Hatch End High School ended the new year with their annual festive concert for the elderly. Various care centres across the Harrow community were invited to celebrate Christmas and the new year with members of the school in an end of year celebration.
The concert is an opportunity for students to get involved with the community and get into the festive mood. Those involved took the opportunity to wear festive attire, including Santa hats and Christmas jumpers. One member of staff even dressed up as father Christmas to amuse the visitors.
The school's music students performed a range of songs including some film classics and Christmas carols to entertain the elderly visitors. The guests sat round tables with students sharing experiences and laughter while listening to festive music. There was also an opportunity to enter a raffle and play bingo between performances to keep guests entertained.
Many of those living in care homes will not have the opportunity to go out and see people around Christmas time. Age UK predicts that around 1.2 million elderly people feel loneliness around the end of the year with 2/5 of this figure being widowed individuals.
Those invited to the event live in care homes 24/7 and most will have few visitors over the festive period. It is therefore important that communities provide opportunities for them to be included at Christmas and the new year.
One student commented, "I feel really proud to be a part of this because no one should be alone at Christmas."
Cllr Kareema Marikar, the Mayor of Harrow, also made a surprise visit to celebrate the event. "It is wonderful to come together like this and support our diverse community," She said.
The evening proved to be greatly entertaining and allowed all members of the school to get involved. Music students were able to show off their playing, catering students provided delicious food and art students made beautiful decorations for guests to take home.
It is an excellent way for both young and old to communicate and bring joy to each other. It was a wonderful way to end the year and one step closer to ending loneliness in the community.
