Actress Lynda Bellingham launches the Generations@School Project at Sciennes

Actress Lynda Bellingham joined the children at Sciennes Primary School, Edinburgh, to launch the European Commission Generations@Schools Project in the UK on Thursday 26th April, 2012.

Lynda talked to the children about what it is like to be older and the bond many children have with their grandparents. She read a short extract from a book and afterwards answered questions from the children about what it was like being on Dr Who and how much she enjoyed dancing on Strictly Come Dancing.

"It would be lovely to see as many schools as possible getting involved in the Generations@School project in the same way Sciennes Primary School in Edinburgh has today", Lynda declared. "It’s a good way to help encourage more interaction between our generations."

The Generations@Schools project is part of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012, and it encourages schools to invite local community members like the St Catherine’s Argyle Church Lunch Club in Sciennes, who also joined the launch, into the classroom to build closer intergenerational relationships.

Head Teacher at Sciennes Primary School, Alison Noble, said: "Our choir, orchestra and classes perform at the lunch club, which helps to build our children’s confidence. We’re very keen to develop this project to help develop and expand our established links."