We celebrated the power of bringing generations together to support Global Intergenerational Week.
Our award‑winning Digital Intergenerational project, which sees older residents learn digital skills with help from school pupils, was showcased at the Glasgow Learning Roadshow, organised by Scottish charity, Generations Working Together. For more information, visit the charity’s web site: Scotland.
The success and impact of the project were shared at the roadshow on 23 April, which launched Global Intergenerational Week.
So far, the Digital Intergenerational project has run 16 four-week sessions with over 170 pupils helping 130 seniors, some using technology for the first time and proving that learning knows no age limits.
Three new sessions were launched during Global Intergenerational Week, which ran from 24 to 30 April.
Ten pupils from Orchard Primary School in Overtown are working with 14 members of the local Gamechangers seniors group, six S3 pupils at St Aidan’s High School in Wishaw are taking part in a pilot project, and a session has begun involving eight members of Lanarkshire Deaf Hub and eight pupils from the Deaf Unit at Glencairn Primary School in Motherwell.
A further three sessions are scheduled to begin in June and another ten are in development including one at Lanarkshire Central Mosque in Mossend.
“Through our Digital Intergenerational project, we are building meaningful relationships between older people and young learners in our communities,” said Councillor Geraldine Woods, Convener of the Communities Committee.
“It helps older participants grow their digital confidence and skills, as well as delivering huge benefits for pupils by boosting their communication skills, confidence and sense of purpose as they support others to learn.
“Global Intergenerational Week was a great opportunity to share the success of the project and how it has developed with other local authorities and organisations across Scotland and beyond.”
An online resource hub with videos and guides has been created by the project, enabling schools to run sessions independently. This has also been shared with other local authorities and organisations to access and learn from our approach.
