Beavers, Cubs & Scouts were joined by the residents of Pendlebrook Care Home in Oswaldtwistle for their latest Zoom online meeting – a mobile zoo.

As part of the Scouts’ ‘Care for Care Homes’ initiative to combat loneliness, the 1st Clayton-le-Moors All Saints Scout Group met up online with the residents who got to watch and learn about the animals.

Beaver Scout leader, Claire Rothwell, said: “It has been amazing seeing how much the care home residents have benefitted from joining the Scout group meeting.

“The idea is to help combat loneliness and isolation during this period of lockdown, so we decided to take things a step further and involve the residents in our Scout meetings.

“The children and residents thoroughly enjoyed the joint meeting and will be doing it again next week, with a sand art activity taking place on Zoom.”

The initiative was started by the Scout Association and has been encouraging Scout groups to contact their local care homes by sending in letters and photos to the residents.

The home said it would be an “ideal opportunity” to do something which could be enjoyed by both children and adults to bring the generations together.

A 97-year-old resident was “beaming from ear to ear” and said the online meetup was “absolutely wonderful”.

She added: “I am so happy seeing the children and animals and feeling part of the group.”