‘Let’s Talk’ is the working title of the Intergenerational Mentoring Group who are trying to get the different generations talking and working together by developing a mentoring project in local schools
Mentoring helps both younger and older people to appreciate each other for their different experiences and ways of looking at the world. Mentors work with small groups of young people in a classroom setting and can talk about events in history, share stories about their current or past working lives, demonstrate special skills such arts and crafts or just talk about what school was like in earlier times.
The project idea grew out of some workshops earlier in the year, that were organized to see what could be done with the opportunities offered by Extended Schools programme in Darlington.
Extended schools offer local communities the chance to use school buildings and resources for more than teaching children during the school year. An extended school usually has:
• early morning activities, including childcare facilities
• School ‘breakfast clubs’ for pupils
• Community learning classes
• Access to the school computers and library
• sports and recreational facilities for local groups to use
• a planned programme of evening groups and meetings
• community entrance and reception area
• mentoring opportunities for all generations to work together
With these things in mind, we are setting up a group of interested people who would be willing to give up some of their time to talk, listen and share life experiences with young people, in local primary and secondary schools.
Training & support will be given to everyone who gets involved
To find out more about how to get involved please contact us at gold@darlington.gov.uk