Pupils help bridge the generation gap and ease loneliness for elderly
Children from Washington Academy have been breaking down inter-generational barriers as part of a project to help elderly people suffering social isolation.
Pupils launched the Combating Loneliness project two years ago but due to Covid restrictions could only offer virtual support.
With restrictions over, the school contacted Age UK Sunderland to invite some elderly people along to a gathering with pupils at Beamish Museum.
The school’s Community Engagement Officer, Nicola Williamson, said: “We applied for funding for the project and after contacting Age UK we arranged for them to meet with the children at Orchard Cottage, a 1940s farmhouse at Beamish Museum.”
Lead Special Educational Needs Coordinator at the school, Lyndsey Watson, added: “Many older people live alone and we wanted to do something to support them.
"Using Beamish was ideal as there were lots of items, including a memory box, to get the students and elderly people talking abut what life was like. They were telling pupils about how they and there parentsusedtousetheitemswhen they were children.
“The project also really helped children to develop their communication skills.”
The children met five Age UK guests; Margaret Eden, 90, Winnifred Kent, 93, Judith Barry, 77, Peter Mason ,78, and
Brian Emery, 84.
A key aim of the project was alsotobreakdownanybarriers or stigma which may exist betweenthedemographicdivide.
Lyndsey added: “A number oftheelderlypeoplewerequite
apprehensive as there can be a real worry from some older people about how teenagers are perceived. Both the children and guests all got along andabsolutelyloveditandhave alreadybeenaskingwhenthey can do it again.
"It’s massively important to bridge that generational gap and help the elderly feel less vulnerable when around teenagers. Hopefully it will have helped restore their faith in young people.”
Year 8 pupil Amelia Short, 12, said: “Winnifred didn’t speak very much at the start as she seemed a bit wary of young people – possibly from experiences she may have had in the past. Hopefully this has broken-downbarrierssoolder peoplerealisenotallteenagers are bad.
The project has also helped break down barriers as to how young people may see older generations.
Faye Henderson, 13, said: “I was worried older people may have views which were dated anddifferenttomygeneration, but I really enjoyed talking to them and finding out what life used to be like.
"It was interesting talking toPeterabouthowasachildhe used to travel on his own from DublintotheSouthofEngland to go to boarding school.”
Over tea and toast, toasted on an open fire, the group discussed getting evacuated during the war, being at school and the games children used to play, along with dancing to music from the 40s and 50s.
RubyTriplow,12,said:“Ireally enjoyed hearing their stories.”
Age UK Sunderland representative,MelanieWhingsaid: “The day turned out to be such aspecialoccasionforourmembersanditwaslovelytowitness them enjoying themselves interacting with the students.
"They were fascinated with each other’s stories.”