Volunteer recruitment

An intergenerational project called ‘Generation for Generation” taking place in the West Lothian area are looking for more volunteers aged 60-85 years who are interested in supporting young children in Bathgate and Whitburn primary schools (P1-4) with their reading, writing, numeracy etc.

The older adult volunteers would be asked to help in a local school for up to 4 hours over 2 school days (e.g., two mornings), for 6 months.

We anticipate that this may bring health and wellbeing benefits for the adult volunteers themselves, as well as help the children and schools involved.

Previous research shows that intergenerational work could have protective effects on age-related hippocampal atrophy in older adults. These changes precede improvements in cognitive performance in older adult volunteers. In our current study, we aim to investigate whether interactions across generations can impact volunteers’ cognition (i.e., memory, the speed of processing), social function, and wellbeing. For more information, please click here

The programme has caught the public attention, STV filmed our older adult volunteers and the Head teacher. Please find a link to the article that goes along with the news report here.

Please be assured that the research has been ethically approved, both by the University of Strathclyde and West Lothian Council.