'Blethering Buddies' helping tackle loneliness in Dundee

We have been looking at the issue as part of our #TakeTheTime campaign

Author: Hazel MartinPublished 29th Mar 2018

A group of Dundee schoolchildren are helping tackle loneliness in the local community, by spending one lunchtime a week with elderly residents.

Tay News has been looking at the issue as part of our #TakeTheTime campaign and we are urging people to sign up as befrienders across Tayside and Fife.

Harris Academy pupils have paired up with members of Corso Street Sheltered Housing Complex, and every Thursday, they share stories and experiences, and do crafts and fundraising activities.

The Blether Buddies scheme has even scooped a national prize at the recent Generations Working Together awards.

14-year-old Warryn White heads long every week, and said it helps him too:

Rose Falconer is 79, and lives with her husband near the school. She doesn’t have a lot of family nearby, and Blether Buddies is one of the highlights of her week:

The project has been widely welcomed by other members of the community, including local councillor and children and young people spokesperson, Bill Campbell.

He said: “Speaking as someone with a few grey hairs myself I am really pleased that a project like this has brought together what are so often regarded as the two ends of the age spectrum.

“Each generation has experiences that people of any age can identify with and sharing them is a great way of bringing us all closer together".