Provost Kenneth Duffy visited a group of tenants at Unitas Court Retirement Complex to see how they’re improving their digital skills.
The tenants are working with pupils from nearby Mossend Primary School as part of the Driving Digital Locally intergenerational programme, developed and run by North Lanarkshire Council, which aims to educate older residents about digital technology through one-to-one training with young people.
The programme starts with seniors engaging in lively discussions with pupils on topics ranging from childhood memories to favourite songs. Then the pupils teach the tenants basic digital skills, if they’ve never used an iPad before, or to use the technology in ways they haven’t tried before.
At the end of the programme, pupils interviewed the seniors using iPads, exploring what the seniors enjoyed and learned. These interviews will be compiled and shared with the group, to look back on what they have learned and how they have used their new skills since attending.
The pupils involved in the project were in Primary 4 to 6: Ella Brown, Lily Wright, Rhea Hamilton, Mason Hampson, Grace Wilson, Andrew Mullen, Carly Feeney, Leigha Simpson, and Isla-Mae Currie.
This is the fifth intergenerational project to take place in retirement complexes across North Lanarkshire as part of the programme.
Provost Kenneth Duffy said: “I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet the tenants and pupils taking part in this very worthwhile project and seeing how they had supported one and other. Helping our residents to build their digital skills is so important to ensuring that no one is left behind in an increasingly digital world.”
Shanice Lamont, Acting Principal Teacher, Mossend Primary said: "This project is a fabulous way of removing social barriers between different generations within a community. It has been lovely seeing the children teach older members of the local community about a subject they are all confident in and passionate about. As a school, we are excited to continue this partnership with the retirement housing complex, beyond digital technologies. I would love to see this project expanding to more schools in North Lanarkshire."
Pupil Ella Brown said: "It was good to teach other people. I liked the fact that everyone was very welcoming. I would like to take part again."
Grace Wilson added: "I liked getting to teach older people how to use technology. I liked teaching them how to use pic collage. I would like to do the project again."
Isla-Mae Currie also said: "I was feeling nervous before taking part in the project. I felt more confident in what I was doing as the weeks went on. I liked spending time with the residents and getting to know them."