Chat and afternoon tea for pensioners at seat of learning
Posted on 27 May 2005
The senior citizens, who live in sheltered housing and residential homes in Fulford, Heslington and Heworth, are guests of students in the University's Derwent College.
They have invited the old folk to an afternoon tea party as their College Challenge, part of the Student Action programme.
We wanted to do something interactive to get as many people as possible involved
Caroline Macfarland
The event builds on an existing Student Action scheme in Derwent - a weekly Tea and Coffee Club which sees a group of 10-15 local pensioners come into the college on Wednesdays for a cup of tea and a chat. For some of them, it is their only social occasion of the week.
The Afternoon Tea Party will be a larger scale version to promote the existing club to potential users and the volunteers needed to staff it.
The event, which is supported by local shops and businesses, has been organised by first-year students Caroline Macfarland and Michael Burn.
Caroline, who is studying Politics and Sociology, said: "There were a whole range of projects which we could have done but Student Action has had a fairly low profile in Derwent. So we wanted to do something interactive to get as many people as possible involved."
Apart from tea and cakes, the students' guests will be able to enjoy bingo and musical entertainment at the event which runs between 2.30pm and 4.30pm on Tuesday 31 May 2005.
Notes to editors:
- Reporters and photographers are welcome at the event in Derwent College canteen between 2.30pm and 4pm on Tuesday 31 May 2005. Ask for Caroline Macfarland or Michael Burn.
- Student Action at York helps students to develop new skills through doing voluntary work in the local community. It is fun, a change from academic work and a great place to make new friends.