The Action
They worked with a wide range of people throughout the project:
- ALONE
- Willie Bermingham Place in Kilmainham, a housing complex run by ALONE for the elderly.
- They made a link with the Friends of the Elderly organisation and undertook many of the activities that they recommended - most notably the biography of an elderly person which proved to be a huge learning experience.
- Two clubs in the area – St. Paul’s Club and The Little Flower. They developed strong links with the elderly in these clubs and visited them regularly, finding that they loved the interaction and enjoyed sharing their story. Many of them spoke of not seeing people too ofren, only when they come to the clubs.
- St. James’s hospital, with the local asset mapping project – created a map of the area for the elderly that assessed the quality of the streets in the area and the ease of access to the many shops in the community.
They decided that it was important to communicate the aim of the project to the whole school community and to the wider community. They designed posters to go up around the school. They included a note on the topic in the school newsletter and on the school TV screens. They also created leaflets for the local community, outlining how everyone can help elderly neighbours and friends and alleviate loneliness.
The Impact
They took action. They visited their elderly neighbours and relatives regularly and enjoyed doing it. They worked on mapping their area and devising a map for the elderly that would show the ease of access to many buildings in the area. They hoped their project would continue on into the future as there was so much they felt could be done. The team were keen to continue developing the links between the young and the elderly in their community.
