A PROJECT which was set up for children to engage with residents from care homes has been nominated twice for a Worcestershire Education Award.

Owner of Debutots Worcestershire Kirsten Reeves has been nominated for the Community Involvement Award.

Mrs Reeves said: “I am thrilled and so excited to hear that I have been nominated for this particular award; bringing the local community together is at the heart of everything I do and I am incredibly passionate about the benefits of intergenerational activities for all involved.

“I am proud to see that my project ‘Joining Generations With Imagination’ is continuing to make such a positive impact on so many lives by improving wellbeing and most importantly that it is also responsible for encouraging and nurturing the most wonderful relationships between the children and their ‘grown up friends’, the residents.”

Jo Curtis, who nominated Mrs Reeves, said: “Kirsten does an amazing job in capturing the attention of children and adults alike. Moods, days and hope is changed and built during these sessions. It’s beautiful to watch.

She added: “My son has blossomed as he has interacted with the elderly during music sessions.

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“My joy at watching him interact with the elderly and watching them enjoy him too has been wonderful.

“It’s bringing them back into community.”

Ms Curtis said that every home and sheltered accommodation ‘needs a Debutots.’

Tamsin Hughes also nominated Mrs Reeves. She said: “She works brilliantly and runs at least 25 all age storytelling sessions across care homes in Worcester.

“The residents in local care homes just gain so much from interacting with the under 5s. It brings life to the home, variety and genuine care when they interact with the children. They glow when we leave.

“As well as benefitting the care home residents it benefits the children by interacting with elderly folks."

Ms Hughes said Kirsten has a ‘brilliant’ way with the children and residents, a way to make everyone feel involved and included.

The education awards ceremony was due to take place on June 20.

An announcement on whether the gala will take place will be published in due course.