At 11am in the main lounge of Fernlea care home in Hazel Grove, a sing-song is underway. While older residents sit in comfortable chairs, toddlers on the floor sing the loudest, performing songs like Hello Dolly and What's in the Bag. Three-year-old Nico approaches 96-year-old June with a bag of toys, and she produces a rubber duckie to his delight and squeals from the other children.
Fernlea is a care home with a difference: alongside residents, currently up to 106 years of age, sits the Fernbees nursery, with children from six months old who regularly visit for tea breaks or lunch. The two communities mix in an intergenerational model that has won praise from care users and the wider industry.
A Family Project from a Former Waste Site
Fernlea was opened by the Claffey family in 2014, transforming a former council household waste site on Torkington Road into a purpose-built residential care home. In 2022, they converted listed historic barn buildings on the site to create the Fernbees day nursery.
The family say they were the first in the region to introduce the intergenerational model. After the sing-song, the children and residents move to the bar area for tea, squash, and cakes. June, a former Stockport mayor, plays games with the younger children over the table.
June beams: "The whole thing is great fun. The kids behave beautifully they really do. I did wonder at first but they're just lovely."
Confidence and Connection
Beverly Cleto, the intergenerational lead on the site, says: "I think the children really gain in confidence, they go from shy to very confident. It gives the younger ones the experience of older people. You can also tell the difference in residents when they are together - most of the times the children are asking questions. They have lunch together so they're learning table manners and conversations."
Staff say the children have their "favourites" in the care home, including 92-year-old ex-headteacher David. Centre manager Louise Claffey says: "The kids all specifically ask for him - if he doesn't attend he gets told off next time they see him!" David, looking at the group of children, says: "They like coming here they really do," before quipping: "I don't know why!" He concedes: "It's good for them and it's good for me."
Shared Spaces and Facilities
Across the hallway is an intergenerational library, with children's books on lower shelves. Their artwork adorns the walls and has been used to create scatter cushions. Outside, a sign reads: "We love to live, we love to laugh."
The care home has its own cinema, where children sit on beanbags while older members use padded chairs. There is also a gym and beauty salon. The nursery sits across a courtyard from the main home, allowing residents to interact with children playing in their own playground.
The Grove restaurant on site has chefs who cook for both the nursery and care home residents, who often dine together. There are 48 residents aged from 18 to 103, while the nursery has 30 children at any one time, aged from six months to five years.
Three Generations of Family Business
A third generation of the Claffey family now runs the business, which also operates other homes across the north west as Olea Care Group. Laura Claffey, 52, is director of the site, while daughter Louise, 28, is also part of the business. Helen, Laura's mother, started it all and retired this year.
The organisation won two titles at the national Family Business of the Year Awards in London and was nominated for the Supreme Champion award, which recognises organisations demonstrating strong values, leadership, and commitment to people and communities.
Laura says feedback from parents is fantastic: "On parents evening the stories we hear is that the kids go home and are talking all about the older residents. It really helps them to have different conversations and they're always seeking knowledge."
Louise says the nursery was an obvious choice given her own childhood spent around the homes: "Ever since I was a child I've always been around here. We used to go round with the cleaners helping out and meeting all the residents so it's always just been a part of my life."
They were inspired after seeing a Channel 4 programme about a similar project. Louise says: "It got us reflecting about our experience, and we had a listed area of the building here we had never been quite sure what to do with. We reflected on how it benefitted us as kids, and how it could benefit others. It's only a small nursery, it's on the same site, they are separate so they are not mixing all the time. They have their own playground, but residents can come out in the courtyard have a brew and chat through the fence, they can chat all the time if they want. The children will go and have lunch with the residents on a regular basis, there's song and rhyme time, crafts, multiple times a week. It's really lovely because you can see them connect with each other. They wait for specific residents - if they haven't come they demand to know why! It's a lovely nursery just by itself, but I think it's a little something more when we have the inter-generational activity. Many people nowadays maybe their own grandparents aren't around or they live far away. We've had feedback from parents that they've seen their children are growing in confidence and that's lovely."
The residential care home has residents from 18 up to 106 with varying levels of support. Louise says: "We describe it as more of a community. There are people who require care but also people who require a more social environment." Residents can gain access via the local authority, although most are self-funded, with rates from £1,650 per week depending on the level of care required.
Winning the awards was "a lovely send off for Helen", says Louise. "She's one of those people she loves to care for people, she ran with it for both hands it's been a natural." Director Gary Claffey added: "We are absolutely delighted and incredibly proud to receive these awards. They are a real testament to the dedication, passion and hard work of our entire team. Being recognised not only regionally, but also within the Health & Welfare sector—and as runners-up for the Supreme Champion Award—is a huge honour." He added: "As a family business, our people are at the heart of everything we do, and this achievement belongs to every individual who contributes to making our organisation what it is."
