Yorkshire students take part in intergenerational project

Pupils from Shiregreen’s Firth Park Academy in Sheffield swapped the classroom for a care home and extra care scheme recently as part of an educational intergenerational project, supported by Sanctuary Housing.

The year nine and 10 pupils visited residents living at Sanctuary’s Roman Ridge extra care scheme and Park View Residential Care Home as part of a programme of activities to bring the two generations together.

Split into the two year groups, with year nine’s visiting Roman Ridge and year 10’s Park View, the students were each paired with a resident who they asked about their favourite things, their family and hobbies.

At the end of the project, the students came together to compile a scrapbook, featuring a selection of photographs, drawings and quotes from the residents’ lives, which will be gifted to each home once finished.

The students are part of Made in Sheffield’s Cultural Ambassadors programme, a project supporting young people to develop skills, character and knowledge for future employment.

Melanie King, Sanctuary’s neighbourhood partnerships manager, said: “This project, and being part of the Cultural Ambassadors programme, is a fantastic way for the pupils to increase their employability skills, including communication and listening, which can be utilised as they move forward during and after school.

“The residents at both schemes were delighted to be joined by the pupils and are very much looking forward to looking through the scrapbooks they have created.”

The project was funded by Sanctuary’s Community Investment Fund, supporting projects which benefit Sanctuary residents and their communities.