How to Set Up Your Own Intergenerational Sessions

Intergenerational projects are a true winner. If you are an AC in a care home why not start your own project with your residents by having a local nursery or school visit  regularly and do things together.
It does not cost anything other then time and if you do need funds you can fund raise for events.
The Lovejoy Centre has successfully set up a community intergenerational project, called  The Encounter Project  with funding from the local council and I work with my homes that I work in providing activities for.

The aim is simple , it's to get the old and young together, interacting and learning from each other.
I am always amazed at how close nurseries are to some care homes, many times just across the road so whats not to like about this win win deal?

I get it, it can be daunting for someone to organise this, coordinate it all as well in addition to what you already do. But this will benefit your residents well being, brownie points with CQC and beneficial to the children and young people involved.

Particularly those of you AC;s who struggle with no budget or trying to think out of the box, I would encourage you to do this.







In this blog I show you how and what you need to consider-


What is your purpose- Identify why you would like to do this initiative so when people ask you what is the purpose you can say and also when your pitching it  local schools, nurseries , etc you  know what to say.

Write it out and here are some suggestions-
     

• building active communities
• promoting citizenship
• reducing loneliness
• addressing inequality
• Dispelling myths around dementia

Network- Contact local schools, nurseries, dance schools, cubs, scouts, girl guides, mother and toddler groups, local churches who have groups for the elderly and toddler groups. Use your existing contacts, join forces with other care homes to tell and invite people to your first session.

Pick up the phone and introduce yourself to your local schools, tell them about what you are doing and suggest this this would be useful to children who need to do something community based for their citizenship studies.

Insurance- Check with your employer that you have adequate liability insurance cover to host sessions.

Plan- Work out what you wish to do in each session, have ice- breakers and a schedule plan of activities.Make sure all things are easy enough for both old and young to do.

Some suggested activities for you to focus on could include:

• A skills exchange: older people support younger people to cook, create CV’s, read, knit etc and younger people support older people with IT to use mobile phones, computers, access the internet, Wii etc.
• Create community garden, allotment or space.
• Cookery/food: growing food, nutrition, learning to cook e.g. older and younger males learning recipes together.
• Community events e.g. intergenerational quizzes, street parties, festival of ages.
• Sports activities e.g. intergenerational Tai Chi, Wii sessions, archery, bowls.
• Arts: create public art mural at a park, shopping centre, bus stop etc. intergenerational choir and theatre groups.
• Community Media e.g. radio, positive images campaign.
• Buddy/befriending: young people support older people to access activities in the evenings by calling and escorting them to local clubs/groups and address fear of crime issues amongst community.
• Local history and sense of place: understanding the heritage of your locality and the diverse people that live around you.
• Intergenerational forum: discuss local issues and come up with ideas for activities and events to offer solutions.

Funding- You do not have to have lots of money to facilitate a session, work with what resource you have  and you can do fund raising events such as a raffle to raise money for resources you may wish to use.

Review- Make sure you review what your doing with your sessions and they are doing what your objective is set out to accomplish.

Data Protection- Ensure any pictures taken and used on social media or mainstream media have been given full consent by all. get it in writing, do forms.

Public Relations- When you are up and running contact the local press or local TV to come along see what you do. Great cover for you and your home.

Enjoy!

 Hope this has inspired you and you will give this a try in your local regions wherever you are in the world!

Online FB Group Support

I hear all too often the AC role is isolating so I have built up an online community to help support other AC's worldwide in our little hub.Lots of special promotions, free giveaways  and a great resource of files on activities is available to all members free.

You can join the group here 

-.https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovejoycentregroup
I also do a monthly newsletter you can sign up here and get my free eBook-

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Please click below:http://eepurl.com/Iw9p1

Until next time,

Keep Shining,

Ann Marie  x