Exploring the Social and Health Impacts of Intergenerational Practice

1. Exploring the Social and Health Impacts of Intergenerational Practice Dr Trish Vella-Burrows Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health Canterbury Christ Church University

2. 2012: European Year for Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity Background: - The Human Instinct - Changing cultures - Outcomes (social and health) IG Practice: - Theory - Action since 1990s - Project examples Practical examples of activities

3. Changing Social Cultures Multi-generational networks and intergenerational relationships were/are central to survival of the species/communities (Image source: www.quantockhills.com/education/Qpedia/Topics/Past/Bronze-Age/index.html)

4. IG Capacities and Competences IG Collectivism/unity IG transmissions • Cultural history - Identity • Mutuality/cooperation - health/survival • Civic organisation - patriarchal/matriarchal hierarchies • Generational legacies: - child-rearing - subsistence activities - technical developments - social intelligence • Cultural development/ future: - Established/challenged/ evolving traditions - Progress

5. Changing social cultures Intra-generational collectivism/unity Intra-generational transmissions • Generation-specific networks/cooperation • Market (youth) dominance • Multiple generation-related hierarchies • Age-specific silos • Exclusive (generation-specific) knowledge exchange • Generation-parallel cultural development

6. Outcomes of change Social • Normalisation of disengagement (silo dependency) • Information/lifestyle disparity • Exclusion/ageism • Community incompetence • Uncertain cultural legacies Health - potential for: • Ill-being (anxiety/fear; ageing/loss of independence; sensing inadequacy/devaluation) • Loneliness/depression(erosion of exclusive cohort networks; societal exclusion ) • Dis-ease (linked to the above; delayed intervention)

7. Theoretical perspectives of IG Practice Human/social capital: Health and wellbeing • Exchange of resources, values, ideas, moral codes, • Increasing co-operation • Mutual learning with negotiated, shared, anticipated and unanticipated outcomes • Interaction, action and awareness. Identifying and harnessing, sharing positive life practices • Mutuality and reciprocity; reduction of age-based prejudices • A sense of productiveness • A sense of social and emotional wellbeing • safety • belonging • confidence • motivation (Lloyd 2008; MacCallum, et al. 2006)

8. action ‘During the 90’s there were changes in society, in its social and family structures, there was an increasing recognition that the young and old were becoming less well connected.’ [By 1999] the Beth Johnson Foundation [had] participated in meetings to found the first International Consortium for Intergenerational Programmes (icip@bjf.org.uk) This was in a context where practitioners, researchers and policy-makers increasingly recognised the importance of finding ways of building constructive relationships between generations.’ (CIP, 2006: 4-5)

9. IG-related National Organisations and Academic Journals ALMA Unit for Research into Ageing (AURA), Victoria University, Australia (www.vu.edu.au) Center for Intergenerational Leadership, Southern Illinois University (www.siue.edu) Centre for Intergenerational Practice Beth Johnson Foundation, London (www.centreforip.org.uk) College of Agricultural Sciences Intergenerational Program & Aging Center (CACIPAC), Penn State University, US (http://intergenerational.cas.psu.edu) Journal of Intergenerational Relationships: Programs, Policy and Research (http://jir.ucsur.pitt.edu) Journal of Intergenerational Justice Review (IGJR) (www.intergenerationaljustice.org)

10. Research Evidence ‘There is growing recognition across Europe that relationships between the generations are fundamental to the health of our communities and societies’. (Hatton-Yeo and Sanchez 2012: 211) ‘There are overwhelmingly positiveexperiences in regards to intergenerational programming’ (Weintrauband Killian 2007: 70) ‘Intergenerational relations are implicit outcomes of cultural activities in which knowledge about people, life stories, and evolution of a community are shared and preserved between and across generations.’ (Fairhurst and MairsSlee 2012: 246)

11. Organisational Advocacy ‘An intergenerational approach can bring two or more generations together who have been separated from each other through changes in social structures’ (Centre for Intergenerational Practice) ‘Intergenerational practice enables the strengths of each age group to enhance the experiences and lives of the other’ (Age UK England)

