Cirencester Elm Grove Bupa Care Home ignite a Flat Stanley tour

Elm Grove Bupa Care Home residents in Cirencester created a paper cut out of the iconic Flat Stanley character which they sent to other care homes in the area with a hope to build community spirit between the neighbouring homes.

Flat Stanley is an American children's book series written by author Jeff Brown, who came up with the character after his son joked that he thought the bulletin board over his bed would fall on him and flatten him in his sleep.

Flat Stanley's adventure board (Image: Elm Grove Bupa Care Home)

In the books the beloved character discovers that he is able to enter locked rooms by sliding under the door and embarks on many adventures.

Many care homes have been mapping his journey through taking fun photos throughout his travels, sparking joy for the residents keenly following his adventure.

This was organised by activity co-ordinator Katherine Reynolds who designed the tour after residents expressed their enthusiasm for the Flat Stanley books from their childhood.

Katherine said: “My family introduced me to the story about Flat Stanley several years ago, my children loved the story.

"Schools in the USA sent cut outs of Stanley to other schools to build community spirit so I thought it would be great to do this with local care homes.

"We have all had a brilliant time and it has been great to follow Flat Stanley on his journey across the country.”

The quirky paper cut out was sent with a letter explaining his adventure, complete with a cut out of his paper passport, an egg sandwich, and milk in a tin.

One resident, Jacqueline Shepherd, aged 88, said: “We have all had great fun watching where Flat Stanley has gone on his travels to different care homes.

"I loved reading Flat Stanley to my own children, so it has brought back lots of wonderful memories.

"It is lovely to get updates on where he has gone and hope he is bringing as much joy to others as he has to me!”