Millfield student leads local care home support network

Millfield student Eloise Whitehouse has created a support network for 68 residents at four local care homes in Somerset who are in lockdown due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Thirteen-year-old Eloise from Keinton Mandeville is helping to co-ordinate messages and activities for residents in The Tudors in Glastonbury, Beech Tree House in Keinton Mandeville, Avalon Court in Butleigh, and Friarn House in Bridgwater.

The Millfield Year 9 student has organised over 30 messages of support for local residents from Millfield students sent from over 10 different countries so far. Eloise has also created activities including arts and crafts, quizzes and short musical performances by herself and her school friends, as well as donating books and art materials. Residents at the care homes include former Millfield Grounds and Gardens staff, as well as former Houseparents from the school.

Millfield School in Street is working with local councils and the Salvation Army to become a delivery hub, as well as developing several systems for the management and delivery of prescriptions, as well as setting up community support links and donating and distributing more than £2,500 worth of food. More than 100 volunteers from the Millfield community have signed up for the initiative, which includes students, staff, parents and former pupils of the school.

Eloise’s mother Estelle, who owns and works in the care homes, says, “Whilst Eloise has grown up knowing nothing else but our work with the elderly, I am immensely proud of her and her efforts to make this time more bearable for those we care for. Whilst they cannot see their regular visitors at the moment, the work that Eloise has been doing in coordinating messages for them in the last few weeks is making a huge difference. I could never truly show our gratitude but to those who have recorded messages, from the bottom of our hearts and on behalf of our lovely residents, thank you all so very much.”