12. SingUnited IG arts Projects • Another Day, Dover • 200 children aged 7-18 • 42 people aged 60 + • 6 music practitioners • 6 x story-sharing events • 12 x IG workshops (lyric/song writing; choreography; photography; percussion; studio recording sessions • SU Festival Tea Party

13. Looking Back, Shepway • 107 children aged 5-17 • 38people aged 55 + • 6 music/arts practitioners • 2 x story-sharing events • 8 x IG workshops (lyric/song writing; recording; photography; crafts • SU Festival Luncheon Party

14. DanceUnited, East Kent • 80 children aged 5-11 • 32 people aged 60 + • 3 music/arts practitioners • 3 x story-sharing events • 4 x IG workshops (dance; percussion; singing) • SU Daffodil Tea Party

15. Project Feedback It was special; lovely to sing with the children (SU participant, age 76) We don’t see the kids really and you think they’re all as bad as the ones on the news; but they’re good kids; very bright and friendly (SU participant,age 83 ) ‘He’s really funny [older participant], he said when he gets cross he goes down the garden and sings and that’s what I do now ‘cos it makes me feel happy (SU participant, age 9)

16. Project Feedbacks I never went out at night ‘cos the youths; lots of them hanging about. The things you hear about. But these days they all come up. ‘Hello Mrs Smith’*. And carrying me things. I feel like the Queen!’ (SU participant,age 79 ) * Name changed They [YP]looked really interested in my stories; you know, really listening. ‘Course, they could’ve been being polite but it makes you feel good; like what you got to say makes a difference to them (SU participant, age 81) I liked the dancing because the grown-ups were really, really good and showed us how to do it. (SU participant, age 10 )

17. Evaluation of feedback Human/social capital Health and wellbeing • Development of meaningful, co-operative and (sustainable) relationships • Breaking down some stereotypical views • Exchange/sharing of information; skills; life long learning • Development of reciprocity • Sharing life management strategies • Feeling valued • being useful • self-esteem • motivation • Developing sense of ease • confidence • community belonging/support • maintenance of independence • wellbeing/health

18. Thank you for Listening

19. a sense of belonging (quasi-familial environment) • the nurturing of cross-generational and intercommunity understanding (community cohesion) • opportunities for new intergenerational friendships (decreased isolation) • opportunities for inter-community companionship-building (supporting independent living) • multi-way broadening of experience/education and opportunities for life-long learning (productive communities supporting one another) • an individual sense of well-being and achievement; raised self esteem (decreased potential for depressive conditions and community withdrawal • raised levels of confidence (heightened motivation)

20. The focus on shared spaces and places shows how intergenerational solidarity may be made knowable through activities involving different generations. (Image courtesy of http://afyp.blogspot.co.uk)

21. Bibliography • CIP (2006) Evaluation of the Centre for Intergenerational Practice. Reportby MWB Consultancy on behalf of the Centre for Intergenerational Practice. London: Beth Johnson Foundation • Fairhurst, E. and MairsSlee, S. (2012) The Hive in the Cliff: A Case Study in Intergenerational Relations and Culturally Led Regeneration. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 10 (3): 246-260 • Hatton-Yeo, A. and Sanchez M. (2012) 2012 and beyond: Towards and socially sustainable intergenerational Europe. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 10 (3): 211-213 • Lloyd, J. (2008) The State of Intergenerational Relations Today. London: International Longevity Centre UK. Available online at www.ilcuk.org.uk • MacCallum, J., Palmer, D., Wright, P. et al. (2006) Community building through intergenerational exchange programs. Report for the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme. Australia: Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Available online at http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/2914/1/CommunityBuilding.pdf

22. (Image courtesy of http://afyp.blogspot.co.uk) (Image courtesy of http://inequalitiesblog.wordpress.com)

23. SingUnited Festival July 2007:Children from Warden House and Aylesham Primary Schools and older friends perform the premier of their newly composed song, SingUnited Rock ‘n Roll - accompanied by the SingUnited Jolly Jazz Band.

24. SingUnited Deal ‘Tingalayo’