Coleg Llandrillo’s Health and Social Care students organised a Christmas-themed intergenerational event in partnership with Cartrefi Conwy housing association.

It involved inviting local elderly people – including ex-school teachers and hairdressers - to spend a day at college with thirty young students to discuss a variety of subject matters, with the intention of breaking the social barriers between younger and older people.

The guests, who all live in a sheltered housing complex in Old Colwyn, were joined in the Institute of Health and Social Care at the Rhos-on-Sea campus by representatives from their housing association, Cartrefi Conwy.

The students planned the event as part of their course, where they have to gain a specific number of community engagement hours.

The fundamental goal of the workshop was to encourage all parties to get to know each other and make further efforts to build relationships.

The students moved around three 'stations', completing various Christmas-themed craft activities with different tenants, which afforded the students the chance to demonstrate their communication skills.

The sessions encouraged the two groups to socialise, exchange thoughts and engage in a selection of activities, and aimed to change perceptions that the age groups may have of each other.

The students created the spirit of Christmas, having lavishly decorated the room. The groups made a selection of Christmas wreaths and pine cone decorations, before taking part in a quiz.

One of the highlights was an impromptu set by Joey G from the college’s Christian Union, who started a festive rap, before everyone else joined in the fun.

Both groups brought in photos of them when they were very young, and took turns in guessing who was who. They shared festive experiences and memories of Christmases past and present, amongst much merriment.

Nerys Veldhuizen, older persons’ engagement co-ordinator at Cartrefi Conwy, said: “I just want to say a huge thank you for such a lovely day at the college. Our tenants thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon and so appreciated the massive effort you put into making it such a memorable day. The students were just brilliant: they were very receptive and we look forward to working more with them in the future.”

One student, Catrin Hughes from Llandudno, said: “We all really enjoyed spending time with the residents. We were able to communicate in a relaxed atmosphere and some of their childhood stories were amazing. We all soon realised that we are not that different. We all need to be with people we love and to laugh and chat.”

Health and Social Care lecturer Carys Guy said: “Feedback received from both groups was tremendously positive. It was an enjoyable and valuable experience for all involved. These students are hopefully our healthcare professionals of the future and it is essential that we, as educational providers, understand some of the issues and concerns that the older generation have identified.

“We aimed to alter the misconceptions and stereotypes that sometimes exist between different generations, whilst having fun!”

Representative from the housing association have been so impressed with the college’s Health & Social Care students that, from January 2020, the learners will be undergoing a variety of work placements with Cartrefi Conwy, where they will shadow independent living skills’ co-ordinators.

To find out more about our courses in Health and Care, go to www.gllm.ac.uk/health

or call the college’s Learner Services team on 01492 542 338.

Email: enquiries.llandrillo@gllm.ac.uk

Web: www.gllm.ac.uk