Member Article

Pupils top of the class for volunteering

High School pupils joined forces to make a difference for older people in retirement living communities managed by Staffordshire not-for-profit organisation Care Plus.

The pupils at Wolgarston High School in Penkridge spent a day on projects with Care Plus, including running IT drop-in advice sessions, sprucing-up communal gardens and hosting afternoon tea.

A group of students passed on their IT skills to residents of Pencric, in Penkridge, providing drop-in advice to help people use laptops, mobile phones and tablets.

“They sat patiently with the residents, helping them to overcome problems and get more out of IT” said Pencric manager Nicola Smith, “One lady was thrilled to be able to place her first order for online groceries. She’s following a special diet and said that it was so much easier to find the right food once she knew how to shop online.”

Six teenagers visited Care Plus communities in Coven, Wheaton Aston and Brewood, where they got busy helping residents brighten communal gardens with planted containers and baskets.

“Everyone said how much they had enjoyed meeting the young people and how hard they had worked,” said Yvette Tompkins, volunteer fundraising and engagement manager with Care Plus. “Gardeners of all ages interacted brilliantly and made a huge difference to the surroundings.”

Meanwhile other pupils were putting the finishing touches to an afternoon tea held at the school. They provided transport for the residents, who enjoyed refreshments prepared and served by the young people, followed by a lively game of bingo.

“The whole day was a great inter-generational experience,” said Yvette Tompkins. “The pupils were a fantastic credit to their school which is taking a lead for community activities and volunteering in the area.”

Chris Curtis is assistant head at Wolgarston High School. “Every student at Wolgarston has the chance to volunteer in their communities and to help improve the lives of others. The Pencric and Care Home Projects are fantastic opportunities for young and old to share time together and we will be continuing our links with these invaluable projects for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Residents Mary Clewes and Edward Oakley are pictured with pupils Oliver Marquis-Johnson and Lily Benton.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Chick .