Students at Thomas Ashton School in Hyde now have their artwork on display in a popular Glossop bakery.

Thomas Ashton is a specialist school for children with social, emotional or mental health needs. The school has stayed open throughout Covid-19, but ‘even the pandemic hasn’t stopped them’ from getting creative.

A group of Year 8 students, led by their teacher Kim Riley, took their cameras into Glossop to photograph landmarks in the area. 

The town hall clock and Manor Park feature in the finished artwork which now hangs in the Panaderia café.

The café is also selling postcard size photos created by the pupils with all the proceeds going to charity Reuben’s Retreat.

Kim added: “We actually replaced the photos with newer ones this year. It’s funny because the first set seem to reflect the mood of the pandemic, while this second set is far more vibrant and colourful.

“It was really good for the boys to get out as much as they could and the work they’ve done goes toward their arts award.”

The Thomas Ashton School also enjoys a close relationship with the Lakes Nursing Home in Dukinfield and has done for seven years.

Before Covid-19 restrictions, students would go to the home every half-term and help the dementia residents to create art using sponges or stencils.

Kim explained: “The pandemic made it impossible to work with the residents in the same way, but we did Facetime over the phone and even had a Love Actually moment, holding up signs at the window.

“Intergenerational projects are really important to us. At Christmas, we put up a greenscreen and take photos of the residents before editing Lapland into the back of them, they’re then handed out as Christmas cards.

“We also did a ‘Words of Wisdom’ project, where elderly residents could write down messages they’d give to younger people and the students could write down things they’d want older people to know.

“But we really can’t wait to get back to visiting the nursing home or having the residents visit us.”

The school went on to extend a huge thank you to Tracy Hannible and Beth Winter, the activity leads at Lakes Nursing Home, for continuing to find ways to stay in touch despite pandemic restrictions.