Posted on: 14/05/2020
Generations connect through art and kindness
Since it was announced that schools would be closed for a number of weeks, students at Amery Hill School expressed an interest to be able to help their community, especially those who are vulnerable. Year 8 students had already been forging a relationship with care homes across Alton as part of the ‘Access All Ages’ lottery funded project before the current crisis hit. As schools closed their doors to the majority of students, Miss Rachel Stobbart, Head of Religious Studies at Amery Hill School contacted a number of residential homes and care providers in Alton and asked if their residents might like to receive correspondence from our students.
Talking about the project, Miss Stobbart, commented, “We had an overwhelmingly positive response and our students were encouraged to send a letter, poem, story or piece of artwork to a resident living in a care home or being looked after by a care provider. Even if each of us wrote just one note to let someone know we are thinking of them, what a huge difference that could make. Students across all year groups have participated and we have had some lovely feedback from grateful residents.”
An incredible number of pieces of artwork have been created, with over 200 pieces alone being sent off by students in Years 7-9. Zoe Swan, a student in Year 10, painted and wrote a card for the residents of Borovere Residential Care Home. Zoe (photo above) was delighted to have received a wonderful letter of thanks from Borovere resident Mrs Janet Egan. Amery Hill’s Head of Art, Miss Sarah Burrell added “We are incredibly proud of our students. Their kindness, thoughtfulness and creative talent has brought a smile to many people’s faces, including our own. It has been such a rewarding and uplifting project.”
Another student Beth Turk sent this message and artwork to Brendoncare’s residents.
Hello, my name is Beth Turk, and I am a student at Amery Hill School.
I wanted to share with you my newest art project inspired by the work of the artist Emily Blincoe. I took old and new nuts, bolts and washers from my garage. The old ones are all from a 1965 Triumph motor bike that my dad and I are restoring. I designed the picture to have an ombre effect, with the old in the lower left corner going up to the new in the upper right corner. To me it represents how we are all going through quarantine and the coronavirus situation together, and how both the older and newer (younger) people are both at risk, but are working together to help each other out.
My family and I are thinking of you at this time.View Article 
