RESIDENTS of a Trowbridge care home for people with learning disabilities have been exploring new ways to think about those close to them.

With the help of students from Wiltshire College, residents at Sanctuary Supported Living’s (SSL) Shaftesbury Court, in Manor Close, have been producing family trees of the most important people in their lives.

Each resident has added individual decorations to their paper cut-out trees with the names of someone close to them.

These trees have been put on display in the home’s communal area, surrounding a much larger shrub, on which residents and staff alike have shared some of their fondest memories, from trips to Disneyland to holidays with family.

SSL local service manager Samantha McCrindle said: “We’ve had such a great success since we first invited the students to undertake a placement with us.

“They’ve really captured the attention and enthusiasm of our residents with the family tree idea; it’s wonderful to see them share a bit more of themselves through exercises like this.”

The activity is the latest in a range of projects organised by the college students, who are studying health and social care at the Trowbridge campus.

As part of their course, six students are currently visiting the home on a regular basis, spending two days a week with residents planning and running activities they are both suited to and enjoy.

Sanctuary Supported Living residents play a key role in the development of their service, helping to shape events and activities.