A GROUP of Cub Scouts have shared their enthusiasm with residents at a Winchester dementia care home.

Fourteen visitors from the 12th Winchester (Royal Green Jacket) Scout Group were welcomed as special guests at Colten Care’s St Catherine’s View care home, on Stanmore Lane.

Timed to coincide with the birthday of Scouts movement founder Lord Baden Powell the visit, on Wednesday, February 22, prompted smiles and conversations all around as the children showed off their badges and what they need to do to achieve awards. There were also campfire songs, a recreation of the Scout Promise, a demonstration of Scout hand signals and a talk about Baden Powell and the founding of the movement.

Hampshire Chronicle: St Catherines View residents Moira Pullen, seated, and Gillian Swaby enjoy meeting their visitors from the 12th Winchester Scout Group (credit: Colten Care)St Catherines View residents Moira Pullen, seated, and Gillian Swaby enjoy meeting their visitors from the 12th Winchester Scout Group (credit: Colten Care) (Image: Colten Care)Resident Maggie Green said: “They were amazing and so friendly. It was great to hear what they have to do in the Scouts.”

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Fellow resident Denise Howard agreed, saying she hoped the scouts would be asked back.

The visit was organised by Laura Sheldrake, companionship team leader at the care home.

Laura said: “The Cubs came well equipped with pictures, information, books and their campfire blanket. Everyone joined in with the songs and trying out the hand actions.

“The interaction with our residents was a joy to see. Residents were all so engaged and enjoyed every minute.

Hampshire Chronicle: St Catherines View resident Madge Goodman with young visitors (credit: Colten Care)St Catherines View resident Madge Goodman with young visitors (credit: Colten Care) (Image: Colten Care)“Intergenerational activities like this are so valuable as they bring out the best in everyone.

“Enabling residents to maintain and strengthen contact with the community, especially across the generations, is part and parcel of what we do and we are arranging for the Scouts to come back on a regular basis.”

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Scout group spokesperson Stacey Burrage said: “We had a fabulous and informative evening visiting St Catherine’s View to celebrate founders’ day. Our club were a little apprehensive at first but soon settled into the swing of things, talking to residents about their uniform, badges and favourite activities.”

She continued: “We are very much looking forward to visiting St Catherine’s View again soon and welcoming a few of the residents to our scout hut for tea and cake, continuing to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations.”

Formed just over a century ago in 1921, the 12th Winchester is the oldest continually operating Scout group in Winchester. Its Royal Green Jacket military affiliation was officially begun in 1943 to recognise fundraising that the group did for the regiment’s prisoners of war fund.