Transition Year students at Beech Hill College were delighted to attend the recent National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards 2023 which took place on Thursday 30th November at the Clayton Whites Hotel in Wexford. There was great excitement when their Intergenerational Project won a Judges Special Recognition Award, which was the last award on the night.
The judges stated their belief that the project is one of the most innovative projects which Monaghan Older People's Council have initiated in recent times. The project was instigated by Seamus McDermott, Chair of Monaghan's Older People's Council, who is also a past teacher of Beech Hill.
The project involves two groups of Transition Year students at the college recording news stories from the local news and broadcasting a regular news programme to the residents at local Nursing Homes in Monaghan. Following an initial pilot broadcast, the first "live broadcast" took place in June 2023. Access to the broadcasts has been extended to other Older People's Groups in Monaghan via representatives on the Older People's Council. Speaking to Northern Sound, Deputy Principal at Beech Hill College, Siobhan Sheerin highlighted her pride in those involved.
