As the Tell Me Project enters its fourth year there is news of interest from Denmark, coaching support from Gale Force Theatre School founder Barbara Gale and upgrades to the website. Ulla Skovsbol, a Danish freelance journalist living in East Jutland and working on a book about intergenerational activities in schools and childcare institutions, learned about the project after reading an article* about the Tell Me Project in the professional journal Working with Older People. Mrs Skovsbol said: ‘The aim of my book is to inspire teachers, care workers and the like to incorporate an intergenerational dimension in their work and encourage schools and nurseries to co-operate with nursing homes and other organisations for older people. ‘Before I went freelance I was a radio reporter for 10 years with Danish Radio, the national public service radio station, which is why I find the Tell Me Project, which works with the local radio and has children conducting the interviews, so fascinating. ‘I’ve learned how people from all parts of the Isle of Man have become involved in the project and I can appreciate the benefits it offers to both the younger and older generation. I believe there are also potential socio-economic benefits. In Denmark there can be a tendency for the older generation to be viewed not as a resource but as an economic burden. But faced with an ageing population we need a younger generation that understands and values older people in order to help create a cross-generational society where the elderly are seen and heard. The Tell Me Project demonstrates how older people have the time and the patience to listen to young people whose own parents may not always have the time to devote to talking about the past. ‘My husband is a web editor of a news site run by the local council of a small rural community in Western Jutland and, after learning about how the Tell Me Project has worked so successfully in a small island, we have been discussing whether we might be able to develop a similar project there.’ The Tell Me Project is co-sponsored by the H & S Davidson Trust, (chaired by the project’s originator Hugh Davidson), and AXA Isle of Man whose personnel and training manager Emma Walker said: ‘Clearly Ulla Skovsbol recognises that Tell Me has the power to encourage communication between younger and older generations and enhance mutual respect and understanding. All of us on the Tell Me steering group will be pleased to share our experiences and support Ulla in whatever way we can to help bring this unique concept to a wider audience.’ Mrs Skovsbol is now in contact with Mr Davidson and Tell Me Project co-ordinator Elizabeth Flynn. Mr Davidson added that he had met with former chairman of the London Stock Exchange, Sir Nicholas Goodison, now chairman of National Life Stories, an oral history collection linked to the British Library. The stories consist of some 2000 interviews, conducted by expert adult interviewers, and cover topics such as the lives of artists, writers and business people. Some of the interviews take place over many sessions, lasting up to 30 hours. They are then archived and used as historical source material and sometimes turned into books or CDs. Mr Davidson said: ‘Sir Nicholas was exceptionally interested in Tell Me. He thought it was an excellent project, and complimented us on the book.’ At the heart of the Tell Me Project is the website –www.thetellmeproject.com. Its developer, Jonathan Teare, is working on upgrading the site and adding greater functionality. To this end Gale Force Theatre School founder and former Tell Me interviewee Barbara Gale is to provide her voice coaching and drama services to assist with speech training, interview techniques, videos and voiceovers. Mr Davidson said: ‘We are delighted to have secured the professional services of Barbara Gale. As founder and director of Gale Force she has worked with young people for more than 20 years encouraging their talent and helping many achieve outstanding results in their English Speaking Board examinations. All of us involved with Tell Me are confident that Barbara’s professional expertise and unique ability to connect with the younger generation will bring a new dimension to the project during 2011.’ Separately, 82-year-old Violet Corlett, of Saddle Road, Douglas evoked vivid memories of Christmases past when she was interviewed by Willaston School pupils Samantha Spicer and Jazmine Hay. Mrs Corlett has published two books of poems; Shades of Violet covers including Douglas in time gone by, trips out, family pets and innocent courtships, while Me, Wee Jock and Ellie, describes the adventures of the imaginary Ellie Kelly and her Scottie dog Jock. Her interview can be heard at www.thetellmeproject.com/interviews/371. For further information contact Elizabeth Flynn, info@thetellmeproject.com *The Tell Me Project…helping to create an age-friendly society by Stephen Ritch. Published by Pier Professional. www.pierprofessional.com The Tell Me Project features on Ulla Skovsbol’s website, www.skovsbol.dk Ends