A dialogue between generations and communities Kevin McKenzie Race Relations Manager Plymouth City Council Simon de Groot Volunteer Centre Manager Plymouth Guild

What we wanted to achieve What we wanted to achieve Encourage dialogue Involve diverse cultures and localities Create volunteering opportunities Develop a strong partnership

What we are hoping to achieve Encourage dialogue All project activity to involve young and old working together Stakeholder group empowered to make decisions about programme Establish common programme values Kick start event and symposiums

What we achieved Encourage Dialogue

Community Vision Symposium 2010

Original theatre

Shared Experience

What we achieved Involve diverse cultures and localities We built the capacity of our Kurdish Community and Chinese Community We worked in our neighbourhoods Honicknowle, Stonehouse, Plympton & Plymstock

What we are hoping to achieve “Successful intergenerational work requires a shared interest or activity as a starting point, and an enthusiastic attitude from the volunteers involved” (Shoker Abobeker)

What we achieved Traditional Kurdish food would be cooked by older and younger people, sparking interest in all sorts of conversation, leading to greater understanding between British residents and Kurdish people.

What we achieved Creating volunteering opportunities Brought together local and national volunteering providers, target of 1895 volunteers already met. Locating activities in our communities, local schools, libraries and open spaces

Community Choirs Groundwork Trust

I.T Skill Share RSVP CSV

Intergenerational Allotments Ground Work Trust

Training Storytellers RSVP CSV

Community Sports Day

Environmental Clean ups

What worked well Best practice The project had a strong identity All project workers had community experience Partners had shared goals and common understanding Cross agency working supported mutual learning and effective delivery

Sharing Views with the wider Community

What we learned Learning It takes time to build meaningful interaction between young and old. Shared interests and passions are the key to intergenerational work.

Involving Volunteers in every aspect of the events creates the opportunity For longer involvement and more meaningful interaction

What next Legacy Intergenerational toolkit Case study Ham Woods Capacity built in diverse communities and neighbourhoods Ongoing volunteer led activity Identifying ongoing funding

“Once you get a shared interest or passion age becomes irrelevant: age isn’t a barrier, it is the lack of opportunity to engage in a shared interest that is the barrier. The need is for a space, project or activity in which the generations can interact – and that is our responsibility to deliver, facilitate and promote”