Young and Old Unite for Ridge Hill Celebration

IT was a day for the ages when younger and older generations got together at Ambleside Baptist Church, Stalybridge, to mark the International Day of Older People, whose theme was “The part we play” – celebrating the role of older people in our communities.

Pupils from Inspire Academy, Ashton, and Silver Springs Primary, Stalybridge, joined the older folk for a busy morning of activities spread across several stations.

At the chatty station there were Museum in a Box items which led to some interesting conversations and brought back many memories.

Young and old collaborated to produce colourful leaf-inspired prints at the mark-making station, while at the illustration station they used lightboxes to view leaves and plants.

The listening station featured ten audio trail stories. Some were written and narrated by Inspire and Silver Springs pupils, and others by older residents who are members of Ridge Hill’s Chatty Café, aided by students from Tameside College. These will be released online soon for people to stream or download.

Interference Art have worked on ideas for use as inspiration for wayfinders at Chadwick Dam, showing that it’s a great place for people of all ages to visit. Activities have included using natural paints to create images and patterns.

After a lunch provided by Ridge Hill Big Local, the adults finished off with some chair-based exercises.

The event was part of the Greater Manchester Ageing in Place Pathfinder (AIPP), a two-year project providing better access, activity and community engagement involving several Tameside Council services including population health, cultural services, the Mayor’s office and IT.

AIPP makes sure older people’s voices are heard and valued in the places they live, and finding ways to improve their quality of life as the years pass.

It’s all about discovering what they value, the contributions they make, and the barriers they may face.

There are three questions at the core of the work: What’s it like to live around here, what could make it better and how can we work together?

AIPP is led by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority working with Manchester School of Architecture. Ridge Hill is one of nine neighbourhoods across the region where Pathfinder Partnerships are anchored by lead organisations. In Tameside’s case this is Jigsaw Homes.

Cllr Eleanor Wills, Tameside Council’s executive member for population health and well-being, said: “The Pathfinder is one of Tameside’s unsung success stories. After a quiet beginning 12 months ago, it has blossomed into a project that has been embraced by the local community.

“The room was packed with people of all ages at the celebration event, showing how residents have taken it to their hearts.

“Pathfinder provides a wonderful way for the generations to get together and learn from each other. The benefit to the older people’s health is palpable as it breaks down the walls of loneliness and isolation by allowing them to meet others in a friendly and fulfilling atmosphere.”