Back to News & Events Listing
  • Posted on Wednesday July 13th 2011

The Beth Johnson Foundation has published the results of a programme of young person led activity completed in 2011. The programme assessed the practical application of youth-led intergenerational initiatives in order to develop working guidelines for future initiatives. It was supported throughout by The National Youth Agency Intergenerational Youth Learning Network.

The report is now available, and provides guidance and direction for youth-led programme planning. By adopting the lessons learned, future programme participation will be stimulated, retention improved, generational interaction encouraged, skills and experiences enhanced and lasting benefit delivered to the participants and to the wider communities in which they live.

  • Eight diverse groups of young people selected an initiative through which they engaged with the older generation
  • They included holding a community fun-day, dancing, cooking, story-telling, producing a short film and designing and building a community garden
  • The young people not only provided the project focus, but all aspects of planning and execution, recruitment and retention, budgeting and fundraising
  • Every group succeeded in bridging the generation gap, dispelling the preconceptions they held of the other’s generation. Participants saw each other more positively, gained mutual respect, enjoyed new relationships, learned new skills, improved communication, and shared a sense of achievement
  • The programme highlighted a number of issues critical to the success of future youth-led initiatives. These included: pre-planning and objective setting; group composition; sharing ground rules; and the need for programme co-ordinators to understand intergenerational principles and practices.

Removing generational misconceptions by connecting younger and older generations to positive effect is an integral part of Big Society thinking. The lessons learned from this pilot programme will contribute positively to future youth-led initiatives to the benefit of the younger, the older and the communities in which they live.

For a copy of the Executive Summary of the report, download the pdf: Intergenerational Practice in the Youth Sector Executive Summary or for a copy of the full Report, download the pdf: Intergenerational Practice in the Youth Sector

To request a pdf copy of the Report, contact generations@bjf.org.uk

For more details about this programme, or information about the Beth Johnson Foundation’s Centre for Intergenerational Practice, its case studies or resource materials, contact:
Louise Middleton
Centre for Intergenerational Practice Manager
Beth Johnson Foundation
Parkfield House
64 Princes Road
Hartshill
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 7JL

Tel: 01782 844036

E-mail: louise@bjf.org.uk

Back to News & Events Listing