Bridging the generation gap
Every now and again I’ll see a photo on Facebook that will stop me as I’m scrolling. One of those moments came last week. The image was of an elderly lady chatting to three wee boys, who were clearly delighted and enthralled by her stories. There are smiles of delight all round.
Children from VIP Childcare at Anderson’s Care Home, Elgin
I clicked on the online album and flicked through a few more of the images, to find a whole collection of hugs, smiles and delight. There was one of a wee lad holding the arms of another elderly lady – in the next image they are hugging each other tight. There were others which contained a colourfully decorated cardboard box, with deep concentration on the face of a young girl as she was explaining to an elderly gentleman what was inside. And another with a tangle of boys lying at the feet of an old man sipping a cup of tea, as a wry smile crept across his face.
The photos had been posted by Anderson’s Care Home in Elgin, and the children were from VIP Childcare, also in Elgin. Was it a one-off visit, I wondered? My inherent nosiness got the better of me; I got in touch.
The visit wasn’t a one-off, far from it. In a few weeks’ time Anderson’s Care Home and VIP Childcare will be in full blown party mode, celebrating a year since the nursery started their weekly Wednesday visits to the residents in the care home. As Katie Ralph, the Depute Manager of VIP Childcare explained, it all started out as a horticultural project. The nursery wanted to grow some vegetables but lacked a garden, so Moray College Horticultural Students stepped in with the offer of a plot at the Anderson’s grounds. The weather (unsurprisingly!) wasn’t always kind, and one rainy day Anderson’s staff invited the children into their home for a snack. Songs were sung, dances were danced and stories were shared, and from there a strong relationship flourished.
The garden has flourished too, thanks to the help of some green-fingered residents and the students from Moray College, and has provided soft fruits and vegetables for healthy platters which are shared by the nursery children and their elderly pals. But while the produce is delicious, the relationships have become more important, both for the children and the residents.
With a nursery roll of 100 children of five and under, not every child can attend each week, but the enthusiasm from the children to go speaks volumes for how much they enjoy the sessions, and their parents are pleased with the opportunities their kids are getting to forge inter-generational relationships.
‘Lots of families these days are widespread, and some of our children don’t get the opportunity to see their grandparents as often as everyone would like,’ explained Katie Ralph. ‘These visits give them an opportunity to foster relationships with older generations, and to learn old songs and rhymes, and hear stories of how things used to be. It’s a win-win.’
And it seems to be a win-win as far as the care home is concerned too. Kathy McGrath-Gunn, Home Manager at Anderson’s, is delighted to welcome their junior VIP visitors every week.
‘Our residents thoroughly enjoy listening to the children sing and play games with them. Come rain or shine, VIP always bring the sunshine with them and every one of us looks forward to their visits. We hope that this special community link will grow and develop far into the future, bridging the generational gap of youth to elderly.’
Neither the care home nor the nursery is aware of any others who are fostering these inter-generational relationships, but both would wholeheartedly recommend it, and I’d love to see it happening more.
The camera doesn’t lie. Just look at the joy in the faces of the people in the photo and tell me it’s not the best idea you’ve heard all year.
Highland Schools flying the flag in Dundee
In case you missed it, five schools from Highland travelled to Dundee last Friday to take part in the Scottish finals of the UK Rock Challenge competition. Five Highland finalists out of 11 was tremendous representation from one of the least populated regions of Scotland. The annual Rock Challenge competition is organised by the Be Your Best Foundation, which encourages young people to lead healthy lifestyles without the need for tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.
Each school group had to create an eight minute dance piece and perform it in front of a 2300 capacity audience. From concept and choreography, through costume and set design, to hair and make-up, each school worked tirelessly to create their final productions.
As parents of one of the Millburn Academy choreographers, we were there in the audience. The standard across the board was breath-taking – well worth the 280 mile round trip. Massive and heartfelt congratulations to all the schools taking part (especially to the teachers!), but hats off to Alness Academy, whose imaginatively choreographed and tightly executed interpretation of the Myth of Pandora’s box brought the Scottish crown home for Highland. A triumph.
This column first appeared in six SPP Group newspapers week ended 24th June 2016.
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