Sending hugs

Youngsters at a local childminding service are sending hugs to residents at Roseleigh to help tide them over until they can get the real thing from their loved ones.

From 8^th March, residents at Roseleigh will be able to receive one visitor and hold hands with them, as part of the Government’s cautious easing of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Hugging loved ones is not yet permitted so working with Little Tinks, a childminding service in Acklam, we came up with the next best thing – homemade cards with hugs on them.

Roseleigh Manager Rachel Lowery, whose children Farah, aged one, and Rosie, aged two, both go to Little Tinks, said: “It was fantastic news when we discovered that after almost a year, we will finally be able to welcome families back into the home again.

“Being able to hold the hands of loved ones is going to make such a massive difference to the residents, although we understand the reasons why even closer contact will not be permitted just yet.

“So as Farah and Rosie go to Little Tinks, we thought that the next best thing would be for the children to make cards for the residents with little hugs on them.

“The children have done an amazing job with the cards and the residents were so happy to receive them.

“Now they are looking forward even more to being able to hug their loved ones and hopefully this will be able to happen very soon.”

Each card contained the following message:

Here’s a little hug for you,

To make you smile when you feel blue,

To make you happy when you feel sad,

The littlest hug you’ve ever had,

But when its time to hug once more,

There are lots more hugs for you in store.

Helen Llewellyn, who runs Little Tinks, said: “So many of the children at Little Tinks have only been able to see their grandparents through a window, or in a garden, or talk to them on the phone, so I thought it would be nice to do something for the residents at Roseleigh, many of whom will be in the same position.

“The children did a fantastic job with the cards and I am delighted they have been so well received by the residents.”

The Government announced this week that from 8^th March, residents in care homes in England will be able to choose one person to be admitted inside for regular visits. Visitors will be allowed to hold hands, with tests required before entry and personal protective equipment be worn.

Roseleigh, along with its sister care home Longlands, also in Middlesbrough, is now busy making the arrangements which will allow the visits to happen safely. Both homes also have special visitor pods which enable families to see and speak to their loved ones via a glass partition.