RESIDENTS at an Ovingham care home took technology tips from middle school pupils this week as part of a new partnership.

The link between Wellburn House Care Home in Ovingham and pupils at Ovingham Middle School was launched as part of the care home’s 30th birthday celebrations.

Last week, house captains and vice-captains from Year 8 went across to Wellburn House to interview the residents about which ICT skills they would like to learn.

On Tuesday, residents headed to the school to take part in workshops organised by the pupils.

In the morning, Year 5 pupils took part in one-to-one reading sessions with the residents, before they enjoyed lunch together. After that, the Year 8 pupils ran workshops on four areas of ICT.

One group taught residents how to access audio books, following feedback that some residents were struggling to read books because of poor eyesight, and another group showed them how to listen to podcasts.

After one resident had said she would like to be taught how to send an email her grandson, another group led a workshop on sending and receiving emails.

Residents were also taught how to use the BBC news app on an iPad to access news specific to their interests.

Meanwhile, residents brought in household items dating back 30 years or more to explain how technology has changed every day items over the years.

“The pupils seemed to really enjoy it,” said John Kane, head of ICT at the school.

“I thought there maybe would be some awkwardness in speaking to the residents at first but actually they seemed to really like talking to them and hearing about their lives and how things had changed, as well as teaching them new things.

“We very much wanted this to be about sharing skills.

“We are very happy to help and support their 30 years and it’s great to celebrate a birthday, but we don’t want that to be the end of it. We believe it’s bigger and goes beyond that and we’re keen to keep the relationship going.”

Teachers at the school are hoping to send pupils to Wellburn House again in the near future, to give residents with limited mobility who can’t get to the school a chance to interact with them.

And two Wellburn House residents who are former art teachers are hoping to deliver art masterclasses on making Christmas decorations with the children over the coming weeks.