Brightwells Gostrey Community Centre
An ongoing growing relationship between Frensham Heights and a local elderly community working both to alleviate elderly loneliness and also to give students the opportunity to make a difference in society and learn from their elders.
Aims
The aim of this project is to build a lasting partnership between Frensham Heights and the local elderly community.
As society experienced the pandemic lockdown, elderly loneliness really came to the forefront. We were looking away both to alleviate loneliness and to show our students that they can make a difference in society and learn from their elders.
Factors for success are really to ensure that Frensham Heights students are prepared and have been through enough training to be able to feel comfortable working with the elderly community. Continual liaison between Frensham and Gostrey staff ensures both sides are fully prepared.
This partnership really benefits the elderly who attend Gostrey Community Centre and the Frensham Heights Years 5-8 students that join these sessions. They have also collaborated in public projects, such as art projects, which have benefitted the wider community.
Background
Pre-pandemic, Frensham Heights created links with Farnham Assist (a charity to help elderly members of the community who live on their own) and this relationship led to the ongoing partnership with Brightwells Gostrey.
Lynn Goodburne, Frensham Heights Head of Outreach and Community Engagement, established this opportunity.
The project has been running for two years.
Resources
A member of staff from Frensham Heights accompanies students from Years 5 to 8 along with a committed member of staff at the community centre.
The teacher and students normally visit the Gostrey Community Centre, but on occasion the elderly community are invited to the school site - they recently came for a festive lunch and activities.
This project uses teaching staff - one teacher for two hours every week. There is no direct financial contribution, just the teachers' time.
Impact
We use qualitative assessment every half term to ascertain the benefits of this partnership.
Frensham Heights students have fed back about how much their confidence in speaking and working with older people has developed. Gostrey Community Centre staff have also fed back regularly as they have seen such positive responses from the elderly people who attend these sessions.
Pupil Involvement
Frensham Heights Years 5 to 8 students are fully involved in the sessions as are the elderly community of Farnham.
The students are 9 to 13 years old and all genders are included.
Frequency
The sessions are ongoing and run every Wednesday throughout the academic year. This partnership will continue long term.
