Covid brought difficult and strenuous times to most households. Families were trapped indoors together, and relationships were put to the test. As everyone gradually became isolated and cut off from life as they knew it, people who were at risk from becoming lonely were often forgotten. Stepping into the care home for our school enrichment, which was usually a time I dreaded and saw as totally pointless, was purely a time to indulge in conversation totally separate from school life.

Covid limited conversation topics to either the news or work life. This becomes tiresome and exhausting when you have the same conversations with the same people. Talking to those who have so many stories, and possibly not that many people to tell it to is humbling. Hearing how as a community they struggled and battled through Covid is astonishing and commendable. When we visit, we predominantly play games, such as darts or cards, and then just chat. Chatting purely for the sake of having a chat. During Covid many people of all ages and backgrounds became wary of interacting and meeting others socially, for fear of contracting the deadly disease that halted the world. It is marvellous that at this care home, filled with the most vulnerable people in our community, this quality of having a chat was not lost and was kept alive.

I can’t remember why I signed up for the care home. There were lots of choices and other things I could have done in that two-hour slot. Maybe I signed up as it's a trip out of school, maybe for the cups of tea or the overload of biscuits every week. All of us signed up for various different reasons but regardless we thoroughly enjoy being there, “I really enjoy visiting the care home, everyone is so friendly and cheerful. It is wonderful to see everyone so happy and optimistic even though Covid has presented struggles, the ladies and gentlemen definitely have a close bond.” (Quote – Lara Samme).