Regional Community Cohesion Network Local Government Yorkshire and Humber

1. Regional Community Cohesion Network Local Government Yorkshire and Humber Tuesday 31st March 2009 Louise Middleton National Development Officer Centre for Intergenerational Practice

2. 1993 - European Year of solidarity between the generations • An increasing recognition that the young and old were becoming less well connected • Changing social and family structures • Demographic change and the ‘ageing population’ - the Demographic time-bomb

3. National Picture • Centre for Intergenerational Practice • Work with Local Authorities/Strategy Co-ordinator • National Youth Agency • Department for Children Schools and Families • Inter-Ministerial Group on Intergenerational Practice • First purpose built Intergenerational Centre • Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland • International Consortium for Intergenerational Programmes • European projects

4. Leeds: • Neighbourhoods 4 All Ages Intergenerational Network • Mapping Exercise • Scoping Report • Intergenerational Development Officer • Strategy/Action Plan • Cooking Communities

5. Derbyshire: • Focus on Schools • Pilot demonstration projects • Intergenerational Strategy • Intergenerational Development Officer • Growing Together in Derbyshire

6. Manchester: • Valuing Older People • Intergenerational Strategy • Training • Pilot projects • Intergenerational Strategic Co-ordinator • Councillor Champion • Partnership working

7. Community benefits • Cohesion- bringing people • together • Reducing isolation • Providing support to • people • Building social capital • Promoting active • citizenship • Healthy neighbourhoods • Individual benefits • Increased self confidence • Improved health and well • being • Enjoyment and socialisation • Improving skills • Route into training or • employment

8. Policy areas where IP could have an impact: • Volunteering by people of all ages • Improving community cohesion • Improving the use of public space & of community facilities • Improving local democratic processes • Promoting physical activity & tackling obesity • Improving mental health services • Developing employability • Supporting older people in the community • Designing better quality services for children, young people • Family interventions • Rehabilitation & resettlement of young offenders • Creating safer communities

9. In summary intergenerational practice is not the answer to everything but it does provide a way of thinking about policy and community development which is: • Participative • Inclusive • Assets based • Coherent • Sustainable

10. The World Health Organisation describes a Healthy Community as one in which there are good social networks, a culture of mutual respect and understanding and one where people feel empowered to make decisions • In Europe this is how intergenerational work is developing to become an approach that draws disconnected groups together to build mutual respect and understanding to the benefit of all generations

11. 1st European Day on Solidarity and cooperation between generations 29th April 2009 Centre for Intergenerational Practice www.centreforip.org.uk Beth Johnson Foundation www.bjf.org.uk