Young people from Cowal GIVE programme visited Ardnahein Care Home in Dunoon for an afternoon of tea and bingo with the residents for their volunteering activity on Monday 7 April.
Resident Jessie celebrated her 100th birthday a few days before and to mark the occasion, our Youth Worker Ann Kennovin presented Jessie with a card and a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the young people. Jessie was delighted by the generosity of the young people.
Jessie isn’t the eldest resident at Ardnahein, that honour goes to Jessie’s life-long friend Cath who is a spritely 103! In fact, Jessie is Ardnahein’s third oldest resident after Cath and Betty who also celebrated her 100th birthday last year. The GIVE group had a fun afternoon playing bingo, with Jessie winning a box of chocolates in the penultimate game, and chatted to the residents over a cup of tea.
Over a cup of coffee, Cath had a chat with Ann telling her all about her friendship with Jessie. Cath and Jessie have been friends for over 80 years, both working in the laundry in Dunoon during the War. Although, Cath said Jessie was the brainer one of the two as she worked in the office while Cath worked downstairs in the laundry itself.
Cath also had a blether with India and Rhuairidh, telling them both about her early childhood growing up in the East End of Glasgow before moving to Dunoon when she was 7 due to her father’s job as an engineer. The world has changed quite significantly since Cath, Jessie and Betty were young people. India and Rhuairidh introduced Cath to the world of technology by using their phones to show Cath some photographs of modern-day East End Glasgow.
One of the young people who took part said: “It was a fun afternoon. It was good to spend time with the residents and hear their stories especially the lady who was 103.”
Ann said, “It’s the second time we have visited Ardnahein as part of the GIVE Programme. It’s always a fun afternoon and it’s important for the young people and residents alike to spend time together as they learn so much from each other. We will look to do some more intergenerational work with Ardnahein in the coming months. The volunteering activity is a core part of the GIVE programme, and it is important that young people not only feel connected and valued as part of their local community but also that they make a positive contribution.”
The young people were rewarded for their afternoon at Ardnahein with a trip to 10 pin bowling and lazerquest at Xsite Braehead.