Irish Chaplaincy Seniors
Intergenerational Work
Overview
Our inter-generational work, currently in partnership with primary schools in West Acton and White City, brings together young and old to share stories, experiences, music, dance and lots more!
The work began as a response to the Covid 19 pandemic, when the children of Holy Family School in West Acton, sent handmade personalised cards to our Seniors. Subsequently the pupils have made hundreds of cards to send to the Seniors at Christmas and Easter. This is so valued and appreciated by the recipients and is now a twice-yearly project for Holy Family.
This was followed by in person tea parties at the school, where the Seniors were served refreshments by the pupils who sang and danced for them. At the most recent occasion in June 2023 Seniors and the children danced together!
All involved on these occasions are greatly enriched by the conversations with each other and what they learn from one another.
The work of Holy Family in supporting older Irish across London, was recognised in November 2022 when they won the Primary School Social Action award at the Diocese of Westminster Love In Action Awards.
For the last two St Patrick Day’s at St John XXIII school in White City have hosted an assembly, showcasing the Chaplaincy’s work in the community. They also hold fundraising events for us. More recently, we have been invited to join with their local parish Seniors group to offer support to the older Irish who attend.
There are many more people who would benefit from our services if we had the resources. We’d be grateful for any help you can offer either by becoming a volunteer or by donating.
You can also get the latest updates from our case workers and volunteers by joining our email list.
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"When I initiated the partnership between our school and the Irish Chaplaincy Services, I envisioned it being a lovely way for our school to help those in need in our community. However, what the partnership has grown into is so much more than I could have imagined. Our children have gotten as much from it as the seniors have. Through our afternoon teas, it has been amazing how the children chat with and ask questions to the seniors. Many of the children's grandparents live in different countries and rarely get to spend time with the elderly. It has been so heartwarming to see children meet the recipients of some of their Christmas cards and see the difference they have made to someone's life. The work of the Irish Chaplaincy Services is just incredible and the seniors regularly comment on just how lucky they are to have such support from them. As a school, we are so grateful to work alongside them and look forward to planning more events in the future."
Ann-Marie, teacher, Holy Family Primary School
"I feel like some people think we might do all the things we do for the Irish Chaplaincy so that we have a good reputation but that’s not it. Really everyone in our school wants to help these seniors and make sure they have a nice life, someone to talk to and have someone there who understands that everyone needs help and someone there for them. It’s a really good experience and helps us understand how we should act in our own in our own lives and what we could be like when we’re older. It also helps us put into action what God wants us to do, putting the vulnerable in society first. I like spending time with the seniors because I feel like it’s good to learn their life story and their accomplishments. They tell us fascinating stories and I think it’s amazing to help someone who has been on the earth for a long time and can teach us things we haven’t learnt yet."
Henry, Year 6
"Our school does lots of work with the Irish Chaplaincy Services. We make and send Easter and Christmas cards to over 250 seniors. We have afternoon teas where we perform some songs and dance and have a chat with the seniors and make sure they don’t feel lonely and know that we care. We love these afternoon teas because it makes us feel like we’ve accomplished something big when we do it. I also think the seniors like our cards and having chats because some of them even bring their old cards with them to the school so that they can meet the children who made them which makes me think that the cards are really special to them."
Emily, Year 6
"Thanks for a lovely afternoon, I really enjoyed it. What a joy with the children, please tell the teachers they made an old lady very happy. God Bless."
Eileen, Client, West London
