Intergenerational work

The National Youth Agency have since September 2008, forged a partnership with the Beth Johnson Foundation, a national organisation which through its Centre for Intergenerational Practice, aims to support the development and promotion of intergenerational practice as a catalyst for change.

Through this collaboration, there will be a greater focus on the role that the youth sector can play in developing and promoting the potential of intergenerational activities to deliver on a number of Government identified priorities, an examination of the issues and challenges that intergenerational work present in the youth work field, and a demonstration of the outcomes of intergenerational work for young people and for the broader community.

Some of the benefits of our partnership will include providing greater support for the development and enhancement of a Network of intergenerational work, providing strategic direction within this field while simultaneously seeking to influence current and future policy, identifying and sharing examples of good practice disseminated through case studies and the development of a sound evidence base for intergenerational work.

Read: Why Youth Services Should Get Involved in Intergenerational Work

See the Intergenerational pilot projects

NYA working in association with:

The Beth Johnson Foundation
64 Princes Road
Parkfield House
Hartshill
Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire
ST4 7JL

Telephone: 01782 844036
Fax: 01782 746940
Email: admin@bjf.org.uk
Web: http://www.bjf.org.uk/ 
See also: www.centreforip.org.uk

Why Youth Services Should Get Involved in Intergenerational Work

Youth Work provides unique opportunities of informal education for young people. Through the provision of these opportunities young people are able to learn about themselves, broaden their understanding of others and of the society in which they live, while simultaneously developing and extending their skills, experiences and relationships in the process.

Youth Work provides unique opportunities of informal education for young people. Through the provision of these opportunities young people are able to learn about themselves, broaden their understanding of others and of the society in which they live, while simultaneously developing and extending their skills, experiences and relationships in the process.

Intergenerational Work is complimentary to the work that is undertaken by youth services and is a useful approach that can be used for delivering programmes on a range of issues which are of interest to youth services.

Intergenerational work encourages an exploration of values, identities and relationships between young and old which can lead to changes in attitudes and behaviour and ultimately respect for each other. Meaningful engagement between generations can also enhance the quality of life, strengthen communities and contribute to social change.

Several reasons can be advanced for the involvement of youth services in intergenerational work:

• Youth work is well positioned/ placed to contribute to intergenerational programmes because of its focus and skills in relationship building.
• Youth work makes a valuable contribution to social capital and in particular ‘bridging social capital’ which forges links between people of different attitudes, dispositions, norms and values.
• Youth services are good at working in partnership with a wide range of service providers and organisations.
  Youth work can be flexible and responsive to local needs.
• Youth workers using youth work methods can build bridges between young people and the wider community.
• Youth workers can intervene in situations to prevent the development of disaffection and exclusion and can demonstrate a good track record of targeted work with young people.
• Youth workers are well equipped to act as intermediaries in situations where relationships are strained or have broken down.

Intergenerational can contribute to strategy areas which are of interest to youth services. Intergenerational work can:

• Contribute to social cohesion programmes aimed at creating a greater understanding between groups, the fostering of positive relationships and connecting young people with their communities.
• Make links to the citizenship curriculum with a focus on the skills, knowledge and values needed to encourage young people’s participation in the exercise of active citizenship locally and beyond this within a wider global context.
• Contribute in addressing issues of social inclusion by challenging social exclusion to reduce disadvantage.
• Assist in crime prevention strategies and the promotion of community safety by reducing anti social behaviour, diffusing potential confrontation and conflict between groups and addressing the fear of crime.
• Help in addressing issues of social justice and inequality. The values which underpin youth work reflect the need to challenge discrimination and oppression.

Intergenerational Work Provides Opportunities:

• For the sharing of skills and experiences between generations and intergenerational learning.
• For community capacity building.
• For effective learning in informal settings.
• To reduce tensions between generations.
• For challenging the negative stereotypes that both generations have of each other and adopting positive attitudes.
• For exposure to different social experiences.
• For volunteering/ voluntary action.
• To experience ‘living social history’.
• For the transmission of culture and cultural traditions.
• Which enable disenfranchised groups of people , i.e. old and young to discuss issues, form alliances and have their voice heard.
• To work in partnership with older generations to build better understanding , create a greater sense of trust and mutual responsibility.

The following organisations were selected to become intergenerational pilots. They are:

• The Drop Inn, Belper, Derbyshire
• Feminist Webs, Manchester
• East Riding of Yorkshire Local Authority
• London Borough of Harrow
• London Borough of Merton
• Aylesbury Vale District Council
• Buckinghamshire County Council
• Derbyshire County Council
• Worth Unlimited, North Solihull
• Trinity Church, Ossett, Wakefield
• Youth Inclusion Project, Manchester
• Worcester Volunteer Centre
• Volunteer Centre, Glossop
• Multi Agency Project, Wolverhampton
• Youth Clubs Hampshire and Isle of Wight
• The Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade
• Community Matters, the National Federation of Community Organisations
• Changemakers.

The Agency will work with these organisations over a period of 18 months. Apart from working along side organisations, training seminars and opportunities for networking will also be offered.

Useful Reading

Youth Action and Engagement - building intergenerational relationships - May 2008