Children and older people swapped skills at a community event in Rawdon.

A total of 24 children attended the skills exchange day at Rawdon Community Library.

 Youngsters from Rawdon Littlemoor Primary School and St Peter’s Primary School taught older residents how to use computers and laptops while the craft group showed both young and old how to use the new sewing machines, how to make pompoms, French knitting and bookmarks for Mother’s Day.

June Longley, from the Friends of Rawdon Library, said: “Essentially it was young people learning from older ones, and older ones accepting and learning from the greater technological expertise of the young.

“The craft group members, led by Barbara Slack, were outstanding in sharing their skills – patiently explaining and assisting.  “They had been preparing for the event for months. Children from St Peter’s and Littlemoor were enthusiastic about all of it and made pompom bookmarks and learned to knit and do applique. Everyone wants to repeat the event – and to see children totally absorbed in either food, crafts or computers was quite special.”

Rawdon Littlemoor teacher Tony Latimer said: “What a great day we had last Saturday at Rawdon Community Library. We took 13 children along to meet some of our elderly neighbours and we shared our joint skills. The children were able to show off their computer prowess whilst acquiring some new craft skills at the same time. We came away with patchwork, book marks and baby comforters, and even machined our own names onto our work. We all agreed that it was an enjoyable and entertaining way to spend a Saturday morning and we can't wait for the next one."

Saturday’s skills exchange, funded by Comic Relief, has been hailed a huge success, and there are plans to repeat the event in the run-up to Christmas.