Morning tea builds intergenerational connections

Sharon Lewis (with granddaughter Stevie Sharp), Sharma (holding Grace with James), TCH coordinator Prue Challis, and Friends for Good's Eleisha Casaňas (holding Remi and Luca). BELOW: Children and elderly residents, like Peter and Lousie, enjoyed the connections built at the morning tea. Photos: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT.

A NEW collaboration, named ‘Playful Bridges’, between Torquay’s local community house and a not-for-profit organisation combatting isolation and loneliness has built dozens of new connections.

Torquay Community House (TCH) held a successful Intergenerational Morning Tea earlier this week at the TIA Hall on Price Street, partnering up with Friends for Good to celebrate Seniors Festival and Children’s Week.

Delphi enjoying some artwork on her arm.

Children and parents spent time at the hall engaging in fun activities such as singing, dancing, face painting, arts and crafts and ten-pin bowling.

Local seniors and members of the Torquay Lions Club then attended the event to enjoy a free morning tea alongside the children already there, finding new connections and chatting about a range of topics.

Face-painting was a common occurrence at the morning tea.

TCH program coordinator Prue Challis said the event was a great success, with the morning tea bringing joy to more than 30 senior residents and building new connections.

Jo Klemke and Ivy enjoying the morning tea.

“From a community standpoint, events like these create spaces for our locals to spend time with one another and establish those face-to-face connections,” Ms Challis said.

“We’re all about mitigating isolation and loneliness, and each program we run is centred around those space.

Children and elderly residents, like Peter and Lousie, enjoyed the connections built at the morning tea.

“We’ve loved working with Friends for Good and what they’re all about, the partnership was a bit of a no-brainer from our perspective.”

Friends for Good national research and community education manager Eleisha Casañas said the two organisations would be happy to continue collaborating to provide the community with different activities for them to engage in.