SKITTLES, cookery and singing were all on the menu when students visited a Dorchester care home.

Students from Year Eight at Sunninghill Preparatory School visited Care South’s Maiden Castle House care home as part of this year’s National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People Challenge.

The idea is to encourage the community to get involved with their care homes and for the residents to try something new.

The group got involved in a cookery class, arts and crafts, board games and jigsaws, flower arranging and floor games, including skittles. Residents and pupils got to know each another, with residents entertaining pupils with stories from their pasts, including one resident’s career as a sixties fashion model and a travel writer in Egypt.

After lunch, pupils and residents enjoyed a concert by guitarist and singer, Chris Pearson. Residents, staff and pupils sang and danced along to a variety of music – from the 1920s to the present day.

Home manager Neil Dominy said: “It was wonderful to have the students to visit – our residents loved it. We’re hoping to form a partnership with the school to make the visits a regular occurrence.”

He added: “When we sat down with the pupils at the end of the day, they told us they now have a much better understanding of life in a care home.

“They seemed to have really enjoyed themselves and were impressed at how hard we work to provide a programme of activities for our residents that will ensure they have the best experiences.”