Danyel VanReenen joined Provost Jim Leishman at the monthly gathering at Waid Academy
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:10 This is Bite and Blether.
00:15 It brings folks from across Fife together once a month for good food and
00:18 even better company.
00:19 It's a way of combating loneliness in Fife's over 65 community, and
00:23 it brings both young and old together.
00:26 Fife's provost Jim Leishman was amongst the group on Friday.
00:29 Here's what he had to say.
00:31 >> I think this is terrific.
00:32 When I found out about it and the title, Bite and
00:36 a Blether, I thought, well, that's interesting.
00:39 But you see the turn now, and they're coming from, it's not just from the East
00:43 New, they're coming from the south, all over to take part.
00:48 And when I speak to the ladies and the gents, everyone enjoys this.
00:53 They're enjoying themselves.
00:55 It's great, one of the ladies said to me that I'm 90 year old, and
00:59 I'm making new friends.
01:00 I think that's a great statement, so that's it.
01:03 But it's a pleasure being here.
01:07 It's great that they're getting out, they're getting out about,
01:11 they're socializing, they're getting a nice bit of fish from the East New.
01:16 So what more can I say?
01:18 >> And here's Scott Duncan, head teacher at Wade Academy.
01:22 >> We started Bite and a Blether in 2019,
01:24 when the school moved to an asymmetric week being closed on a Friday afternoon
01:28 to pupils.
01:28 We wanted to open up the building to members of the public,
01:31 in particular the over 65s, and develop some intergenerational work.
01:36 So allow opportunities for our young people to interact, chat away,
01:40 have a blether with members, elderly members of the community.
01:44 It's really important for me and the school to be at the heart of the community.
01:48 We've said we're a school that's proud to be part of the community.
01:52 And for me, that means getting the community in and
01:54 learning from each other, all parts of the community as well.
01:58 And it's really important, it gives the young people who are serving
02:02 an opportunity just to develop some hospitality skills, but
02:05 also customer service.
02:06 And also just to interact with the elderly in the community and
02:10 just develop relationships, which is ultimately a really powerful tool
02:14 to get more understanding between the generations.
02:17 >> So my name is Chisangalo McKee.
02:19 I think I've been a volunteer since last year.
02:23 And some of my friends did it before, in the older year group, and
02:27 then I came along one time and I just kept going.
02:30 And I just like coming because it's just, I'm a quite people person, so
02:35 I like to interact with people and get to know people.
02:38 So I like to say yes to things, so I'm always here to help.
02:45 I like people knowing me and
02:48 being able to be recognized for something like that.
02:51 So yeah, I enjoy it.
02:53 >> Great, and what do you think it means for
02:55 the elderly folks who come in here every month?
02:57 >> I feel like it's definitely a way for them to connect with everybody.
03:01 Because everyone, some people live alone and stuff, but
03:05 then I'm quite an energetic person, I get up and dance and everything.
03:09 So I feel like when they see me dance, they're quite happy, and
03:12 I like to have that effect on people.
03:15 >> And finally, here's Alan Manzi, the service manager for
03:17 five community services in the Royal Voluntary Service.
03:21 >> So our lunch and activity groups were set up to combat people
03:26 that are experiencing loneliness, social isolation as they call it.
03:30 But best, I think somebody said to me,
03:32 it's a place to meet old friends and make new friendships.
03:36 And we bring people together.
03:38 We have 13, 14 events every week where people come together, enjoy lunch,
03:42 mainly enjoy each other's company.
03:44 We have a bit of fun, always.
03:47 And some activities just to keep the mind and the body going.