mhs homes supports National Older People's Day

Published by Sarah Crowdy for MHS Homes in Communities and also in Education

Kent-based mhs homes is supporting National Older People’s Day (October 1) by taking older residents from its sheltered schemes back to school to join junior pupils for lunch.
The event is part of an ongoing project to link older people with the younger generation and to create opportunities for them to pass on some of their skills in the ‘Big Skills Share’. UK Older People’s Day is about sharing the skills and experience between generations and celebrating the contribution older people make in our communities.

Sue Rudd, mhs homes' Supported Housing Manager said, "We wanted to get involved with UK Older People’s Day this year to help people think differently about older people and challenge stereotypes.
"Older people have a wealth of experience in life and many of them are happy to tell stories, they like to help children with reading and enjoy passing on skills such as crocheting, knitting and gardening. It’s also a good experience for the older folk because school dinners are vastly different these days."

Last month, during National Older People’s month, mhs homes arranged for two residents Dave Humphrey, a volunteer at this year’s London Olympics and Paralympics and Paul Nihill MBE an Olympic Silver medallist to speak to 264 children at Luton Junior School, in Chatham.

Dave, who was a marshal at London 2012 gave the children an insight into his role and told them his favourite moments of the games which included watching the wheelchair basketball and being shown the lightweight titanium wheelchairs of the Tokyo Team.

Paul Nihill MBE, talked about what it was like to win a silver medal in the 1964 Tokyo Games in the 50km walk race. The children gasped in excitement when he told them that he has met the Queen and been to Buckingham Palace eight times.

Dave and Paul will join the residents and children for school dinner and will be returning to the school regularly to help with the book club and sports day events.

Davinder Jandu, head teacher at Luton Junior School said, "I’m delighted with the response to the mhs homes return to school project. Thirty five per cent of our children are non English speaking. This project which encourages regular interaction with older people is helping them to develop new skills and they are learning English."