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The generation game

Read the tabloids and you could be forgiven for thinking that older people live in fear of young people and anti-social behaviour. But Robert Bullard finds that councils can tackle tensions between the generations. (Local Government Chronicle, 28th February 2008)

REDCUE FEAR OF CRIME

Edinburgh City Council started bringing young and older people together back in 2000 as part of its plan for older people, which was agreed jointly with Lothian NHS.

“One issue that concerned us was older people’s fear of crime,” says Glenda Watt, the council’s strategy manger for older people.

The council brought together people from different community groups, along with the media and other statutory organisations, and made a video of the resulting debate. The video and a resource pack were then distributed to groups across the city, encouraging them to hold similar discussions.

This highlighted misunderstandings between the generations, such as older people assuming young people hang around in groups to intimidate others. What emerged was that many young people were afraid of being attacked by others of the same age, and so felt safer in groups on a ‘gang.’

“The experience showed us that it was possible to bring young and older people together, and, despite their age differences, they had similar concerns,” says Ms Watt.

The project has contributed to reducing crime rates, says Ms Watt, as well as securing the council a nomination for a Eurocities, the network of European cities and authorities, for the way it has addressed challenges caused by demographic change.

Next year, for the second time, the council will run a £50,000 grant programme in support of other projects that bring the two generations together.

TACKLE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

It has become a cliché, but the teenage complaint that “There is nothing to do around here!” is often the cause of anti-social behaviour, particularly in rural villages were the population is age-segregated.

In response to the issue Stratford DC piloted intergenerational activities in the village of Studley, starting with a cooking project. “Both sides were scared of coming together,” says Joanne Rooke, the council’s community engagement officer. “But week-by-week you could see their body language change, and over the eight week-period it transformed their relationships with one another.”

So successful was the project - anti-social behaviour fell by 23% - that several other organisations got involved, including the youth information and training service Connexions and local businesses, and more intergenerational projects followed: These included dancing competitions, quiz nights, and health and beauty sessions. In addition a body called Safer Communities Wellbeing Intergenerational Group has been formed to ensure the projects continue.

There has been similar success in the village of Bidford, where older people worked with young people to help secure them more facilities, starting with a shelter and swings.

“People are now more confident in communities, and barriers have been broken down between the two generations,” says Ms Rooke.

CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES

Two years ago, when Derbyshire CC reviewed the intergenerational projects that were taking place in the county, it was disappointed.

“We discovered lots of educational mentoring projects, where volunteers helped out in schools, but the council wanted to see projects that were more meaningful, that placed people on an equal setting,” says Jen Edgar, the project manager for Derbyshire’s Intergenerational Strategy.

So the council developed intergenerational book groups and gardening groups, and two local history projects that used photography, writing and drama to bring people together. Other projects have followed, based around dance, health, mobile cinemas and a Potions Club, with a Harry Potter theme.

Ms Edgar says the projects have brought many benefits. She highlights the fact that a number of young people who were disruptive in school got involved in gardening projects without there being any vandalism, as some people had expected.

However, it was the book groups, targeted at older people that could not go out, that got the most positive feedback. Not only did they dispel the myth that young people do not read, older participants said that ‘it brought the outside world to them.’

“There have been major benefits from the projects,” concludes Ms Edgar.

Last September, the council distributed a resource pack to community groups and all of Derbyshire’s schools, encouraging them to replicate the successes.

WORK WITH EXISTING STRATEGIES

Working on intergenerational issues came ‘naturally’ to Manchester City Council, says Sally Chandler, the city’s valuing older people programme manger.

“In 2006 we had a conference that looked at the needs of ‘the new old’ - the baby boomer generation - and working on intergenerational issues seemed the obvious thing to do. “People get it – it gels and sits well across so many different agendas,” says Ms Chandler.

Working in partnership with the Centre for Intergenerational Practice, the council then prepared a 12-month action plan. “We didn’t want a stand-alone document and then have to struggle for funding,“ says Ms Chandler. “So we have tried to see how intergenerational work can sit within the council’s existing strategies.”

Non-financial support was also provided to eight demonstration projects that bring young and older people together, ranging from a green gym and community radio station to social care and IT projects. “But learning about barriers has been just as important,“ says Ms. Chandler.

And with widening political support – the council now has an Intergenerational Champion – other departments are also embracing the theme.

“Last month we had a city-wide learning event to showcase the demonstration projects,” says Ms Chandler. “The priorities for our new action plan will be to develop a resource pack for schools and evaluate the benefits of the projects.”

BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES

In Wales, intergenerational work features in the national strategy for older people, so there is support and encouragement of it in several councils.

“One of our front line staff in Day Services put together a project that brought the two generations together,” says Amanda Peters, Monmouthshire CC’s strategy co-ordinator for older people.

“A group of older people did one project a month with six different groups of young people - things like gardening, fashion and recording their reminiscences - and a DVD was made of the overall project.”

The main aim of the project was to get the two generations talking to one another. Ms Peters says this is particularly valuable in rural communities where settlements are very isolated and people have little contact with their neighbours, especially those of a different generation.

However, the DVD had had other tangible benefits. The council has used it as a training tool for its new social care staff and new school governors, and it has been distributed to the county’s schools.

Ms Peters adds: “The DVD was very moving and had a number of spin-offs. By focussing on their everyday lives the council has learnt about things that affect older people without really asking them – from people who were too busy to be involved in developing the council’s strategy.”


Edinburgh City Council
Glenda Watt, strategy manger for older people. Tel: 0131 469 3806 or e-mail: glenda.watt@edinburgh.gov.uk

Monmouthshire CC
Amanda Peters, strategy co-ordinator for older people. Tel: 01633 644582 or e-mail: AmandaPeters@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Stratford-upon-Avon DC
Joanne Rooke, community engagement worker. Tel: 01789 260128 or e-mail: joanne.rooke@stratford-dc.gov.uk

Derbyshire CC
Jem Brown, head of well-being, adult social services. Tel: 01629 532 608 or e-mail jem.brown@derbyshire.gov.uk

Manchester City Council
Sally Chandler, programme manger, valuing older people. Tel: 0161 234 3513 or e-mail: s.chandler@manchester.gov.uk

© Robert Bullard. Not for reproduction without prior permission

 

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