In the heart of Troon, South Ayrshire Active Schools, identified a group of pupils who lacked confidence within group settings. Determined to find a creative solution to help them develop, they have reached beyond their school gates and into the heart of the community.
By entering a partnership with the local sheltered housing community, they have brought a new intergenerational project to life.
The initiative was originally designed to build on team’s previous work with a small group of nine pupils, five boys and four girls, from St Patrick’s High School. Whilst at the same time, it sought to address an issue in the local community: social isolation among older adults.
“From previous findings, I believed it would be beneficial to have an impact on these adults, with the involvement of the younger demographic,” said Lewis Hunter, who led the project.
According to findings from South Ayrshire, 8.3% of older adults in the Household Composition were living alone. This statistic sparked a simple but powerful idea: what if the two groups who could benefit from a connection were brought together?
Getting Together
The project’s purpose was straightforward - bring older and younger generations together in a meaningful way, using activity as a bridge for that connection.
“My aim was to create an intergenerational group within my cluster,” Lewis explained. “Building a confident younger group to link with the older generation, to increase activity and engagement within the community.”
Delivered over six weeks, the project offered a gentle mix of low-intensity activities tailored for fun and ease of access. From Boccia and Table Tennis to Archery, Golf and a game of Sports Bingo, each session was designed to be enjoyable for everyone. To ensure a connection was developed, older adults were always paired with younger pupils, to build relationships that hopefully went beyond the activity itself.
The sessions were held at the Bradan Road Sheltered Housing, which also generously provided food and refreshments for everyone involved. Each visit lasted around an hour, with pupils walking to and from the venue alongside Lewis and the local Active Schools Coordinators.
The children, initially shy and hesitant, started to enjoy their time with their older partners. “From the previous work and this project, I felt there was one major impact saw throughout. The improved social interaction and confidence levels from the pupils interacting with the older adults” Lewis observed.
For the older adults, the sessions provided more than a change of routine - there was a chance to connect, and to mentor. As one Housing Support Worker at Bradan Road reflected, “It was a pleasure to meet such pleasant and well-behaved children, who interacted well with the tenants and hopefully had fun into the bargain. The children were a credit to St. Patrick’s.”
Looking Ahead
Following the positive feedback from both the pupils and the sheltered housing community, the project isn’t just continuing—it’s growing. Bradan Road has already requested more activities for the next term, and Lewis and the Active Schools Coordinators are working to bring in a new group of targeted pupils from St Patrick’s to take part.
“By encouraging physical activity and interaction between young students and older residents, the project provided lots of meaningful opportunities for the elderly to stay active and socially engaged, while also teaching children empathy, respect, and the importance of inclusion.” said Veronica Watik, Active Schools Coordinator for the Queen Margaret Academy Cluster.
The team is also exploring an exciting new partnership with the Sporting Memories Foundation Project, which focuses on reducing isolation and supporting mental wellbeing among older adults. The hope is to create a longer-lasting initiative—one that brings together generations not just for a few weeks, but as an ongoing part of community life.
At its core, this project is about people – no matter their age - finding connection in each other’s company through physical activity.
