A BARRHEAD care home has joined forces with St Luke’s High School to work on an intergenerational project which aims to celebrate the lives of its residents.

Fifth and sixth year pupils from the secondary have been paying regular visits to interview those living at Norwood Nursing Home and doing research to help them write their life stories.

The teens volunteered for the project to commemorate the ‘Year of the Story’ and will be showcasing their completed work at the end of the initiative with a party in the nursing home, on Victoria Road.

Denise Smith, Youth Lead from Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire, told the Barrhead News: “Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire are delighted to support this intergenerational project.

“We have been amazed by the motivation and enthusiasm of the young people from St Luke’s High School, and it has been a pleasure to watch the residents from Norwood Care Home share their life stories.

“The young people have also chosen to volunteer their time to plan and deliver a celebration event at the end of the project for the residents and their families.

“We are all really excited to see the finished project.”

Paul Lawson, Norwood’s customer relations manager, meanwhile, added: “The residents always enjoy reminiscing and when you hear their stories you are in awe of the fascinating and fulfilling lives they have led.

“When they start to tell you about their families, their travels, their jobs and their experiences it is so interesting and the children loved to listen and were completely engrossed.

“We would really like to thank Denise Smith and Anna Kerr from East Renfrewshire Voluntary Action for coordinating this project and also Lynne Dawson at Barrhead Library and of course the teachers and children at St Luke’s.

“We can’t wait to show off the end results and get everyone involved together with the residents and their families to read the stories.”

Amongst the residents taking part is Carolynn Suttie. The 76-year-old used to play piano for the local primary schools and still regularly plays on the nursing home’s piano.

She also ran Sunday School at Bourock Church where she played the organ and where everyone affectionately referred to her as auntie.

Carolynn added: “It’s great to have the kids here and I loved talking to them. I hope they found my story interesting and that it’s helped them in their studies.”