Lanarkshire school pupils helped to bridge the generational gap during a visit to a retirement complex.
Youngsters from Kirk O ‘Shotts Primary in Salsburgh joined tenants at Lorne Gardens for the third Driving Digital Locally intergenerational project to help improve their digital skills.
The project is developed and run by North Lanarkshire Council and aims to educate older residents about digital technology through one-to-one training with youths.
With support from the Scottish Government’s Connecting Scotland programme, the local authority received 200 iPads and MiFi boxes which were distributed to tenants in retirement complexes across the area.
This is the third project to take place, following the success of the first in Drummond Drive, Wishaw, last year.
The initiative is now being rolled out to the other complexes across the region who will also receive the iPads.
In Salsburgh, the pupils and tenants discussed periods of the older people’s lives, such as childhood memories, school life or favourite songs, before the youngsters brought them to life on the iPads using their digital skills.
Lorne Gardens tenant Janette Carson said: “It was great to see the kids each week and I really enjoyed working with them.
"They were so knowledgeable and made the whole process more relaxed and enjoyable. They were so patient and tolerant with all of us and helped us download a few apps on our iPads."
Primary six pupils from Kirk O ‘Shotts who took part were Lucas Roy, Hollie Lavery, CJ Jones, Louise Waddell, Maddison Watt and Caden Davidson.
“It was such a lot of fun working and talking with the tenants at Lorne Gardens, we got to learn what their interests were and able to show them how to access them on the iPad,” said Lucas.
Hollie added: “We got to teach them new skills about using apps like Pic Collage and downloading photos."
Lyndsey King, class teacher at Kirk O ‘Shotts, said: "It was great to see the children interact and use their own skills to help others.
"They are developing their digital skills, as well as using their social skills to engage with a different generation of learners.
"It has been a pleasure to take part in this project. The children have been a credit to our school."
And Councillor Kenneth Stevenson, convener of the communities committee at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “This project is an excellent example of the council’s commitment to improving the digital skills of local residents and pupils, helping everyone to access online services.
“This project brings people of different generations together to learn new digital skills as well as having fun and respecting what they have in common and each other.”
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