School children play bingo with elderly to help close generational gap

Children from a local high school have been visiting elderly people at a retirement complex in Buckhaven in Scotland - volunteering their time to take part in a wide range of activities, from playing bingo to making clay hedgehogs.

Tenants at Bield’s Braehead Gardens have been enjoying weekly visits from pupils aged 11 - 13, from Levenmouth Academy, as part of Fife Council’s community learning and development project, ‘Crossing the Divide’.

The intergenerational project which started on 21 March this year has been a positive experience for both the young volunteers and their older counterparts.

Tenant Jan Anderson, 70, said: “It has been such a pleasure to spend time with younger people and get to know and understand what life is like for them.

“The project has proved really successful in narrowing the gap felt by younger and more mature people in the community. I am sure everyone here would welcome their company and enthusiasm anytime.”

One young pupil from Levenmouth Academy, Rori Fiorelli, said: “It’s been fun and educational learning about their childhoods and what life was like growing up.”

The project was the brainchild of Scott Meikle, the community education worker at Fife Council. Scott facilitates the project and gathers feedback about the activities to make sure everyone is benefiting.

Mr Meikle said: “It has truly been a pleasure watching these two separate generations come together and grow to become one group.”

Amy Telford, Volunteer Development Worker at Bield, said: “Community engagement and volunteering play such an important part in helping our tenants and service users to live their lives to the full, as well as tackling loneliness and isolation.

“We’re so grateful to Scott and the young people for their support. It was fantastic to see how much the group have gelled and it’s clear that the pupils have benefited as much as our tenants have.”

Bield is currently looking for volunteers in Leven, Fife. For more information please visit www.bield.co.uk.

click here for more details or to contact Bield Housing & Care