Karen Howell, chief executive, Wirral Community Health and Care Foundation Trust, writes for the Globe.

IT was an impromptu conversation between one of our divisional managers and Alpha housing association that sparked the idea for an "Intergenerational Project" to try to bring older and younger generations together.

Our staff who deliver health and social care across our local communities know all too well that older people can often feel lonely and isolated.

Meanwhile we know that many of the people who use our 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Service don't have much contact with older generations, particularly if they don't have older relatives.

So trying to bring the generations together, to break down barriers and find common ground, seemed like a good way of tackling loneliness and boosting the health and wellbeing of young and old alike.

Together with Alpha we approached Wirral Metropolitan College, to see if they could help facilitate an Intergenerational Project.

We were also supported by the wonderful Hive Wirral Youth Zone and Wirral's Older People's Parliament.

Working together, we organised for a group of young people to spend time with residents of a sheltered housing scheme in Bromborough, teaching them how to get to grips with modern technology.

Sheltered housing residents are typically over 55 years old and may not have necessarily had access to digital technology.

So the students helped them to learn their way around iPads, skype and smart phones, but it was fantastic to see how much the young people got out of the event too.

As they started to build relationships and share knowledge there was a real sense of pride and compassion, and the young people soon realised that the older generation have a wealth of experience to share too.

It was a great opportunity for the students to practice their communication skills and understand the value of supporting their local community.

The two groups are now looking forward to their next event; an intergenerational bingo session!

The project is in its early stages, but the pilot was such a huge success that together with Alpha housing association, we are committed to rolling it out wider across the borough.

Tackling loneliness, increasing confidence and building relationships all play a huge part in improving the health and wellbeing of young and old alike.

It's a win/win situation, and I'm really proud that in partnership with Alpha and with the support of Wirral Met, we have instigated such a simple idea that can make such a big difference to people's lives.

Finally you may recall that in one of my columns I shared details of our proposed name change.

As of Monday this week, we are now Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (or Wirral Community Health and Care for short!).

We look forward to the start of a new era as your local community health and care provider.