Rising stars of social media and Cumbrian natives, the ‘Four Little Farm Boys’ have inspired their Cumbrian independent primary school to embark upon a ‘Summer of Kindness’. Thomas (8), Sebastian (7), Jacob (6) and Henry (2) have been undertaking random acts of kindness for almost a year now throughout lockdowns and home schooling.
Initially mum, Amy, simply wanted to stay connected to friends and family both near and far by doing something nice for them – despite travel bans and social distancing. However the family’s efforts have now led the boys’ school, Hunter Hall in Penrith, to create a Lower School-wide ‘Summer of Kindness’.
Head of Early Years Foundation Stage, Georgina Griffiths commented:
“We have been so inspired by the ‘Four Little Farm Boys’ acts of kindness over the past 12 months, that we have decided to take part in our own ‘Summer of Kindness’. Over the coming week and months the children will be undertaking various act of kindness, both in school and in the local community.”
The summer kicked off this week with a huge sunflower planting session at the Four Little Farm Boys’ family farm near Carlisle. Children helped to plant 20kg of sunflower seeds in a 300m long strip ready to harvest and ‘pass on’ as final acts of kindness in September to mark the end of all their hard work and endeavours.
Other activities planned so far are many and varied: from singing to the residents of local nursing homes and planting flowers to share with church parishioners to reading stories via online platforms to hospital patients; from helping Mr Ellerton, the school caretaker, with the weeding and sending kindness cards to organising litter picks and baking tasty treats to share – the list goes on!
And the random acts don’t stop at the school gate. Each of the Lower School children aged between 3 and 7 are being encouraged to complete a ‘Kindness Passport’ – recording kind deeds at home and in their own local community.
The idea of ‘passing the kindness on’ has already struck a chord with local businesses keen to support the initiative. The children have received bags of Carrs flour ready to turn into tasty bakes, bright yellow sunglasses (ideal for planting sunflowers!) from Dodd & Co and local photographer Steve Barber donated his time as a random act of kindness to capture the children as they visited the farm.
The school would now love to hear from individuals, organisations and businesses who might like the Hunter Hall children to help them with good deeds or perhaps to nominate someone to receive a random act of kindness from the happy throng. Get in touch via www.hunterhall.co.uk or facebook/hunterhallschool – #summerofkindness #passiton
Hunter Hall is Cumbria’s only independent preparatory and pre-school for children aged 3 – 11 years and is located on the outskirts of Penrith. For more information, visit www.hunterhall.co.uk