AN APPEAL has been launched to help save a project bringing nursery children and care home residents together.

In September, Llanyrafon Court Care Home teamed up with Llanyrafon Nursery and Play Group to host sessions allowing children to visit elderly people.

The project aimed to get the residents of the home more active by playing games and interacting with children and received positive feedback for helping to improve residents' welfare.

The Cwmbran nursery has now launched a fundraising appeal to raise £2,000 to help the scheme continue for another year, raising £230 towards their goal so far.

Nursery assistant Mandy Tottle said the nursery’s current funding comes to an end this month and the £2,000 would help to employ an extra member of staff to support the youngsters’ bi-weekly visits to the Cwmbran care home.

“It’s important because everyone gets old and it’s going to effect every family at some point,” she said.

“I lost my dad to dementia myself this year and the scheme is all about the benefits for the children and residents.

“We’re so passionate about keeping it going and it’s never going to stop.”

The project also received royal approval earlier this year with the Queen passing on her praise after receiving a letter from the granddaughter of one of the care home residents.

The reply, from the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, said she was glad the scheme was “proving to be so successful and beneficial”.

Activities coordinator for Llanyrafon Court Glynis Pope came up with the idea for the scheme to help a resident who didn’t want to get involved in home activities.

She said: "It's an extremely important scheme and you really have to be there to see how it benefits the residents.

"The children are non judgemental and the residents' faces just light up. They're introduced as nannies and grandads.

"It's lovely to watch and great for kids as they learn respect for old people. They're no different, just at the other end of the age spectrum."

To help, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/llanyravonnurseryandplaygroup