The European Parliament designated 29th April each year as the EU Day of Solidarity Between Generations. Intergenerational Practice can be defined as providing opportunities for the older and younger generations to engage together in activities in a safe and secure environment in which there is mutual respect with an exchange of experience and learning recognized by all as equally valid. It seeks to refute the negativity experienced by both the young and the older generations and to overcome lack of knowledge and understanding that can and does lead to generational conflict.

In 2010 and 2011 Linking Generations (LGNI) celebrated this EU Day during events held in April/May. These events gave LGNI grant recipients the opportunity to showcase their work and meet other people involved in Intergenerational Practice. To view information about the 2010 and 2011 events and the work of LGNI including project details and evaluation findings, please see Related Documents at the end of this page.

LGNI staff are currently preparing a programme of activities for 2012 which will promote the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (EY2012). The draft proposals are wide ranging, reflecting the breadth of interest in Intergenerational Practice and the EUY2012. A key to success is the emphasis on building and sustaining partnership with the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.

As stated on the Age Platform Europe website ‘the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 offers the opportunity to mobilize all actors and resources to find innovative solutions to address the demographic challenge and create an age-friendly environment allowing all citizens to lead more active and independent lives for longer’.

As part of the EY2012 celebrations LGNI, Age Sector Platform (ASP) and the Northern Ireland Youth Forum (NIYF) have been discussing a number of joint initiatives to take place during 2012 which will be of mutual benefit to the younger and older communities. Due to the increasing interest in and activity in support of Intergenerational Practice (IP), the EUY2012, and specific references to intergenerational relations in the Programme for Government, a joint meeting was requested with Ministers Martina Anderson and Jonathan Bell. We are delighted with the positive response given at this meeting by both Ministers in reference to IP and also LGNI’s partnership programme with ASP and NIYF. The first event as part of this programme is planned to take place on the 30th April to highlight 29th April EU Day of Solidarity between Generations. This event will launch the first of a series of intergenerational discussions at both community and Northern Ireland level focusing on the themes of Social Justice, Intergenerational Equity, Age Friendly Communities, Safer, Shared and Confident Communities, and Intergenerational aspects of Building the Peace.

Please see the Northern Ireland pages and newsletter on this website for updates on events and plans for the EY2012. LGNI would ask that you support the year by branding any relevant work with the EY2012 logo available on the Age Platform website here.



To view information about 2010 and 2011 LGNI EU Day events, please click on the links below.


Related Documents