WORKING WITH THE ELDERLY

Loneliness affects everyone but it is particularly prevalent amongst elderly people. Emanuel School partners with a number of local community organisations to help address this issue and ensure that the elderly in our neighbourhood feel valued in our community.

Sixth form pupils attend weekly activities at a local social club for the elderly, Regenerate Rise. They organise and support bingo, exercise classes, board games, afternoon tea and engage in some wonderful conversations.

We launched our first ‘Tech and Tea’ event at a local care home in the Spring term 2022. Our aim was to help the older generation with using their tech. Devised by our Community Partnership Prefect, Bobbie, we had a ‘menu’ where participants could order what type of ‘help’ they needed if their questions didn’t come to mind straight away. Examples included how to make the font size bigger on their devices and to upload and share photos. This was a great opportunity as our pupils were able to show them functions that they didn’t even know existed.

Tech was important, but so was the tea. As we had conversations over tea and snacks, it became apparent that the residents appreciated our help, but our company was of even greater value.

We regularly organise concerts in local care homes and with our partner, Regenerate Rise. These offer a wonderful opportunity for our musicians to perform and, importantly, to engage with our community. They are well attended and surprisingly raucous! Great fun for everyone involved.