School pupils meet-ups 'a lifeline' for retirement housing residents

Regular meet-ups with children at a Portadown primary school have provided "a lifeline" for some elderly residents of nearby retirement housing.

A scheme that started four years ago brings Primary Two pupils at Bocombra Primary School together with elderly residents living in apartments at Quarry Gardens.

The five and six-year-olds meet with their "friends" who live next door twice a term, where they bake, do crafts, work outdoors in the garden and give Christmas gifts.

It culminates in an end-of-term assembly for parents where they talk about their friendships and show photos of what they have been doing together.

The class teacher Stacey Nesbitt was responsible for beginning the scheme.

"The fence of some of the apartments backs onto the school and years ago some of the ladies put small decorations and windmills along their gardens for the children to look at," she said.

"You would have often seen the ladies waving to the children when they were playing in the playground.

"If a ball was thrown over, they would throw it back and so we thought it would be lovely to ask the ladies over and have a relationship with them."

That was four years ago now it is a regular thing.

"It is great for the ladies. It's great company and gives them something to focus on."

Stacey said her children love it and some stay in touch with their "friends" as they move through the school.

Gwen Rose has been living in the apartments for more than two decades and is in charge of activities for other residents.

She said they were able to give some money to the school through selling crafts they make.

Gwen described the relationships with these pupils as "fun" and "something different".

"The Housing Association encourages tenants to get out and work in the community," Ms Rose said.

"Sometimes in sheltered housing it's hard, you know."

Her childhood differed from the younger generation in that "they're more confident and great at conversation at such a young age".

"They're not afraid.

"When we were at school you sat quietly," she added.

Audrey Wright said the meet-ups are something she really looks forward to, but the close proximity of her home to the school means she's never too far away.

"When they kick the ball over, they all wave to get my attention. I go out and throw it back and there is a crowd of them and they will say 'hooray for Lola's granny'," she said.

"Sometimes I'm up and down like a yo-yo. But it's brilliant and very important for me. They're little individuals and sometimes they really make you laugh."

The importance of inter-generational connection seems to be paying off, as five-year-old Evan said he was drawing hearts on his paper cracker "for my granny who dropped me off and I love her".

Megan, who is decorating her biscuit with icing, explained: "I have loads of practice because me and my mum and dad bake at home."