In the lead-up to Christmas, our School Council launched a charity initiative to spread festive cheer to elderly residents in local care homes. Families were invited to donate small, thoughtful gifts, with the aim of bringing comfort and connection to those who may feel particularly isolated at this time of year.
The response from our community was incredibly generous, with a wonderful number of donations reflecting the kindness and compassion at the heart of Richmond House School.
We were delighted to donate a box of gifts to the charity OWLS, an organisation dedicated to reducing loneliness and social isolation among older people in Burley, Hyde Park, Little Woodhouse, Headingley and Kirkstall. OWLS supports seniors to remain healthy, independent and socially connected – whether through organising social events, helping with weekly shopping, or simply offering a friendly voice at the end of the phone.
The impact of the donations was shared with us by OWLS’ Volunteer Coordinator, who sent the following message:
“To all the staff, pupils and parents at Richmond House School a huge thank you for the kind donation of gifts this Christmas. As there were so many treats, we decided to gift one to each member who attended our Christmas Eve party at OWLS.
Our members gathered to celebrate the festive season with songs, a festive quiz, mince pies and a lovely cup of tea. Nobody left empty-handed thanks to you all, as they had a little gift to take home. It means the world that you thought of our charity and helped to make local older people happier.
Happy New Year, and many thanks from all at OWLS.”
We are incredibly proud of our pupils, families and staff for their generosity and for helping to make a meaningful difference within our local community.
For more information about OWLS, head to their website: https://www.owlsleeds.org
