Clubs & Communities

Armchair Athletics

Primary pupils support older residents to get active

Older residents in the Outer Hebrides are enjoying the benefits of sport and physical activity thanks to a group of young people from local primary schools.

Armchair Athletics is an intergenerational programme which focuses on young people from local primary schools delivering fortnightly games and physical activity to care home residents on the islands of Uist.

Six young Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath pupils deliver the sessions to residents in Trainaid Care home on a rota basis, allowing all Primary 3/4 pupils the opportunity to deliver two sessions throughout the year. These sessions not only get residents active and moving but it helps to build social interaction and engagement between generations who otherwise might not interact.

Prior to delivering the sessions, the young people went through some basic training with Kayreen Macleod, community sport hub officer for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, so they gained an understanding of what to deliver as well as how to adapt sessions for those with mobility issues.

The sessions include a variety of different activities tailored towards the groups, with the young people running five different stations for the residents to work through, each requiring minimal exertion. The stations include the use of inflatable bowling pins and balls, balloons, bubbles, cones, bean bags, balls, parachutes and rings.

Kayreen commented:

"This project is amazing as it provides so much benefit to all involved. The difference in the children and residents is remarkable.

"The residents light up when they see the young people arrive in the building and instantly have a shift in energy, becoming more upbeat and happier.

"The pupil’s confidence grows over the course of the project too. The children gain such positive aspects from this too such as leadership skills and increased confidence, along with empathy and understanding which they gain from just the interaction with the residents.

“Each session we see progress from the residents in their range of movement and even memory as they remember how the activities run and what the aim of the game is.

“Another rationale behind the project was to raise attainment in the Gaelic language within the school pupils. It has helped to keep the Gaelic language alive and showed them that many residents grew up speaking the language. It’s lovely to see the children communicate with them and helps shows the residents that there is still hope to keep what they grew up with growing on the island."

Kayreen added:

“We had one resident who wasn’t keen on joining in when the pupils first came. One day I spoke to him and said why not try it just for five minutes and if you aren’t enjoying it you can head out. He stayed and participated, and loved playing the bean bag throw with two of the boys. The boys gave him words of encouragement as he impressed them by getting the bean bag into cones scattered on the floor. The smile on all their faces was infectious with stories then flowing round the room of fond memories.”

The sessions are only able to happen thanks to the use of the care homes minibus which collects the young people from school and takes them to the home, and as a result of its success the programme will look to expand to offer pupils at Sgoil Bhaile a’ Mhanaich to trainaid care home and pupils at Sgoil Dhalabroig to Sacred Heart House in South Uist the same opportunity.

A positive experience for all

Mary Ann Campbell is currently the oldest participant in the programme. At 90, Mary Ann has benefitted greatly from the sessions.

Kayreen said:

"Mary Ann is a complete character. She is willing to try out any activity and loves to add a wee bit of competitiveness to it. She is a great candidate for this project as she is very mobile and able, and because of this the young people need to be able to adapt and make the games slightly more challenging to keep her engaged!”

Mary Ann commented on the programme herself saying:

“I really enjoy when the children come in and I love being able to spend time with them.”

Marina MacLeod, senior social care worker for the Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath and Trainaid Care home said:

“Kayreen has been amazing developing exercises which focus on the residents’ strengths whilst bearing in mind that they may be living with physical or communication challenges. The programme has been designed in order for everyone to be able to take part and it’s definitely a highlight of the care home activity schedule getting time to spend together.”