Silver Stories

[Jane Jackson]

A couple of weeks ago Marc and I went down to Torpoint to meet with the Head of the local Nursery and Infant school who has introduced a new project in her school. It is called Silver Stories and Dame Esther Rantzen went down to launch it.
It involves the children reading to an older person over the phone once a week, bringing the generations together.
They approached their local church to help them in contacting older people who may be on their own or of need of company. Those people were then visited and given an outline of what Silver Stories was all about, and it was explained that it wasn't about correcting the children but about enabling the children in their confidence with communication skills. Of course the older person benefits as well, knowing that once a week that phone is going to ring.
It is such a simple idea and so affective.
It was clear listing to it in 'action' that both parties get a great deal from it.
So we are going to try and roll it out across the country.
I think we are all aware of the isolation and loneliness that many older people in our society are suffering from, and this is just one small way of attempting to bridge that gap.
Sometimes it is the simple things that work purely because of the simplicity.

[Oma]

What a good idea Jane as sometimes elderly people can go all week without human contact and I bet this will be a life line to some ,

[Gemini]

What a good idea Jane!
I can see how this would benefit both parties. Mind you, getting the older person off the phone could be a challenge. My mum keeps me on the phone for ages - even when she has phoned me to ask me to pick something up on the way to her, and I will see her in half an hour!

[Nanto2girls]

A very good idea. if some of the elderly people don't have much company, they might talk to the chidren for ages.

[aggie]

That would be a nightmare to me , I am very bad at answering the phone and get a sore arm if I have to hold it for long

[Jane Jackson]

A very good idea. if some of the elderly people don't have much company, they might talk to the chidren for ages.

There is a system in place to prevent that happening.

[Nana]

How do they get round that Jane? I too find that when chatting to my sister for an hour on the 'phone I get pins & needles in my hand. Not surprising really. When I said to my OH he said it's funny that our tongues don't suffer the same thing. i think it's a super idea to join young & old. As bad as feel sometimes I always perk up seeing my GC.

[Shemadee]

When my children's school were doing a topic I put a note up in a local sheltered housing unit and one lady went in to the school and talked to the children about her childhood and they were fascinated. She went back several times and really seemed to enjoy having a captive audience and even enjoyed the school dinner she was given.

how will they check that unscrupulous adults don't take advantage, Jane? That would be my only reservation.

[Jane Jackson]

All the Silver Listeners, are visited, they are identified through church communities or groups working with older people and through GP surgeries. All calls take place on speakerphone and a member of staff is present at all times, the Silver Listener is told how long the calls will be and the expectation.

[Nana]

I still think it's a super scheme & wished that it was widespread.

[Plantaholic]

Sounds like you have everything covered, good luck with the project.

[Jane Jackson]

I still think it's a super scheme & wished that it was widespread.

That's the plan Nana!

[Glammanana]

Well done to all concerned just goes to show that something so simple can make all the difference in the world