to bridge the generational gap between seniors and children under five by bringing them together for a joint playtime each week.

The under fives, along with their parents or carers, enjoy a variety of activities with the senior citizens which are designed to encourage interaction between the two groups.

These include craft, gardening, puppetry, art, stories and songs.

So far residents at Coppice Lodge Care Home, The Manor Residential Home and the friendship club for the over 60s at Together@Arnold have all benefited from the new playgroups.

The scheme was recently launched in the town after funding was made available from the National Lottery Community Fund and is being run by Fledglings baby and toddler group, who are based at Eagle’s Nest Church.

Co-ordinator of the friendship club Together@Arnold, Kim Butler, is excited by how the project is benefiting her group.

“The children and seniors interact so well,” she said.

“The older generation helping the younger. They all join in singing time and the seniors are probably more active than they have been in a long time.”

Catherine Goddard, regional lifestyle manager at Ideal Carehomes, operator of Coppice Lodge said: “We’re thrilled to be a part of the Golden Eagles project. It’s important that residents living at Coppice Lodge are able to interact with people of all ages and we know that they really do get so much out of the children’s visits.

“There’s a real aura of happiness around the home after the visits with the residents spending a long time chatting about the children and the time they’ve spent with them. 

“Our home takes its role at the heart of Arnold very seriously and initiatives such as this, from Eagle’s Nest Church, demonstrate the positive impact that this type of community collaboration can bring.”

More details about the scheme can be found at www.eaglesnest.org.uk.

A teenager from Arnold could be recognised for her volunteer work at an award ceremony shining the spotlight on Nottinghamshire’s inspirational young people.

14-year-old Naomi Maclaren has been nominated for this year’s 4Uth awards, organised by Nottinghamshire County Council.

Naomi began volunteering when she was just 13, making a choice to give her time and skills to the community.

Organisers say ‘she has been nominated for being mature beyond her years and making significant steps in her skills and ability to teach performing arts.’

The closing date for nominations is tomorrow (Friday, June 21) with nominations already coming in thick and fast from youth leaders, teachers , family members and peers.

Councillor Philip Owen, the county council’s chairman of the Children and Young People’s committee, said: “We have already been receiving nominations that are truly inspirational and reflect the community spirit and selfless efforts of so many young people from every part of the county.

“The 4Uth awards are a celebration of young people and how they can make a real difference, whether it is a young person caring for people around them, their work on community projects or their volunteering efforts.”

A judging panel made up of the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, the chairman of the Young People’s Board and other senior county council officers will select an overall winner to be unveiled at an Awards evening at County Hall on Friday, 22 November. District winners will be announced in early September.

Council leader, Councillor Kay Cutts said:“The 4Uth awards are a wonderful way to highlight how many of our young people across the county are triumphing over adversity. 

“There is still time to make a young person’s day and shine a spotlight on their special achievements.”

Read more about the awards by visiting www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/4uth 

A former caterer from Gedling has set up a new business offering classes designed to teach the borough’s youngsters that cooking healthy food can be easy, tasty and affordable.

Nottinghamshire Cookery School has been set up by Naomi Woodfield and offers fun interactive cooking classes at schools and also privately.

They are designed to inspire youngsters to become interested and passionate about nutritious foods and to support them in making healthier food choices, as well as giving them the kind of cooking skills that will set them up for life.

The sessions are aimed at 3-19 year olds and parents and schools in the area are already signing up so their children can take part.

Naomi thinks classes like this are essential as these important life skills are no longer being taught to children in schools or their homes.

She said: “Successive changes to the education system have wrought devastation on pupils’ ability to make a life for themselves.

“With all of the emphasis given to SATS, GCSE, targets and academic respectability, life skills are losing out.

“With the emphasis on academic respectability, practical subjects are being devalued.

“In the past, girls used to be taught life skills in the home by their mothers, who didn’t have to go out to work to supplement the family income. Boys who wanted to go into practical jobs would be taught woodwork and metalwork at school. Technical colleges would supplement apprenticeships to give our plumbers, engineers etc the skills that they needed.

“Now, with women needing and demanding to have jobs, home life has suffered. Old domestic habits are disappearing. Life for adults revolves around work and children have become the targets for advertising.

“Convenience is the order of the day: ready meals for the adults and snacks for the kids. Evening meals, with the family seated around the table, are a thing of the past.”

School should be much more than an academic factory for turning out winners and losers. It should adopt a holistic approach to education that includes health and well-being as a foundation stone for future personal growth. Mealtimes and ‘breaks’ should be given the same consideration as the rest of the curriculum. The school cook and her staff should be given the same respect as the teachers.

Naomi added: “My ambition is twofold: I want to create a situation where children enjoy school meals and are encouraged to abandon unhealthy snacking in favour of balanced and unfussy food and enable parents to support their children’s development by providing out-of-school cookery workshops.”

More details about the wide range of classes on offer can be found at Naomi’s website: https://www.nottinghamshirecookeryschool.co.uk