A six-week pilot project is aiming to bridge Edinburgh’s generation gap through organising weekly meet-ups between Gylemuir Primary School Nursery pupils and residents from a local housing association for older people.

Each Friday, 10 four-to-five-year-olds spend the morning at Claycot Park, a Hanover Scotland sheltered housing development in Corstorphine, taking part in various activities including Lego building, bubble blowing, and colouring-in. Each meet-up begins with the children singing a welcome song to the retirees after which everyone is given a name badge and each child chooses their ‘older friend’ for that morning’s activities.

88-year-old Mrs Mary Aitchison is almost completely blind and has lived at Claycot Park for over nine years.

Another parent, Jade Finlayson, added: “It’s such a great thing for the kids and for the community as a whole.”