NHC HOST OPALS EVENT WITH HERTS FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
On Thursday 25th April Herts Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) organised an OPALS (Older Persons Active Learning and Safety) event for 100 local elderly residents at our Stevenage campus’ community hall.
Students from Public Services and, Health and Social Care worked with the elderly to support them throughout the day. With one group of students talking to the elderly visitors about social media and benefits and considerations of using it.
A number of community service providers were in attendance to inform of the help and support they can provide for the elderly and to ensure that they have all the information they need.
Services included Fire Service, Police, Stevenage Borough Council, Trading Standards, Age UK, HILS (Hertfordshire Independent Living Service), Midshires Search & Rescue, Resilience, Samaritans, Road Safety students.
Julie Springett, Fire Prevention Coordinator, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “I can honestly say I have not worked with a group of young people before who have been as polite, focused, motivated, engaging and generally lovely. They are a credit to themselves, their parents and the college. They listened to the brief they were given and delivered it brilliantly. The students were really well received and appreciated by the older people.”
