Over the past 16 weeks, residents from Woodside Care Home and Millbrae have had the pleasure of welcoming pupils from Fir Park Secondary School as part of a truly rewarding intergenerational project.
The project brought together residents and ten secondary school pupils with a range of learning disabilities, creating an opportunity for both generations to connect, learn from one another, and enjoy a wide variety of meaningful activities together.
Throughout the programme, residents and pupils took part in sensory sessions, gardening, planting potatoes and sunflowers, pamper days, music and dancing, arts and crafts, and many other engaging activities. Each session was designed to encourage interaction, confidence, creativity, and enjoyment in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Feedback from Duncan MacRitchie, a teacher at Fir Park Secondary School, was incredibly positive. He shared that some pupils were initially hesitant to take part, but as the weeks progressed, their confidence grew significantly. Duncan said he was overwhelmed by the positive changes he witnessed, noting that several pupils interacted with residents in ways he had never seen before.
In particular, two pupils who had previously been reluctant to participate became some of the most enthusiastic members of the group. By the third week, they were eagerly running down the corridor to meet the residents and begin the day’s activities.
The project also had a wonderful impact on our residents. They took great pride in teaching the pupils new skills, sharing life experiences, and passing on stories, advice, and encouragement. The residents involved were fully committed throughout the programme, and their feedback after each session was consistently positive and inspiring.
A special thank you goes to Carol and Alis, the project coordinators, who did an outstanding job organising and supporting each session. Their dedication, enthusiasm, and care helped make the project such a success. Both Carol and Alis also commented on how much they had personally learned and gained from the experience.
Overall, the intergenerational project was a tremendous success. It created meaningful friendships, encouraged personal growth, and brought joy to everyone involved. It has been a truly special experience for both the pupils and residents, and one that will be remembered fondly by all who took part.
