Generations Working Together
3rd October 2023
In a world that often seems to move at a rapid pace, fostering connections between different generations has become increasingly crucial. One innovative approach that we have developed here at St Columba’s is the integration of our Early Years pupils into intergenerational activities with residents from the Campbell Snowdon care home in Quarriers Village. This unique blend of youthful exuberance and the wisdom of age offers a multitude of benefits for both groups and is something which makes our Early Years provision stand apart.
As Mrs Kelly Aitken, Assistant Early Years Manager, says, “Our intergenerational relationship with Campbell Snowdon helps our children develop kindness, care and compassion toward others. Intergenerational work helps to break down barriers between generations. For the Campbell Snowdon residents, we see benefits to mood, physical activity levels and mobility skills.”
This partnership, which was established pre-pandemic and is growing from strength to strength each year, was awarded a Highly Commended Award in the Generations Working Together Awards earlier this year for their collaborative intergenerational music project. In April, they participated in Global Intergenerational Week – a worldwide event which aims to promote the benefits of intergenerational work. We were all delighted to discover that our continued activities with Campbell Snowdon were highlight in the published Impact Report of the event.
We are now looking ahead to the intergenerational activities that have been planned this year. “'Be Active' is our theme for this year,” says Mrs Aitken. “Yoga, ball games, relay races and active group games...activities to increase our step count and heart rate, to develop teamwork and increase mobility.”
Anyone who witnesses or takes part in these activities can see the profound benefit for both the children and the Campbell Snowdon residents. Through these interactions, we hope to lay the foundation for a more compassionate, understanding, and harmonious world within our Early Years pupils.