Seniors are being urged to get involved with the Island's young people – helping to be their mentors.

The call comes from YouthNet volunteer Webster Tucker, a senior who now spends his Friday's helping out at a primary school.

In the spring of 2007, Mr. Tucker was home reading the newspaper when he saw an advertisement by YouthNet – the group was looking for volunteers to mentor students in the primary level of school.

He contacted the organisation and was set up with Purvis Primary School to be a mentor to its students. Mr. Tucker, who yesterday was sitting on one of the benches at the school reading to a group of four students, said: "I come to Purvis every Friday and I love it!"

Armani Simon, age six, certainly appreciates his visits. "I love when Mr. Tucker reads to us. It's fun and we get to ask him questions," she said.

"The first day I came here I didn't know what to expect and I didn't know any of the children. I felt that was the perfect balance as we can take the time out to get to know each other," Mr. Tucker said.

Mr. Tucker, a former employee of Bermuda Broadcasting Company, mentors at Purvis every Friday from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. He said he had also been a substitute mentor at Heron Bay for a month and enjoyed that experience as well.

"I held many positions at ZBM, I was a producer for radio and television, a recording engineer, a technical director and a DJ. I have been retired for eight years and had been looking for something to do so that is why I got involved with YouthNet," he said.

The mentoring programme at YouthNet supplies volunteers with books to read to the children. "When I come to the school, I allow the children to choose the books they want read to them," Mt. Tucker said. "I then read to them for a half an hour and the other half an hour we play games.

"Allowing the children to choose their stories allows me to have their full attention. Sometimes I'll have them read to me and I will assist them if they are having problems with any of the words."

Flavio (Vio) Mundy, age five said: "I like him (Mr. Tucker) so much cause he lets us play with games and puzzles."

Mr. Tucker said his objective in mentoring the students is for them to be positive in life.

"Ages five and six are the ages of the learning curve. If we don't shape them now, we will lose them," he said.

"At a Senior Advisory meeting at YouthNet, I suggested that we get children involved and have them interact with seniors in the community.

Currently there are more than 40 volunteers at schools Island-wide but the organisation is hoping more men will volunteer their time.

"We need more male volunteers, what we are trying to do is to get volunteers in every primary school in Bermuda, as children need a break from teachers and we can provide that," Mr. Tucker said.

He told The Royal Gazette that, because he has the children for the last period of the day, he has the opportunity to meet a lot of the parents who have told him that they see a great improvement with their children's behaviour since the programme started.

When asked about his thoughts on Seniors Week, he said: "I think it's a good idea but instead of a week they should make it a month and have activities throughout for them.

"When was the last time seniors had the opportunity to go to the Aquarium, for instance, or other places of interest as a group?"

Mr. Tucker gets out and about, however. He is a member of R.O.M.E.O.S. — Retired Old Men Eating Out Sometimes.

"We are a bunch of longtime good friends who have decided to keep in touch and have lunch together every Tuesday at different restaurants. You have to keep active in order to stay young," he said.

"I encourage other seniors in the community to get involved with any organisation and keep busy because it keeps you young. Give something back."

Mr. Tucker also DJs every other Sunday on the religious radio station 105.1. He hosts the half-hour 'Looking Back' show and features local calypso music.

"I pick up a handful of records and go up to the station and play them, something I very much enjoy," he said.