Positive connections
The pupils at Denamona Primary School in Fintona have been very busy over the past few weeks, hand making beautiful Christmas cards to post out to older people in their local community.
The initiative is being supported by the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) Older People’s Team based at the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex to help young people connect with the older generation in their communities.
Social worker, Nicola McCauley, Older People’s Team at the Western Trust, said: ‘We are very thankful to the staff and pupils at Denamona Primary School, who have embraced this wonderful initiative.
‘It’s very important that young people make positive connections with the older generations. The beautiful handmade Christmas cards with a message from pupils will be posted out to 100 service users who receive domiciliary care in the Fintona area and I’m sure this small gesture will bring a huge smile to those who receive them from their postman in the coming weeks!’
Janet Burke, principal of Denamona Primary School, said: ‘This is a wonderful project for the school to get involved in. We believe that the school is at the heart of the community and this a lovely way for our children to engage with older people.
‘The key message for our children is sometimes we get so caught up in the busy-ness of Christmas that we forget to see the real meaning and this small act of kindness is an important way for all of us to reflect and connect with the older generation at this special time of year.’
Omagh delivery office manager, Paul Devlin, said: ‘I’m delighted that the teachers and children in Denamona Primary School are making the effort to firstly, produce handmade Christmas cards and then post them to our elderly customers in the Fintona area using our service.
‘Our delivery colleagues are very proud of the service we provide all year round and it’s especially true that everyone likes to receive a Christmas card during the festive period.
‘Our people can be a vital lifeline in these rural areas as our elderly customers may not have any other visitors apart from the postman. So, a massive thanks to the Western Trust and the staff and pupils in Denamona Primary School for making such an amazing gesture, which I’m sure will bring joy to those fortunate enough to receive one of these very special Christmas cards.’
