PUPILS, teachers, parents and elderly residents in Arrochar are joining forces in a pioneering inter-generational project in the village.

They are part of the Generation Communities Group, run by Arrochar Primary School and the Arrochar and Tarbet Community Development Trust, with the aim of bringing people of all ages together.

Visiting the Three Villages Hall with the participants of varying generations to address members of the Helensburgh and Lomond Community Planning Group (CPG), Fiona Paterson from the school’s parent-teacher association explained how the project has taken off.

She said: “We felt in the village that there were lots of different groups for different age groups – like playgroup and school for young people and bingo and lunch club for older ones.

“But there was nothing really for everyone to get together, so we applied to Argyll and Bute Council for funding and this was what we used it for.

“Alison allows us to use the school and a whole group of children and adults get together. I work with adults with learning disabilities and it gives everyone an opportunity to talk to each other and find out about activities.”

Arrochar Primary head teacher Alison Palmer told the CPG’s members: “The hardest bit at the start was getting it out there. The kids were up for it, but how do you get children involved in this project?

“Fiona had the idea of speaking to doctors’ surgeries, where fliers were distributed to highlight what was happening, and it just grew.

“There are several people in the back row who are in their 90s, so we go right across the full spectrum in terms of ages.

“We meet on the last Thursday of every month in the school, which saves us transporting the children to a different venue.”

During the meeting, one of the participants said: “We have all got to go through life and do the best we can, and we have got to help one another.

“That is absolutely vital to everybody – the children, their teachers and everybody who gets involved.

“I can’t sing these people’s praises highly enough for what they do.”

Alison then introduced that participant as Ron – who is 96 years old. And then it was over to the youngsters to hear about their activities during the project.

The pupils said: “During the first week it was great hearing about everyone’s lives, and we played some getting to know you games.

“In the second week, Billy and Ron came and showed us how to use a Morse Code machine, and Billy told us about his Lancaster Bomber experiences.”

Further activities were recalled, including a visit from an animal expert, a trip to the cinema, and a Scottish-themed afternoon.