AN AYRSHIRE boat-building project that aimed to link up younger people with the older generation is set to tell its story in a bid to inspire others to step up their inter-generational work.

The boat-building project team will be among the guests at a ‘learning roadshow’ taking place in Troon next week.

Generations Working Together (GWT) has put together the event, being held at the Walker Hall in the town’s Municipal Buildings on Friday, April 26.

The project began as a way of getting young people to gain skills through the Duke of Edinburgh award.

The young people didn’t have the skills to build a boat alone, but a public meeting, attended by 20 retired people, most of whom didn't have boat-building experience either but knew about working with wood and were keen to work with the school pupils involved, put the building blocks in place for the scheme.

It has now been rolled out to four other locations, and six boats have been built in total along the Ayrshire coast.

One of the boats has been donated to South Ayrshire Council for use at the Dolphin House outdoor centre at Culzean, while another will be used for water sports on the River Ayr.

The project, which is a previous GWT Excellence Awards winner, was funded by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Diamond Challenge fund, the Ayr College Community Fund, the Ayr Academy parent council and the Ayr Freemasons, while Allanvale Land Investment donated the shed where the boats were built.

Ayr Advertiser: The boat-building project was set up to forge links between young people and the older generation

The Troon event will also be attended by Dr Philippa Whitford, the MP for Central Ayrshire, and South Scotland regional MSP Carol Mochan.

Alison Clyde, chief executive of Generations Working Together, said: “The intergenerational roadshows are a great opportunity to meet others in your community and partner to bring different generations together.

“Intergenerational learning can combat social isolation and loneliness in older people, build confidence, empathy, compassion and social responsibility in younger people, and for the community itself improve social cohesion, reduce ageism, strengthen social networks and contribute to the development of all age-friendly communities.”

Ms Mochan added: “I am delighted that Generations Working Together are bringing their learning roadshow to Ayrshire. The opportunity to give voice to different generations in a constructive environment is invaluable for communities like our own.

“Loneliness amongst older people, in particular, is a serious problem in my region, and we have to try different approaches to resolve that which involve the whole community.
“The divide between younger and older generations creates unnecessary tension and often illogical policy decisions which alienate these groups from one another.

I am looking forward to working with Generations Working Together to help make progress in this area.”

Similar roadshows are taking place in Dundee, Inverness, Dumfries and Aberdeen.

The Troon event on April 26 runs from 10.30am until 1.30pm. If you would like to attend, you can register at tinyurl.com/intergenerationaltroon.