Bingo and butties helped older and younger residents of a Daventry estate get to know each other better.
Daventry & District Housing organised a special lunchtime event at Mountbatten House, on the Southbrook estate, to bring residents of all ages together.
Members of Southbrook Senior Citizens’ Club spent time at the flats’ common room, playing bingo and enjoying a lunch served up by Mountbatten’s younger residents.
The event aimed to break down barriers between the generations by helping residents get to know each other and by increasing understanding of different views and outlooks.
Evelyn Bristow, chair of the senior citizens’ club, said: “The event was a lovely opportunity to get to know the younger people and have a laugh together. Some of our members were apprehensive to begin with as you hear such a lot of negative things about the younger generation but they were really nice.
“We gave them a run for their money in the bingo and it was nice to have a meal together. You don’t get the same opportunities to meet without events like this so I think it was a really good idea to put something on.”
Ciara McMillan, community development manager at Daventry & District Housing, said: “For communities to work together cohesively it is important that residents of all ages and backgrounds get the opportunity to meet together.
“The event was an opportunity to overcome perceptions and help those living in the same neighbourhood to get to know each other. Events such as this are simple but can go a long way to helping people feel part of their community.”
Daventry & District Housing has been working with residents at Mountbatten House over the last year to carry out a range of improvements. Residents have been involved in decorating communal areas, flats have been refitted and outside areas have been landscaped and improved with new facilities, such as a basketball hoop.
The Southbrook Senior Citizens’ Club meets every Thursday from 1.30pm to 3pm at The Lighthouse Church in Southbrook.
