Young and old show off artistic skills
A TRIO of creative youngsters teamed up with a group of care home residents for an art workshop, described by its organiser as a resounding success.
The inter-generational session was held at Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon, a centre of excellence for people with dementia.
The session was organised by artist-in-residence Nia LloydRoberts, 29, who said: “It went really well. Our residents always respond well to children and in turn children respond well to the residents.”
The children were from Ysgol Bontnewydd in Caernarfon and the session was a collaborative project with North Wales Police and housing association Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd.
PCSOs Sammie Williams and Julie Holland organised activities as part of a project aiming to keep pupils engaged with their local community, improve relations between various partnerships and residents and reduce anti-social behaviour in Bontnewydd.
Sammie said the session provided the pupils with an opportunity to develop social skills and help build better understanding between young and old.
She said:“It’s about the young children improving the general environment and helping their neighbourhoods.”
Julie said primary school age children are rarely guilty of anti-social behaviour “but getting them at this age helps them avoid the pitfalls”.
“It’s important they learn to mix with older people. The pupils and the residents have really enjoyed themselves and have mingled well.” The children involved were Katie Owen, Carrie Williams and Ciron Mowel, all aged 10.
Under the careful eye of Nia and Lora Morgan, part of the home’s enrichment team, they and the residents decorated wooden plates using landscapes by Welsh artists as an inspiration.