Sandalwood Court opened their doors to pupils from Oundle School who have committed selected pupils to weekly term time visits as part of the schools Community Action Programme.   Pupils have been attending the home for several months working with residents gaining knowledge on resident’s past lives and achievements.

On Wednesday 19th May, a ‘This is your life’ presentation event was held in the home for the first four residents’ to benefit from this project with young people.

Approximately 300 pupils from Oundle School are engaged during the year in providing service in the community in Oundle and surrounding villages. Pupils work in schools, hospitals, at a local hospice, with the elderly and infirm in residential homes. They are happy to cover a wide area including Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Peterborough. All books for resident’s were hand written by the pupils; who included pictures and hand drawn sketches detailing the achievements and lives of the resident they had been working with.

Sandalwood care home accommodates up to 60 elderly residents and is a bright vibrant purpose built facility.  Manager Paula Dutton commented, “It is extremely important to integrate with the local community.  Encouraging interaction with groups of young people has been welcomed by our residents and their families. It has been truly invigorating watching the pupils interact so well with elderly people”.

This is the first of many presentations like this; another group of pupils will be attending the home very soon to talk with a new group of residents gaining information to write and complete more life books. Residents are able to keep and treasure the book’s. Fond relationships have formed between the pupils who were so keen to learn of life long ago. Any local organisation wishing to become involved in the Oundle School Community Action Programme please contact Nick Turnbull or Liz Dillarstone on 01832 277267 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Pictured top right are: Francis Denny with resident Iris Bennet and her friend.

Middle: Zoe Rice with Mary Burr

Bottom: William (Bill) Lawrence, Faiz Roslan, Hazel Hadian, Marie Wedge, Zoe Rice,  Mary Burr, Frances Denny  & Iris Bennett