Primary school pupils help older adults reduce the risk of falls

Throughout the pandemic young people from schools across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan have been helping older adults stay steady on their feet, by taking part in the Staying Steady Schools project.  

A Bevan Commission Exemplar, the Staying Steady Schools project began in 2018, and brought together primary school pupils and older adults, along with University students, for intergenerational falls awareness sessions. The sessions highlight the risks that are associated with falls, and how these risks can be reduced. Engaging children in the delivery of the messages to older adults has enabled this to be done in a fun and interactive way, with some very enjoyable activity for all concerned. 

Since then the project has engaged 24 schools throughout Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, with over 500 children taking part, successfully engaging over 250 older adults in their interactive falls awareness sessions. In 2020, the project won an Advancing Healthcare Award, and has also won the Faculty of Public Health and Public Health England Award for contributions to public health.  

During 2020, the pandemic prevented these sessions being run face-to-face, but we have successfully piloted a virtual version so that primary schools can get involved in the project just as easily whilst restrictions are still in place. 

The pupils at Lakeside Primary School in Cardiff piloted the virtual version during the start of 2021, and did a fantastic job at demonstrating how the Staying Steady Schools project can still convey the key falls awareness messages and promote strength and balance exercises that older adults should be aware of.  

Watch Lakeside Primary School pupils help promote falls awareness with their specially created video here.  

If you would like to take part in the project, please get in touch with Martha for more information: Martha-Jane.Powell@wales.nhs.uk. You can also follow the project on Twitter: @CaV_SSS. You can find more information on falls prevention on the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board website by clicking here.