I was recently asked to become a Grandmaker at a Grandfest festival which was held at St. Fagans on Sunday the 9^th July. Grandfest is a festival organised by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) which celebrates the skills of older people. In the festival, Grandmakers, older people over the age of 70, pass on the skills they have learned and perfected to younger generations.

I agreed to take part because I have always been a strong believer that learning isn’t just about courses, exams, qualifications or work. Learning is about Sharing, Socialising and having fun. It is not just for the young or people of working age but for people of all ages. There is an old saying that “you are never to old to learn”. In fact the older you are the more important learning becomes.

Have a look at a website Five Ways to Wellbeing, It suggests that the 5 ways to well being are:-

• Connect – connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours

• Be active – you don't have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life

• Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence

• Give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word.

• Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings

By taking part I was able to fulfil these 5 ways. I connected. I had a wonderful time talking to children who think that learning a new skill is an adventure. I met a lady from Spain who makes the bobbin lace that British tourists buy on holiday. She was fascinated with my tatted lace. We could have talked all day. My hobbies and activities keep me active so my body is reasonably fit but it is the keep learning that keeps my mind active and allows me to overcome the depression I feel sometimes. I would lump give to others and Be Mindful together. The feeling I get when I am able to pass on a skill or a technique I have learned is fantastic. One lady and her daughter wanted to learn how to do tatting as she had possessed a tatting shuttle for years, but did not know what to do with it. You never know her daughter my take it up and so it could pass down through the generations.

The Royal Voluntary Service wants to help create a society where everyone feels valued and involved whatever their age. The RVS is also a supporter of Men’s Sheds.

Why don’t you pass on our skills or take up a new skill so that you can pass them on to other people, to stop those skills from being lost. It could also help with your physical and mental well being.

Five steps to mental wellbeing

Below are five things that, according to research, can really help to boost our mental wellbeing: 

• Connect – connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships. Learn more in Connect for mental wellbeing.

• Be active – you don't have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life. Learn more in Get active for mental wellbeing.

• Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike? Find out more in Learn for mental wellbeing.

• Give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. Learn more in Give for mental wellbeing.

Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. Learn more in Mindfulness for mental wellbeing.

Article By John Gates -------------------------------------------------------------------------------