New Hall School bringing generations together through Silver Stories initiative
New Hall School in Chelmsford, Essex is proud to be supporting the Silver Stories programme, an initiative connecting young readers with elderly individuals through weekly story-sharing phone calls.
By pairing pupils with ‘Silver Listeners,’ the programme aims to combat loneliness and isolation among older people while fostering intergenerational relationships and enhancing pupils’ reading experiences.
New Hall’s Year 5 Silver Readers celebrated a significant milestone this half term, earning their ‘Silver Stories Achievement 10’ certificate for successfully completing ten reading sessions. The initiative has proven to be a meaningful experience for both the pupils and their Silver Listeners.
“Silver Stories is a special time in my week,” said Judith, a Silver Listener.
“The Silver Stories programme embodies the values we instil in our pupils; kindness, empathy, and a sense of community,” said Andrew Fardell, Deputy Principal at New Hall School. “It is wonderful to see our pupils making a real difference in the lives of others while developing their own confidence and reading skills.”
At New Hall, a special value is placed on community, and this is lived out in the actions of the volunteers who take part in the award-winning New Hall Voluntary Service (NHVS). Founded in 1978, this thriving programme has been providing support to vulnerable members of the local community for over 45 years. Students, staff and parents volunteer weekly in eight action groups, hosting elderly guests and adults with learning disabilities onsite and tutoring local primary school children, and supporting local allotments offsite.
Building on the success of the Silver Stories programme, New Hall School is excited to announce the launch of its afternoon Silver Stories club next term, pairing pupils with guests from NHVS, who will also become Silver Listeners. Volunteering for NHVS promotes an enduring community spirit, nurtures responsible citizenship and encourages students to develop confidence, leadership and teamwork skills.
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- New Hall School is a leading independent boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 1-19.
- New Hall School is coeducational, using the diamond model.
- New Hall has a stunning campus in the countryside surrounding the city of Chelmsford, just 30 minutes by train from London, which is dominated by the magnificent former Tudor palace of Beaulieu. Approached from a mile-long tree-lined avenue, the main building is Grade I listed, and the grounds and avenue of trees are also a listed historic park and garden. New Hall is ranked by English Heritage in the top 2% of heritage buildings in the country. The estate was formally owned by Sir Thomas Boleyn, father of Anne Boleyn; King Henry VIII acquired it in 1517 and built the first of his great palaces, Beaulieu, on which Hampton Court was modelled.
- Beaulieu Park Station opens at New Hall’s entrance in 2025 with access to London Liverpool Street (35 minutes).