Young people from Nuneaton have been learning new skills as part of an intergenerational community project which has received a funding boost.
Values Education for Life has received £1,000 from the Foundation to expand a project which sees young people, aged 11 to 18-years-old, from Camp Hill visit residents at Drayton Court care home.
They take part in activities including games, gardening, arts and crafts while they have also spent time filming elderly residents as they tell their life stories.
The visits take place every Saturday morning as well as during the school holidays, having become so popular that Values Education for Life now has a waiting list of young people wanting to take part.
The charity, based in Atherstone, runs a range of programmes to support young people across Warwickshire, helping them re-engage in society and learn new skills.
David Rowse, of Values Education for Life, said: “The young people give up their Saturday mornings to spend time with the elderly residents at Drayton Court as part of the project.
“They lead a range of different activities for the residents to take part in and also socialise with them.
“Both groups get a great deal out of the project. The elderly people like vitality, so having young people visit every week provides a real boost for them, whereas the young people learn a great deal about a different generation.
“Not only do they hear the residents’ stories, they also learn about being respectful, empathising, relating to others and are given the responsibility of running the activities.
“Our programmes are mainly aimed at disadvantaged children and young people, however we have seen a whole range of people from Camp Hill take part in our intergenerational project – it has become extremely popular.
“We are very grateful for the grant from the Heart of England Community Foundation, it has enabled us to really expand the project.”
Tina Costello, CEO of the Foundation, said: “Values Education for Life is an excellent charity making a real difference to the lives of young people across Warwickshire.
To find out more about Values Education for Life visit: http://vefl.co.uk/contact.html