Independent multi-purpose community organisations provide important places where local people of all ages can be involved and valued. Our Youth at the Centre programme focuses the engagement of young people in community organisations, but we also recognise that multi-purpose community centres are important places where people from different generational groups share spaces and activities.
There has been an increase in profile and interest in Intergenerational work across Government Departments in 2009. Two large funding programmes Generations Together and Inspiring Communities both focused on the role of intergenerational work at a local level.
This year (2009-2010) our programme would like to explore the role of intergenerational work in community organisations and provide you with support in undertaking intergenerational work.
Direct Support for Community Organisations
We know that community organisations provide important spaces and activities that promote learning and communication among generational groups and our Youth at the Centre programme can support community organisations looking to start, extend or share their experiences of intergenerational work. If your organisation would like some support arranged - either directly or a local workshop - please get in touch with our programmes manager to discuss this (click here).
Workshops
The Community Alliance (Community Matters, bassac and DTA) jointly ran an Exploring Intergenerational Practice Event for community organisations seminar workshop in London on 7th July 2009. For more details and links to the presentations, click here. Please check this website regularly for new information on events, funding and support.
Pilot Projects
We are currently working with other organisations on a project led by the National Youth Agency (NYA) to explore intergenerational work in community organisations in more depth. This is a great opportunity for Community Matters to show case on a national level the contribution that community organisations can bring to local communities through their intergenerational work and practices, which we hope through these pilots, can help build and inform future policy and possibly funding.
If you are interested in hearing about these pilot projects or Intergenerational work in community organisations, please click here and contact our programme manager.
Beth Johnson, Centre for Intergenerational Practice.
Intergenerational Network Meetings.
From November 2009- April 2010, Beth Johnson foundation is running nine regional events.These Network meetings provide an ideal opportunity for you to meet other like minded practitioners and development workers. Find out about the latest developments in intergenerational practice from a national, regional and local level, promote your area of work and look at examples of good practice.To find out more about these events and ‘Generations Together’ £5.5 million DCSF fund allocated to 12 projects to close widening generation gap through volunteering click here or contact; April Lewis or call +44(0)1782 844036.
Funding
Generations Together funding programme has now closed. We will post relevant funding opportunities here in the future.
