Intergenerational Book Buddies Bond at Belong

Intergenerational Book Buddies Bond at Belong

Lessons in using the latest tech, playing chess like a Grandmaster, the best bait to use to land the biggest fish, and enjoying a chat over a good book, are all things that Manchester's youngest and oldest residents will be getting to grips with together over this next week as the city marks Global Intergenerational Week (24-30 April).

The annual worldwide campaign celebrates the power of intergenerational relationships and the enormous benefits they bring to individuals and communities - from transferring skills across the generations, to helping combat social isolation and loneliness, and challenging ageism.

Already reaping the benefits of time spent with each other are the residents of Belong Morris Feinmann in Didsbury and pupils at neighbouring Moor Allerton School, whose primary aged pupils delight in nipping through the fence that separates them from their next-door neighbours once a week, armed with a pile of books, to read together with their new-found older friends who live at the residential home.

Teacher Vikki Hurst said: "Every half term a different year group of children come across once a week to read, and so they get to really know each other. Pupils read with the residents, sharing their literacy skills, but also quite often just having a chat with each other, which is really lovely to see. It's beautiful to see the relationships that have built over the visits - they get to form great friendships and really connect with each other."

Year 5 pupil Miles added: "I like it, it makes me calmer. I like to read with them and it's really fun."

For their part, the home residents really enjoy hearing the youngsters read and talking to them about the books they've brought in, as well also chatting with them about their own lives and things they've done.

Resident Pauline Pike said: "I think it's fantastic. I think we both learn something from each other. I think the children learn from us, and we certainly learn from them.”

Watch the Book Buddies at Belong Morris Feinmann here.

Read the full story on the Manchester City Council website.

Article and video credit to Manchester City Council.