Generations unite for wildlife: Charlton Rainbows bring sunshine, crafts, and cakes to Brackley Care Home
There was an abundance of smiles, creativity, and community spirit at Brackley Care Home recently as the wonderful local “Charlton Rainbows” dropped by for a very special intergenerational visit. The young girls spent the afternoon working alongside residents to craft beautiful, practical items designed to support local wildlife both in the care home’s garden and their own backyards.
The Rainbows were guided by their dedicated group leader, Rhiannon, and were also joined by 13-year-old Emily, who is currently volunteering with the group as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Crafting for Nature
The busy afternoon kicked off with the children making butterfly feeding stations. Showing great artistic flair, the Rainbows decorated the undersides of the feeding dishes so that their colourful pictures could be admired from below once hung up. After threading string through four pre-drilled holes, the children placed a piece of cloth soaked in sugar water along with fresh fruit onto each plate—a perfect sweet treat for local butterflies.
Next, the focus turned to our feathered friends. Rhiannon had thoughtfully pre-prepared plates and saucers with holes for hanging. Using a strong Evo-Stik glue, the children meticulously secured matching cups to the plates and saucers to create charming, upcycled bird feeders. To add a final touch of whimsy, the hanging strings were decorated with vibrant beads. The end results were truly lovely and will make a wonderful addition to the trees outside.
Heart-warming Connections
Beyond the crafting, the afternoon was defined by the beautiful bonds formed between the different generations. Brackley resident Jean spent a quiet moment reading with one of the Rainbows, a heart-warming interaction that left a lasting impression.
“My heart is so full,” Jean said afterward. “I really enjoyed sharing reading time with my new little friend.”
As if the crafting and companionship weren't enough, Rhiannon surprised everyone with a batch of beautifully decorated, freshly made butterfly cupcakes. The children were incredibly excited to serve the treats to the residents themselves. Resident Daphne expressed the thoughts of everyone in the room, saying: “Thank you so much for the wonderful cupcakes—they tasted as good as they looked!”
A Lesson in Budgeting
To show their deep gratitude for the Rainbows giving up their afternoon, the team at Brackley Care Home presented the troop with a Hobbycraft voucher to fund future crafting adventures.
Accepting the gift, group leader Rhiannon noted how timely the gesture was. “Thank you very much for your very generous donation," she said. "The Rainbows have been learning about money and budgeting lately, so this will be a great opportunity for them to develop those skills and spend this voucher wisely.”
The afternoon proved to be a spectacular reminder of the joy that comes from connecting young and old, all while doing a little bit of good for Mother Nature.