St Aloysuis Primary School Pupils Teach Digital Skills to Laurel Gardens Retirement Complex Tenants
Tenants at Laurel Gardens Retirement Complex in Chapelhall are embracing new digital skills with the help of proactive youngsters from St Aloysuis Primary School. These efforts are part of the North Lanarkshire Council’s Driving Digital Locally Intergenerational Project. This initiative marks the sixth project conducted under this successful programme, empowering senior residents to navigate technology for communication, online services, and entertainment.
The collaborative programme kicks off with seniors and pupils engaging in lively discussions covering topics from childhood memories to favourite songs. Subsequently, the young students mentor the tenants on basic digital skills through a buddy system. As a result, senior residents now feel more connected and engaged with the digital world, significantly enhancing their overall quality of life.
One participant of the project, Gabriel Smith, shared his experience, expressing, “I never thought I would enjoy using technology, but the young ones made it so much fun. It’s amazing how much we can learn from each other.” The pupils from St. Aloysuis Primary who took part in the project include Jude, Hollie, Alfie, Caiden, Holly, Myley, Julia, Brandon, Louis, Isla, Ava, Lacie, Noah, and Finn.
Reflecting on the impact of the project, one of the young participants mentioned, “This experience has had a positive impact because the atmosphere is nice and positive in lots of different ways. It also had a positive impact on me and my partner because we got to know each other and we could talk about things, and show them new digital skills to use in their daily life.”
Acting head teacher Jennifer Flanagan expressed her delight in seeing meaningful partnerships being forged between the school and the local community, especially in establishing links with the residential home through the intergenerational project. Teacher Suzanne Love commended the children’s enthusiasm and commitment in developing their skills and creating a positive impact.
The intergenerational project not only benefits the senior residents but also nurtures relationships between different generations, fostering a sense of community spirit and mutual learning. The project signals a successful collaboration between schools and retirement homes, bridging the digital divide and enhancing the well-being of all participants involved.