Pledging Kindness: Thornton Primary’s Newest Dementia Ambassadors

As part of our ongoing Intergenerational Linking programme, we have been working with the children at Thornton Primary School to support them in becoming ‘Dementia Ambassadors’. 

Dementia can be a complex and sometimes confusing topic for young people and we want to ensure that children taking part in linking with older people are confident when meeting those living with dementia.  

The journey began with a very special visit from author Mario Ambrosi. He introduced the children to his fantastic book, Scarlett Buckling and the Case of the Missing Pictures.

Mario shared his personal motivations for writing the story, explaining how he wanted to create a way for children to understand dementia through the lens of a mystery. The book served as the perfect starting point for discussion about memory and dementia. 

Our team then delivered a workshop for children designed to help children understand what dementia is and, more importantly, how they can help. The Year 6 cohort absolutely blew us away. They didn’t just listen; they engaged deeply, asking insightful questions about how to make someone feel safe, included, and heard. Their maturity and curiosity proved that you’re never too young to be a champion for others.

To end the session, children made their own ‘pledges for dementia’:

‘My pledge is to always respect those living with dementia and if I am in a situation to always choose kindness and I would love to meet people with dementia.’ 

‘My pledge is to play games and have fun with residents who have dementia because a family member of mine has dementia so I want to help other people too.’

What’s Next?

Equipped with their new knowledge and a lot of enthusiasm, the students are now looking forward to their upcoming visits to Rose Cottage Care Home. We can’t wait to see these new Ambassadors in action, putting their pledges into practice and building flourishing friendships with the residents.

If you’d like to find out more about our Intergenerational Linking programme in Bradford, click here.