Intergenerational work is so important at Leeds Irish Health & Homes.
We're always looking for ways to connect across different age groups, to share our community's stories and to help young people explore their Irish heritage and learn about Irish and Leeds Irish history.
This year, we've been invited into lots of Leeds schools and worked with students in a number of different ways.
Corpus Christi Primary School were so welcoming when we visited to explain who we are, what we do, to learn about the Irish famine and to make soda bread, and both the class teacher and headteacher were keen to share their Irish heritage. Special thanks to LIHH cooks Christine and Eileen for running such a fun, hands-on session.
Holy Rosary and St Anne's Primary School invited us in for their Culture Day and what a wonderful celebration it was! The children's outfits were amazing and the Jam Mallows and other Irish treats we brought along went down very well. We also run our regular gardening group at the Memorial Garden at Holy Rosary and St Anne's and we've been made to feel so welcome. Thank you for having us!
We felt very honoured to be invited along to St Nicholas' and Immaculate Heart's leavers' shows, and we were absolutely blown away by the talent on display at both schools! We'll be heading back in the autumn to do some soda bread making and famine workshops with the children.
We also spent a wonderful morning spent Year 5 children at St Augustine's Primary School. The children learnt about LIHH, the Irish community in Leeds and the Great Irish Famine. The children and staff were so welcoming and we can't wait to visit again.
We've also visited St Urban's Primary, where the children learned about our work supporting the Irish community in Leeds and about Irish history - and we had some lovely feedback from the headteacher:
"Thanks so much to you all for your visit and great workshops today with Year 5 and 6 - it was lovely meeting you and for the children to get some insights into Irish history; it's very relevant (not least at this time of year) for many of them given their own Irish heritage but important for us all to remember! We really appreciate your time and expertise and the children enjoyed the sessions. Please pass on our gratitude to the team who came in."
And last but very much not least, we also went to visit St Patrick's Primary for St Brigid's Day, learnt lots about Ireland's only national female saint and made St Brigid's crosses. We'll be back in the autumn for more!
To find out more about our intergenerational work, contact Clare Mone by calling the office on 0113 262 5614 or emailing clare.mone@lihh.org.
Comments